Practice These Steps and Secure Your Home or Office Network

It may seem that only big companies need to be concerned with Cybersecurity. But the fact of the matter is that small to medium-sized businesses are often a target for hackers. A significant number of small businesses have had a cyber breach over the last year, and a majority of these businesses don't survive the past six months of the attack. Small businesses' appeal to cybercriminals is that small businesses typically don't think they have anything worth stealing. As a result, they are not prepared for a cyber-attack. Many hackers consider small businesses to be the sweet spot between individual and large enterprises because their data pool is much larger than individual WiFi owners but usually take fewer security precautions than large businesses. Here are some helpful tips for small businesses when it comes to Cybersecurity.

Train Employees

Employees are your first line of defense and must be aware of basic security practices, appropriate internet usage guidelines, and cyber policies. Most breaches are due to ill-trained employees.

Protect your Network from Cyber Attacks

Having the latest security, operating systems, and web browser are excellent defenses against viruses and other malware. Have your antivirus software run regularly and install updates immediately when you get them. 

Have a firewall

 A firewall is a moat around your network that prevents outsiders from entering. A good router firewall is a good starting point. You also need to make sure your Operating System's firewall is enabled or install firewall software.

Regularly back up Data

You should make the backup process automatic and store the backup data either offsite or in the cloud. However, many small businesses store critical data in the cloud and need to make sure they still have data back up on an offsite hard drive. Also, most of the time, it pays to have the highest security level offered by the cloud provider, even though it costs more. 

Control Access to Computers

Ensure no unauthorized person can access them and lock them if possible when not in use. 

Control WiFi

If you have a WiFi network, make sure it is secure and accessed only with a password. Also, control who accesses your WiFi because lax rules in the name of convenience can sometimes lead to disaster.

Use Anti-fraud Tools

If you take payment cards, work with your card processor to ensure the best anti-fraud tools are being used. If possible, don't use the same computer to process payments as you use the internet. 

Change Passwords Regularly

For passwords, make sure employees know the best practices for picking passwords and making sure they change them regularly. Also, always require a two-step authentication process.