5 Easy Ways Businesses Can Enhance Their Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is one of those complex topics that most business owners would rather not think about. Unfortunately, it’s no longer something that can be ignored. In order for businesses to take a major step forward and protect their most precious assets, there must be an increased commitment to cybersecurity for now and the future.

Why is a Cybersecurity Strategy Necessary?

In the past, small businesses and organizations haven’t always committed the necessary resources to cybersecurity. Historically, this has been due to the misconception that cybercriminals are only interested in targeting large 9- and 10-figure organizations. However, over the past few years, it’s become clear that smaller companies are actually the bread and butter of cyber attacks.

Research shows that 46 percent of all cyber breaches affect businesses with less than 1,000 employees. And when it comes to ransomware, 37 percent of impacted companies have fewer than 100 employees. 

If you study the data and trends, it’s clear that small businesses can no longer sit back and hope they aren’t impacted. Now’s the time to step up and implement a cybersecurity strategy.

It’s unwise – and potentially quite expensive – to continue to overlook cybersecurity in a landscape where data leaks are so common. There’s no silver bullet to avoiding cyber attacks, but there are plenty of best practices to reduce your risk and/or lessen the chance that an attack might occur on your watch.

As your organization attempts to step into the future and evolve, an intentional cybersecurity strategy can yield numerous benefits. And while implementing a strategy might seem complicated and expensive, it doesn't have to be. Some of the most effective investments are actually quite simple to make. 

Simple Ways to Enhance Your Cybersecurity

Whether you realize it or not, you already have some cybersecurity elements baked into your organization. However, it’s probably not as secure as you hope. Here are several simple ways you can strengthen your cybersecurity with the future in mind:

1. Educate Your Employees

Your first line of defense against cyber threats is your own team. Educating your employees about the importance of cybersecurity and training them on best practices is something you can’t overlook – no matter how pressed you are for time. 

Employee education around cybersecurity should include topics and issues like recognizing phishing emails, the importance of using strong passwords, and the risks of using unsecured networks. Regular training sessions and updates will help keep security at the forefront of their minds – so make sure you’re regularly carving out time to do this.

2. Implement Strong Password Policies

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to enhance your cybersecurity is by enforcing strong password policies. Require your employees to create complex passwords that include a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters, and mandate that they change these passwords regularly. Additionally, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible, adding an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification to access sensitive data.

3. Keep Software and Systems Updated

Cyber attackers often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software and systems. If you’re still using old versions of software or applications because you don’t want to “rock the boat” with your current systems, now’s the time to update things.

Regularly updating your operating systems, applications, and any hardware devices is essential to protect against vulnerabilities and loopholes that cyber attackers specifically target. Set your systems to update automatically or maintain a regular schedule to check and implement updates. This not only secures your systems but also ensures that they run more efficiently.

4. Secure Your Networks

Use firewalls to defend against external threats and encrypt sensitive data to safeguard it from interceptors. If your business uses Wi-Fi, ensure it is secure, encrypted, and hidden. You can also hide your Wi-Fi network by setting up your router so that it does not broadcast the network name, known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID).

5. Regularly Back Up Data

Regular data backups are a safety net for any cybersecurity plan. Make sure that you back up essential data frequently and automatically, if possible. You can then store backups in a secure location away from the main system (or consider cloud storage solutions, which can provide both security and flexibility). 

In the event of data loss due to a cyberattack, natural disaster, or hardware failure, having these backups ensures that your business can recover quickly. It basically gives you the ability to hit the reset button and not lose all of the sensitive data and systems that you’ve built up over the years.

Secure Your Organization

In order to protect your business, it’s not enough to secure your intellectual property and physical assets. You also have to pay attention to how you’re safeguarding your digital assets and data. With a strong, intentional plan for cybersecurity, you’ll put your business in a position to be successful for many years to come!