When many people think about cybersecurity, they associate it with larger corporations that have access to trillions of data points relating to customer finances. However, research has shown that small to medium-sized businesses are being increasingly targeted by cyber criminals, typically because they often lack the dedicated security teams or the defences to prevent malware injections.
When you consider that a single data breach can result in huge financial losses, as well as reputational damage, it is well worth making sure that your website has the best cybersecurity in place. So, here, you will be walked through how you can keep all of your online data safe with the most up-to-date cybersecurity tips.
Table of Contents
Install Detection Software
It should come as no surprise that going forward, a key cybersecurity tip is going to be to ensure that your website has threat detection software installed. These options can include managed detection and response, or MDR software, which continually scans your website for threats and isolates them, usually with the help of trained individuals from a cybersecurity team. A second option is to have AI-supported MDR, which is basically the same except that the AI programme determines how to respond to the threat rather than a person. This will help to keep your website free of malware and cyber-attacks, keeping your customers’ data and sensitive business information safe.
Use Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication
A common cause of a security breach is a weak or reused password. Therefore, all small businesses should ensure that their employees use strong and unique passwords for all systems, ranging from email to cloud platforms. It may also be worth enabling multi-factor authentication, as this adds a critical layer of protection. This will often require a second verification code, such as a text message code or the use of an authentication app, for staff to access files, which will make it practically impossible for those outside of your business.
Keep Software and Systems Updated
An outdated software system will likely contain vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit, especially if they are using an AI-targeted attack, which can automatically access data from a gap in software that standard defences may not be able to spot. You should make sure that all of your websites, operating systems, applications, plugins, and antivirus programmes are updated as soon as the patches become available. For many small businesses, it is well worth enabling automatic updates, as this will ensure that the patches to address gaps in the software are applied without you having to tick or oversee anything. Of course, you will need to check that the supplier of the software is legitimate!
Train Your Staff!
Unfortunately, research in this area has found that, again, human error is one of the leading causes of data breaches. All of your staff should be trained to spot phishing emails, as well as report suspicious links and identify social engineering tactics. There are many cybersecurity awareness training courses online which can help you to understand how attackers are operating and, in modern times, how they are using artificial intelligence to get access to protected systems.
