The internet has opened up a world of possibilities for businesses, helping them reach new customers and grow like never before.
However, being online also means facing digital dangers that can completely devastate your business if you’re not careful.
Small businesses are especially vulnerable to cyberattacks. Hackers aggressively seek out the weakest targets, and without enterprise-grade security, your business’s financial assets, your customers’ sensitive information, and even your personal reputation are all at grave risk.
But with some common sense preparations, you can protect yourself.
Use Strong Passwords to Keep Out Hackers
Passwords are the front line of defense protecting your digital assets.
A weak, easily guessed password is like leaving the front door wide open with a welcome mat for hackers.
A strong password is a hardened steel deadbolt.
Every single person accessing any part of your business systems, from employees to customers, needs strong, unique passwords.
These should have upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.
Length is also critical – a 12+ character password is exponentially harder to crack than a 6 character password.
You should also enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible. This requires a second form of identity verification, like a code sent to your phone. It’s like adding an extra lock to your door.
And I strongly advise using a dedicated password manager application to generate and store unique passwords. The convenience far outweighs the minimal costs.
Keep Your Software Patched for Better Security
When you get notifications to update software on your devices, you need to make time to complete these patches.
Security updates often address newly discovered vulnerabilities that hackers are eager to exploit.
Skipping patches leaves you needlessly exposed.
Additionally, robust antivirus software is mandatory to detect malware and ransomware before they can inflict serious harm.
The US Small Business Administration actually mandates the use of antivirus protection.
Backup Your Data to Avoid Ransomware Extortion
Increasingly, cyber criminals deploy ransomware attacks to extort money through threats of destroying or denying access to your data and systems.
Comprehensive backups make you ransomware-proof by allowing you to wipe affected systems and restore data without paying a cent.
Don’t Let Threats Deter You
With common sense vigilance, there is no reason to let fear of cyber threats hold your business back from realizing the potential of the internet.
By taking the right precautions, you can confidently build your business online without needless vulnerability.
The internet offers amazing growth opportunities to small businesses, especially with the right cybersecurity preparations in place.
