Why Small Businesses Need Cybersecurity Now More Than Ever

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Why Small Businesses Need Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is a concern of every business that has a significant presence on the internet. No matter how big or small a business is, hackers are not going to spare anyone vulnerable. Various researches and statistics indicate that one in five small businesses fall prey to a cyberattack, 60% of which go out of business within 6 months. 

The reason why small businesses are more prone to cyber-attacks than mid-size or large businesses is that they don’t take Cybersecurity attacks and cyber threats seriously.Most people believe that they have such a small scale business, why would a hacker take all the trouble to hack for nothing? Well, you might be wrong. Hackers are like a big fishing boat that takes in all those businesses in their net that have not established a secure firewall. 

Small businesses need to understand that cyber threats are real and that they can become a victim sooner than they think. Seeking advisory opinions from professionals like Cytelligence can help them protect their business. 

Here is a guide to understanding what business cybersecurity is, and how businesses can protect themselves. 

How To Detect Cyber-attack?

Often people who do not have much knowledge about computers and internet technology fail to understand what hit them. Cyberattacks are not something announced or declared. A simple message or an email can expose you to a potential attack. 

You need to beware if you come across any of the following.

  • A fake email or website asking you for personal information. It is called phishing and it is a trick to deceive people.
  • A malware that can attack your computer, network, or server with viruses, aiming to corrupt your system and gain access to your personal information. 
  • Ransomware, that can lock your website and ask for money to get it back.

A hacker may be a third person keeping an eye on your unsafe or insecure transactions and gaining access to your personal and financial information. 

Precautions Small Businesses Can Take

Your business has a serious cyber threat as long as you do not take necessary precautionary measures to make your website secure. Small businesses should invest in cybersecurity just like big businesses. You do not want to lose everything you have, to negligence. 

Here is what you can do to make your business secure. 

1. Formulate A Plan

First of all, you need to create a cybersecurity plan. Do a comprehensive assessment of your current security plan. Point out the sensitive information that needs to be protected at all costs. Auditing your business to make sure that there are no potential leak points will be a wise choice.

Once you have created a strong security plan, make it obligatory for your employees to follow security protocols. Choose a secure web host and the most advanced antivirus for your office computers. 

2. Employee Training

Not every employee can be tech-savvy, you need to invest time and money to train your employees about the security protocols. There doesn’t need to be a mole in your office, someone’s negligence can cost you your business. 

Therefore, make sure your employees know security protocols by heart and implement them with vigilance. 

3. Make Access Inaccessible 

Access to your business website should be controlled to ensure high security. The top-secret information should be made accessible only on a need basis. Secure your entry points with permission and two-factor authentication. Encourage employees to set strong passwords. 

4. Update Frequently And Backup

Lastly, make sure that you and your employees update their systems regularly. Make sure you are using the latest versions of antiviruses, and other business-related software. Keep a secure backup of important business records to ensure you do not lose everything if any breach occurs.