SecurityWise: Cyber-security tips for small businesses
04 Sep 2020
High-profile cyber-attacks on large companies have generated headlines and raised awareness of the growing threat of cyber-crime. Recent survey data suggests that many small business owners are still operating under a false sense of cyber-security.
The statistics are grim: The vast majority of small businesses lack a formal Internet security policy for employees, and only about half have even rudimentary cyber-security measures in place. Furthermore, only about a quarter of small business owners have had an outside party test their computer systems to ensure they are hacker proof, and nearly 40 per cent do not have their data backed up in more than one location.
Don’t Equate Small with Safe
Shockingly, despite these significant cyber-security exposures, 85 per cent of small business owners believe their company is safe from hackers, viruses, malware or a data breach. This disconnect is largely due to the widespread, albeit mistaken, belief that small businesses are unlikely targets for cyber-attacks. In reality, data thieves are simply looking for the path of least resistance. As more and more large companies get serious about data security, small businesses are becoming increasingly attractive targets—and the results are often devastating for small business owners.
Where is the Attack Coming From?
Outside sources like hackers aren’t the only way your company can be attacked—often, smaller companies have a family-like atmosphere and put too much trust in their employees. This can lead to complacency, which is exactly what a disgruntled or recently sacked employee needs to execute an attack on the business. Other attacks could come from failures in technology and processes.
Attacks Could Destroy Your Business
In recent years, nearly 60 per cent of the small businesses victimised by a cyber-attack closed permanently within six months. Many of these businesses put off making necessary improvements to their cyber-security protocols until it was too late because they feared the costs would be prohibitive. Don’t make the same mistake. The cost of an individual security breach can vary, depending on the type of data compromised and the amount of data taken. However, cyber-attacks can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, and most small businesses don’t have that kind of money lying around. Businesses are required to keep personal and sensitive data safe in order to comply with the Data Protection Act, and violations of the Act can result in substantial sanctions from the Information Commissioner.
10 Ways to Prevent Cyber-Attacks
Even if you don’t currently have the resources to bring in an outside expert to test your computer systems and make security recommendations, there are simple steps you can take to reduce your risk of falling victim to a costly cyber-attack.
- Train employees in cyber-security principles.
- Install, use and regularly update antivirus and antispyware software on every computer used in your business.
- Use a firewall for your internet connection.
- Download and install software updates for your operating systems and applications as they become available.
- Make back-up copies of important business data and information.
- Control physical access to your computers and network components.
- Secure your Wi-Fi networks. If you have a Wi-Fi network for your workplace, make sure it is secure and hidden.
- Require password-protected individual user accounts for each employee.
- Limit employee access to data and information, and limit authority to install software.
- Regularly change passwords.
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Source: T H March