In today’s digital age, the importance of small business cybersecurity cannot be overstated. Small businesses often encounter a range of cyber threats and find the world of cybersecurity boring, but by recognising common threats and understanding their impact, business owners and their teams can better prepare and respond.
Phishing is one of the most common attacks, where attackers deceive employees into sharing sensitive information via fake emails.
Another common threat is ransomware, where malicious software encrypts business data, demanding payment for its release. Viruses and malware also pose a significant risk, potentially corrupting files and disrupting operations.
Additionally, denial-of-service (DoS) attacks can overwhelm a business’s online services, leading to costly downtime.
Understanding these threats enables small business owners to implement effective strategies to mitigate risk. For instance:
· Educating employees about phishing tactics can reduce the likelihood of data breaches.
Programs such as innoTel’s Security Awareness Training is a great way to bring employees up to speed on what to look out for and how to be cyber security-aware, but also keeps this information top of mind with regular training on the different kinds of tactics used and how to prevent them from occurring within your business.
· By keeping software updated, businesses can protect themselves against known vulnerabilities.
Our Managed Service Provider offering includes regular automated software patching to ensure devices within your business are kept up to date, reducing the possibility for out-of-date software to be exploited.
· Implementing strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and regularly backing up data are additional measures to improve security.
Often, business owners and employees use the same basic, easy-to-remember password across all services and websites. This puts their business at risk; if one website or password is compromised, they could potentially log in to many websites or services. Using unique passwords means the exposure is limited to one service, not all those who use the same password.
A password manager is a great way of using unique, complex passwords without needing to remember them all. Think of your password manager as a replacement for that little black password book you keep in your drawer, only more secure! You can create unique and difficult passwords for each service you access, and they can also pre-fill login forms on websites, making your logins super-quick!
Recognising and understanding these cyber threats is the first step towards robust protection. By understanding best practices and utilising available tools, small business owners can create a secure digital environment.
We would always recommend that these strategies should be part of an overall security program within your business.
If you would like to learn more or understand how innoTel can assist your small business with an affordable security solution, reach out to the Australian-based team on 1300 736 048.
