The Ultimate Cyber Security Checklist for Small Businesses

The Role and Importance of Small Businesses

There are many reasons why small businesses are just as important. First of all, they create jobs, thus promoting economic growth. Secondly, they target niche audiences and provide unique services or products that most larger businesses don’t. Thus, a greater diversity of services and goods in the market.

Thirdly, stronger local communities are built through small businesses. They establish a closer relationship with customers and resolve some of their most basic and specific concerns.

Fourthly, as a small business, you can be at the forefront of entrepreneurship and innovation. New technologies and ideas originate from all types of small businesses, which enable them to also adapt better to market changes.

So, even as a small business owner, you should be taking cyber security very seriously. After all, you also have a part to play in the overall society that benefits communities, individuals, and the economy in general.

Small Business Cyber Security Checklist:

1. Use Strong Password Policies

Over 80 percent of small businesses have enforced solid password policies, particularly multi-factor authentication (MFA). In simple words, additional security layers.

Employees ought to be using strong passwords that consist of 12 characters (lower and upper case letters), special characters, and numbers.

2. Ensure That Software Is Updated

The operating systems should be up to date if you want complete protection against potential vulnerabilities. Activate the automatic update feature, so each time there’s an update available, the software is configured on its own.

3. Deploy Anti-Malware, Anti-Virus Protection Layers

Around 70%–75% of small businesses make the mistake of not using anti-malware and anti-virus software on their devices and networks. Whereas it’s essential nowadays to install such software on every device used for the business by all employees.

4. Activate Two-Factor Authentication

All accounts should feature the two-factor authentication system, including cloud-based and email services.

5. Grant Limited Access to All Sensitive Information

Not every employee must be able to open the door to sensitive data. Only that information which is necessary for performing their duties should be made accessible, the rest ought to be restricted.

6. Make Sure Your Wi-Fi Is Secured

Through WPA2 encryption, change the internet router’s password.

You can also set up a guest network separately for visitors.

7. Create Disaster Recovery Plans

Don’t get too comfortable or complacent just because you’re a small business. The most common cyber attacks and threats (scams, phishing, ransomware, data breach, malware infection, etc.) are looming over the horizon no matter the size/scale of the business. But you can easily avoid and treat these by establishing disaster recovery plans.

8. Inform Employees About Cyber Security

If you don’t show any interest in employee training, how will they know how to keep major or even minor risks at bay? So educate them on cyber security – provide training to identify phishing emails, update software, stay away from suspicious websites, etc.

9. Continuously Back Up Data and Update/Revise Policies

Financial and customer data must be regularly backed up using a cloud-based system for keeping all your sensitive, important information protected. Hence no data loss as a result of theft, hardware failure, or any other such disasters.

Furthermore, make it a point to upgrade and review policies. Criminals and hackers always find new, unique methods for bypassing conventional protection. So you need to make sure you keep up with their ever-changing hacking strategies by re-examining policies and updating traditional antivirus.

10. Install A Firewall

Firewall, a network security device, does the monitoring and filtering of incoming/outgoing network traffic. So installing a firewall means protecting your network from unauthorized access and cyber attacks. It also improves network performance by filtering out unwanted traffic, providing load balancing, and minimizing network congestion.

A firewall offers detailed network traffic logs, so you can identify security breaches beforehand and improve the security policies of your network.

The EndNote

These are some of the best practices of cyber security for small businesses. The size of your enterprise doesn’t matter; it’s always a wise and brilliant idea to protect what belongs to you from others, especially if that information is personal or sensitive.

Avoiding data breaches means preventing money from being wasted, customer loyalty from being compromised, and brand reputation from being tarnished.