Small Business Cybersecurity: 10 Solutions to Fortify Your Business
In today’s digital age, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face a massive problem: cyber-attacks. Startling statistics reveal the harsh reality facing businesses today – nearly 43% of all cyber-attacks are aimed at SMBs. As technology improves, so do the cybercriminals who want to bust down your business’s digital walls. Small business owners must prioritize cybersecurity.
Fortifying your digital defenses may feel overwhelming or impossible, depending on your budget and resources. Don’t worry – we’ve compiled ten vital tips to fortify your business based on our extensive experience with small business cybersecurity. This article will empower you to navigate the complex world of cybersecurity and protect your business.
1. Antivirus Software
According to Small Business Trends, antivirus programs detect 350,000 viruses worldwide daily. Antivirus software is the superhero that keeps your business safe from villains called malware, viruses, and other cyber threats. Top antivirus software offers real-time protection – always on the lookout for any suspicious activity.
You’re arming your business with a powerful shield against cyber attacks by having reliable antivirus software. Remember to regularly update your antivirus software because new threats always pop up.
2. Firewalls
Firewalls in cybersecurity act as a barrier between your internal network and the unpredictable world of the internet. Think of them as a security checkpoint that carefully filters incoming and outgoing data.
Firewalls analyze network traffic, examining each packet of information to determine if it’s safe or harmful. There are different types of firewalls, including the following:
Web Application Firewall (WAF):
These specialized firewalls focus on safeguarding your web applications, such as online stores or customer portals. A WAF shields your web applications from the constant threats posed by cybercriminals, who often target web applications to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access.
3. Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Data loss prevention (DLP) software is a crucial tool that protects sensitive data from loss or threat. It monitors network traffic, encrypts data, and prevents unauthorized copying to external devices.
87% of small businesses have customer data that could be compromised in an attack – implementing DLP is crucial to protecting customer privacy and maintaining your business’s reputation.
4. Email Security
Email security is critical for protecting your business from email-based threats like phishing scams and malware. In fact, phishing is the most common attack on small businesses.
These attacks can have devastating consequences, including data breaches and financial loss. So, protecting your business from phishing attempts with email security is extremely important.
Email Security Gateway
One example of email security, an email security gateway, is a specialized tool that acts as a gatekeeper for your email system. It filters incoming emails, validating the authenticity of senders and blocking unauthorized ones.
5. Cloud-Based Security
Cloud-based security offers enhanced flexibility and scalability, allowing you to adjust security measures based on changing needs. With advanced threat intelligence and centralized management, it effectively detects and mitigates cyber threats with high reliability.
By shifting your security measures to the cloud, you can alleviate the burden of maintaining and updating on-premise security infrastructure.
6. Domain Name System (DNS) Protection
DNS protection safeguards your network by securing the DNS infrastructure, which translates domain names into IP addresses and facilitates internet communication. Implementing DNS protection offers the following benefits:
- Prevents DNS-based attacks, such as DNS hijacking or spoofing, which leads to unauthorized access, data breaches, and service disruptions
- Blocks access to malicious websites and infected domains with threat intelligence and real-time analysis
- Provides content filtering capabilities, allowing you to enforce internet usage policies within your organization
7. Enterprise Password Management / Privileged Access Management (PAM)
These solutions address the challenges of managing and securing passwords, especially for privileged accounts with elevated access.
Enterprise password management solutions provide a secure and centralized platform for storing and managing passwords across various systems and applications. They enable businesses to enforce strong password policies, facilitate password rotation, and eliminate the risks associated with weak or reused passwords.
Privileged Access Management (PAM) focuses on managing and controlling privileged accounts. They provide privileged session monitoring, access controls, and just-in-time provisioning to minimize the risk of insider threats or external attacks targeting privileged credentials.
8. Cybersecurity Awareness Training
Cybersecurity awareness training is crucial in protecting your small business against the leading cause of cybersecurity breaches: human error. Human error is responsible for a staggering 95% of cybersecurity incidents. This statistic highlights the importance of educating employees about best practices and potential risks.
This training should cover topics such as recognizing phishing attempts, creating strong and unique passwords, avoiding suspicious downloads, and practicing safe browsing habits. By empowering employees with education, businesses can reduce the likelihood of becoming victims of cyber-attacks and data breaches.
9. Data Backup & Recovery
Data backup and recovery are vital to cybersecurity strategies. In a data breach, having reliable backups can help minimize the impact and allow for quick recovery. Businesses must establish a comprehensive plan for regularly backing up their data and securely storing backups.
Regular data backups involve creating copies of important files, databases, and systems. Determine the frequency of backups based on the data’s importance and rate of change within systems.
Store backups in a separate location, preferably offline or in an encrypted format, to protect against data loss from physical damage, cyber-attacks, or unauthorized access.
10. Managed Security Services (MSS):
If handling your cybersecurity needs feel overwhelming, managed security services (MSS) providers can assist you. These experts handle everything for you, handling your cybersecurity needs from start to finish.
MSS providers actively monitor your network for potential threats and have the expertise to quickly identify and respond to incidents. They keep your software up to date, ensuring you have the latest security patches and defenses.
By enlisting an MSS provider, you can offload the burden of managing your cybersecurity to experts dedicated to keeping your business safe.
Fortify Your Business with Verticall Networks
When securing your valuable assets, partnering with a reliable and experienced provider is crucial. That’s where Verticall Networks comes in. We offer comprehensive cybersecurity solutions to mitigate risks and keep your business safe.
With a multi-layered approach and a team of experts well-versed in the latest threats and trends, we provide unbiased evaluations of your cybersecurity infrastructure and deliver tailored solutions that meet your needs. We have you covered from risk assessment and penetration testing to incident response and compliance. We also offer employee awareness training to ensure your team has the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital landscape safely.
Don’t wait until a cyber attack happens. Take proactive steps to protect your business and schedule a call with Verticall Networks today. Let Verticall Networks be your trusted partner in securing your business in the ever-changing digital world.