The simple cybersecurity features that could help small businesses avoid data breaches

Small businesses are important for both economic development and the well-being of the communities they’re part of, which is why it is essential for them to have robust security measures. If you’re a small business owner, you already know that your establishment is much more vulnerable than the large corporations, especially when it comes to cybersecurity. Everything is digital nowadays, even for small establishments, and while that’s good for efficiency, it can also be a problem given the high incidence of hacker attacks. Cybercriminals know that all they need to do is gain access to these systems, and they will be able to obtain a huge amount of personal data, including names, addresses, and bank account details.

The businesses that are targeted during these attacks deal with huge financial losses as part of the fines they have to pay, the recovery costs they need to cover in order to get their establishments back on track, and the lost revenue that they may never be able to get back entirely. The reputational damage, though, might just be the thing that seals the deal, as not many small businesses can recover from that. Many customers can choose to never return, especially if they were victims of the breach as well. In extreme cases, the impact of the breach is so severe that the business might have to close down permanently.

However, implementing a few well-known (but often disregarded) cybersecurity measures might be all you need to avoid most data breaches as well as reduce the impact of those that might manage to slip through the defences.

What are data breaches?

Data breaches are one of the most common types of cyberattacks in the world because they can stem from several different sources. As technology advances, hackers become more creative and sophisticated in their approaches as well in order to keep up with the latest security features. Distributed denial of service, ransomware, malware, password crackers, and, most recently, AI-backed attacks, are among the most popular. They are typically regarded as entirely unexpected, but the truth is that they exploit system vulnerabilities that are often very easy to resolve. However, business owners often disregard them because they believe that since nothing has happened so far, the risk of a breach occurring in the future is minimal.

However, this is an overly optimistic approach, and gambling with the security of your business isn’t something that you should do. The only way to defend yourself from these attacks is to invest in cybersecurity. Ensure that it is an integral part of your corporate culture and that all team members are aware of the importance of protecting the integrity of your systems. Human error and mundane oversights are one of the most common culprits when it comes to sensitive data being accessed by unauthorized parties, so it definitely doesn’t hurt to be extra careful.

Strong passwords

Having a strong password might seem like the most obvious thing out there, to the point that just mentioning it can seem unnecessary. However, you’d be surprised to see how many people actually disregard the importance of this cybersecurity pillar. When it comes to the business landscape, using a complex password is an absolute must. If you’re worried about forgetting these passwords in the long run, you can always use a business password manager that allows you to store them in a secure environment, as well as share them with colleagues and external partners within an encrypted environment that cannot be accessed by outsiders.

The best passwords contain at least twelve characters and are a mix of both lowercase and uppercase letters, as well as numbers and special symbols. Never reuse passwords or have the same or very similar passwords for different accounts, since having it revealed on a certain platform means the likelihood of other accounts being targeted as well is very high. Ideally, passwords should also be changed every two to three months.

No personal devices

Remote work has become increasingly popular over the last few years, and while it isn’t widespread and the norm in most workplaces, it is still much more common than it used to be a few years ago. As a result, BYOD (aka bring your own device) policies have become increasingly popular as well. There’s no denying their convenience, but the cybersecurity risks can be considerable, exposing the companies to a host of issues, including a higher probability of data breaches.

That’s because personal computers, smartphones, and tablets rarely lack the stringent cybersecurity measures that can be found on company-issued devices. As they’re not owned by the company, you can not implement the same restrictions and firewalls either. So, just to be extra safe, you should ask the employees not to use their personal devices when working.

Software updates

Regular software updates are essential because they include critical security patches. Since the cybercrime landscape continues to shift and change, it can be almost impossible to withstand the effects of hacker attacks if you’re not equipped with the best security measures. If there are any vulnerabilities in your system, these upgrades will solve them, and even introduce new security features so that your systems are defended against cyberattacks and data breaches.

Hackers are constantly searching for vulnerabilities they can exploit, and all cybersecurity professionals recognize that enhancing security systems is the only way to prevent them from infiltrating businesses and extracting sensitive information.

Firewalls

Firewalls track and filter data in order to prevent unauthorized individuals and suspicious networks from getting in. They can be both hardware and software, but both serve the exact same purpose: examining data and blocking anything that looks out of place from entering your systems. The technology can also protect employees during their daily tasks, as it prevents them from accidentally visiting unauthorized websites on work devices and putting the workplace network at risk.

Maintaining the integrity and security of your work environment is a must. In the digital age, that includes cyber systems as well. In fact, they are at the center of security for all enterprises, particularly the small ones that are more likely to be drastically impacted by such an event. This is precisely why it is better to invest in prevention.