Cybersecurity Guidelines for Small Businesses

Your employees are one of the greatest risks to your business’s cybersecurity. They can also become a huge asset if you educate them correctly. Start by identifying the risks at your organization, like weak passwords, inappropriate device use, and email phishing. Then, create campaigns and training programs to target these risks. By mitigating employee risk, you are also reducing the risk of your business’s security as a whole.

Your security is only as strong as your passwords. Using a weak password is like substituting a padlock for a piece of string. It gives you a false sense of security and makes it that much easier for hackers and cybercriminals to enter your network. 

The problem is that using unique complicated passwords for every account makes it difficult to keep track of them all. We recommend using a password manager to keep your passwords encrypted and secure.

To better protect your organization, it is strongly recommended to implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for your accounts and devices. Instead of requiring a single password, MFA utilizes credentials that you can easily remember or carry on your person, like a 4-character PIN or an authenticator app stored on your phone. By setting up MFA, you add extra layers of security to your data, making it more difficult for attackers to gain access to your network.

Phishing scams are one of the most common forms of cyberattacks. They often come in the form of emails urging users to click a link, download an attachment, or share sensitive information. However, these links and attachments are often filled with malware that could infect your computer and damage important data.  There are common characteristics in phishing emails such as following using which you might be able to differentiate them from the legitimate ones:

• The sender’s name or email address is unfamiliar 
• Lack of a personal greeting 
• Grammar or misspellings
• Sender asks for personal information, like a password or credit card number
• The sender creates a sense of urgency to click a link or download an attachment 

Keep in mind that even if an email has sound grammar and uses a personal greeting, that doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t a phishing email. Hackers are creating more convincing emails every year, so it is important to always be on your guard, even if the email seems legitimate. Learning how to recognize phishing emails could save your company from a damaged reputation and financial ruin. That’s why it’s critical to train your employees on how to respond to these threats.

Firewalls are a necessary preventative security measure in the IT world. Currently, there are over 900 million forms of malware threatening organizations (Tech Jury). To protect your data from these threats, you need a way to recognize and block them before they do permanent damage to your network. Firewalls monitor traffic moving in and out of your network. Without a firewall, it could take hours or even days before you recognize an attack. And by then, it might be too late.  

Like a firewall, antivirus protection is an essential tool in your arsenal of cybersecurity weapons. To combat viruses and strengthen your security, antivirus software performs several essential functions:

Like a firewall, antivirus protection is an essential tool in your arsenal of cybersecurity weapons. To combat viruses and strengthen your security, antivirus software performs several essential functions:

• Scan specific files or directories to detect malware and malicious activity 
• Remove malicious code and other infections 
• Run scheduled assessments to survey the health of your computer 

Antiviruses act as the last line of defense in case of a cyberattack.

Cybersecurity is constantly evolving. Every year, cybercriminals discover new ways to weaken their defenses. Therefore, regular updates are important. Just as cyber-attacks are constantly changing, preventative security measures are also growing stronger to combat these attacks. Schedule frequent updates to security applications and programs. Regular maintenance will help you resolve any vulnerabilities that have emerged in your software. 

On average, 17% of a company’s sensitive data is accessible to all employees, according to Varonis. Choosing not to limit employees’ access to confidential information only increases the risk of a data breach. To make sure only necessary employees have access to sensitive data, create a Network Access Control List (NACL). This allows you to manually select which users have access to specific IP addresses.  

Cyber-attacks become more sophisticated. Understanding how they affect you will help you better detect and respond to possible threats.

   Hacking occurs when cybercriminals gain unauthorized access to an email or system. They can then use this access to view, change, or steal information.

• Phishing allows criminals to collect sensitive information like passwords and credit card information.
•   Malware is a form of malicious software that can harm your devices, with ransomware being a specific form of malware that blocks key components of the network, usually in an effort to obtain money or information.
• Structured Query Language (SQL) injections allow criminals to insert malicious code into a server using SQL in order to steal informatio

All company devices should have strict protections in place, like multi-factor authentication, encryption software, and antivirus protection.

In addition, make sure your employees are aware of how to properly care for company devices. This includes only downloading attachments from trusted sources, storing information correctly, and keeping work data separate from personal files.

Establish Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies for employees who use personal computers at work or company laptops at home. These devices should be regularly scanned and updated to check for possible malware. When employees leave the company, make sure their devices are wiped of all company data and confidential information.

If you experience an attack, mobilize your response team, and identify the type of cyber attack and its cause. Consult any employees that were involved, and find out which information was released, if any. Then, respond to the cause of the attack. Secure your network by changing passwords, blocking malicious IP addresses, and repairing any vulnerabilities. Depending on the severity of the security breach, it may be necessary to report and further investigate the attack. 

File a police report in case of a potential lawsuit, and inform any affected parties, especially customers. Cyberattacks have the potential to damage your reputation, but you can still maintain a high level of communication and trust. Focus your energy on repairing customer relationships by outlining your plan to address vulnerabilities. After any cyberattack, you should conduct a post-incident review to help you prepare for future attacks.

Identify which vulnerabilities allowed the attacker to succeed, and ensure that these vulnerabilities have been addressed. Implement changes to improve your network’s overall performance, and make a plan for avoiding future incidents that outline how to detect, prevent, and respond to a similar event in the future.

Establish Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies for employees who use personal computers at work or company laptops at home. These devices should be regularly scanned and updated to check for possible malware. When employees leave the company, make sure their devices are wiped of all company data and confidential information.