With smaller amounts of data, assumed minimal levels of security, and a smaller sample of employees from which to target, small businesses are an appealing group to hackers and cyber criminals. Cyber criminals are interested in everything from client data and financial information to employee login credentials and personal details.
Employers can help defend their small business security by implementing these improvements:
Employee Education
Encourage employees to actively participate in cybersecurity training. The selected training should contain details as to cybersecurity best practices and how to identify red flags.
Back-Up Data Regularly
No security protocol will protect your business data 100%. For this reason, backing up data is one of the best ways to safeguard your documents, spreadsheets, financial information, human resources files, payroll information, etc. It is always recommended to back up all data to a storage system kept off-site to maintain data security in the event of a natural disaster, including a fire or flood.
Computer Updates
Consider keeping all computers updated regularly, including desktops, laptops, and any mobile devices used to access the company network or Wi-Fi. Updates to devices typically include improved security and new versions of the operating system software.
Multi-factor Authentication
One of the key ways to ensure strong security is to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA). This means identifying a user by validating two or more factors, including password, mobile device verification, or fingerprint matching, among others. MFA is typically recognized in single sign-on portals.
Check out these cybersecurity resources from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Investing in cybersecurity improvements means you’re making a commitment to the digital safety of clients and the education of your employees. Harbor America is proud to support your efforts to improve cybersecurity. Contact us today to learn more.
