Many small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) believe that cybersecurity is an issue that doesn’t affect them, and most feel their budget can be better allocated elsewhere. However, the facts show that 43% of cyberattacks target these businesses precisely because criminals know that they are often vulnerable.

If you run a small or medium-sized business, it’s time to make cybersecurity a priority! Thankfully, there are things you can do right now to protect your business, even with limited resources. Here are five ways you can protect your business from bad actors.

  1. Train Your Employees – Untrained employees can be a huge vulnerability. It is critical to implement training so your front-line employees can recognize the warning signs, as well as how to keep risks low. You should also put a system in place to report any signs of an attack. Cybersecurity training should be done regularly to keep your team up to speed on the latest threats.
  2. Create a “System Security Plan” – A system security plan (SSP) is a summary of everything you are doing to keep your data safe. An SSP defines the features of your system including hardware, software, security in place, training, and incident-response plans. The plan should include details on how to limit access to unauthorized users, security best practices for employees and how they should respond in the event of a breach.Network security and protection of data from cybercrime concept.
  3. Keep Software Patched and Updated – Outdated software increases your risk of exposure. Hackers often study the latest software updates to target businesses that are behind in adopting them.
  4. Implement Secure Password Policies – Never recycle passwords and update them regularly. Avoid simple passwords like birthdays, phone numbers, or other easy to crack phrases. Passwords should be more than eight characters including numbers and symbols. The more complicated, the better!
  5. When in Doubt Outsource – Technology has become more complex and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed trying to manage the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape – that’s why many SMBs put off dealing with their cybersecurity. This could be a costly mistake. Many companies specialize in helping businesses improve their security. The money you spend is a small investment compared to what a breach can cost your company.

Running a business is a complex, time-consuming labor of love. Don’t place cybersecurity on the back burner. Make your company’s cybersecurity a priority to keep it safe and primed for success.

About Optimized IT

Optimized IT is a leading IT provider and Modern Office Methods company. Services include Managed IT, Managed Cybersecurity, Microsoft Office 365 Services, Cloud Services, IT Consulting and IT Projects.