Cybersecurity for small business should be prioritized by all brands.
Some may think that small business cybersecurity is not as necessary as it is for larger companies. This could not be farther from the truth.
In fact, 76% of cyberattacks hit enterprises with less than 100 employees. Moreover, one out of 10 smaller firms is threatened by cyberattacks every year. And the devastation can also force almost 60% of companies to go out of business in as fast as six months.
With the continuous growth of risks to data and information safety, hiring cybersecurity providers has become a must.
Whether outsourced cybersecurity or executed by an in-house team, small business cybersecurity is a worthwhile and mandatory investment. It will protect your computing technologies and, in turn, your customers and income generation from malicious intruders.
Table of Contents
What Is Small Business Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity for small business includes SOPs, measures, and technologies combined to shield profitable organizations’ computing environments from unauthorized access and damages performed by malicious insiders and cyber attackers.
Attacks can occur due to:
- Lack of preparedness
- Overreliance on IT service providers
- Budget constraints
- Insider information theft
- Mobile workforce
Cybersecurity for small business takes these common steps to fend off risks:
- Discovery
- Planning
- Implementation
- Training
- Post-support
The most valuable IT assets that cybersecurity for small business defends include:
- Access to client lists
- User credentials
- Banking details
- Customers’ personal and payment information
- Product designs
- Business growth and expansion plans
- Manufacturing processes
- Intellectual properties
And when small business cybersecurity wards off threats successfully, it can protect company reputation, ensure external threat elimination and help the business save time and money for tedious data recovery.
Partnering with specialized IT support services companies can significantly bolster your cybersecurity measures, especially in defending crucial assets.
Most Critical Cybersecurity Solutions for Small Business
These are the most crucial cybersecurity solutions for small business:
Asset Discovery and Management
This first step is performed to determine the assets, data, and devices that require monitoring and protection.
Visibility of all company assets, access, and resources is essential to identify the possible points of entry or attack surfaces.
These are the existing systems that need periodic testing:
- Workstations
- Servers
- Mobile gadgets
- Applications
- Services
- Open ports
Software Patches and Updates
When software and programs are more functional and complex, they are more likely to contain bugs and errors that can be used for malicious intent.
In cybersecurity for small business, patches are software updates for fixing security issues and system vulnerabilities. Developers deploy a patch when bugs are detected.
Here are precautions your small business cybersecurity team can take to keep errors and risks at bay:
- Constantly update third-party applications and operating systems
- Monitor installation statuses and updates of all hosts
- Evaluate these updates
- Prioritize security updates over feature updates
- Configure systems to obtain critical security installation updates
- Specify the schedule of installation and updates
- Use testing or staging environments for software updates
- Secure services and implement IT protocols
- Disable or completely eliminate unused services
Audit and Event Logs
Audit logs house information on changes made to and events on varying systems. These logs are generated by distinct network devices and users based on the sequence of events and activities. They enable traceability.
Logs capture records of:
- Location of activities
- Users who carried them out
- Systems’ reception of these events
Offensive Security
You can defend your technologies and data more strongly if you understand how to launch a counterattack against intruders.
Offensive security is another one of solid cybersecurity solutions for small business. It delivers numerous applications and offers these options depending on the level of maturity of your company’s security:
- Vulnerability scanning
- Vulnerability assessments
- Penetration tests
- Exercises of emulation of adversaries
4 Cybersecurity Tips for Small Business
Take these vital steps to defend your enterprise from cyberattacks:
Train and Educate Your Employees
78% of companies are convinced that cybersecurity awareness training significantly contributes to lower susceptibility to phishing. In addition, 31% of staff members fail phishing tests.
Given these numbers, it makes sense to conclude that insiders may cause vulnerability to data breaches, whether it is for malicious purposes or carelessness.
Stay protected against threats from the inside by investing in small business cybersecurity training for your workforce.
Whether working with onshore, offshore, or nearshore teams, including them in your cybersecurity awareness training can enhance your company's security posture. These teams often handle sensitive data and must be equally prepared to combat threats.
Here are some of the pointers you can emphasize to your employees:
- Importance of strong passwords
- Spotting phishing emails
- Proper handling and protection of customer details
Utilize Robust Antivirus Software
Solid antivirus program should protect all your assets and devices from commonplace viruses, spyware, ransomware and phishing scams, among others.
Besides protection, it should be able to clean and reset your devices in their pre-infected state.
Back Up Files Regularly
Remember how much data is stored on your equipment and the cloud on which your business relies to operate. Prevent compromised data and accidental deletion by backing up your company files regularly.
Choose a program that copies files to secure storages automatically. It should also have a reliable restore functionality. Plus, it needs to give you the ability to schedule the process to guarantee you never skip it.
Additionally, your backup program should enable unencrypted offline copies that stay accessible to authorized users in case of a ransomware attack.
Restrict Access to Critical Users
Limit the number of employees with access to crucial information. This way, you can minimize the impact in the event of a data breach. It can also reduce the possibility of people acting with ill intent toward your business.
Draft a plan outlining each individual’s accountability and roles. Then, clarify the level of access they need based on their responsibilities.
Other Best Practices for Small Business Cyber Security
- Protect your small business from cyberattacks with these extra security tips.
- Conduct a security risk assessment.
- Execute multiple layers of security.
- Secure the Wi-Fi network.
- Implement a strong, straightforward password policy.
- Utilize password managers.
- Use a firewall.
- Use a virtual private network (VPN).
- Protect your office from physical theft.
- Remember to secure mobile devices.
- Ensure the security of third-party applications and vendors.
- Enable uptime.
- Understand the technological environments where information resides.
Best Cybersecurity Agencies to Hire
1. IT Ninjas
- Location: 3545 St John's Bluff Rd. Suite 341, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, United States
- Average Hourly Rate: On inquiry.
- Expertise: Web Design, Cybersecurity, IT, Managed Services, Cloud Consulting.
First founded in 2018, IT Ninjas built its foundation on the belief that everyone in every industry should have the opportunity to develop their business with the latest technology at their disposal.
Specializing in IT solutions and cybersecurity for small businesses, non-profits, government institutions, and mid-sized businesses, IT Ninjas has 15+ years of experience in its field and has become a central agency in the heart of Silicon Valley (Headquartered in Jacksonville, FL).
Besides providing top-tier cyber solutions, IT Ninjas offers clients services such as cloud consulting, web design, and managed services, making them an excellent choice for businesses looking to shield themselves from potential nefarious activity.
2. EB Solution
- Location: 45 Casmir Ct Unit 19, Concord, ON, Canada, Vaughan, L4K 4H5, Canada
- Average Hourly Rate: Inquire
- Expertise: Cybersecurity, IT Services, Microsoft SharePoint Consulting, ERP Consulting, CRM Consulting, Managed Services, Cloud Consulting, IT outsourcing, and AWS.
EB Solutions is a leading IT consulting company that provides services in the areas of cybersecurity, IT services, Microsoft SharePoint Consulting, ERP Consulting, CRM Consulting, and Managed Services, among others.
EB Solutions has been in the cybersecurity business since 2011 and has since provided IT services to many organizations across the Toronto area. EB Solutions’ team of experienced professionals are experts in their respective fields and know precisely how to get your project from A to B.
Some of EB Solutions’ clients include NBA Canada, TJX group, and Friday Harbor resort.
3. The VP Techno Labs International
- Location: 43 Devashish Park, College Road, Nadiad, 387001, India
- Average Hourly Rate: $50
- Expertise: Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, IT Services, Managed Services...
VP Techno Labs International offers solutions in three ways: First is the subscription model, in this method customer can subscribe to their plans as per their needs to provide constant protection to their business.
Second is SaaS based Model, which includes all the features, this is for those who want to see what's going on their business. One-click access to all progress in assessments, reports, request features, open ticket, Firewall and threat monitoring, etc.
Third one is Enterprise model. This is for enterprise consumers, so they can hire dedicate experts from the agency's team to do security audit in their infrastructure in premises.
4. CyberWarrior
- Location: 745 Atlantic Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, United States
- Average Hourly Rate: Inquire
- Expertise: Cybersecurity, Nearshore Cybersecurity Services, Staff Augmentation, Penetration Testing.
CyberWarrior, founded in 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts, provides innovative Cybersecurity and IT Services with specialized expertise in Cloud Consulting and Managed Services.
CyberWarrior's unique risk-based approach distinguishes it from traditional compliance checks; customers get to assess risks according to the opportunity for exploitation and the business impacts associated with those risks.
This agency has earned the confidence of some of the world's biggest names with clients such as Microsoft, Harvard University, Dartmouth, Eastern Bank, and MGM Grand.
Providing clients with a variety of services including consulting assessments focusing on compliance engagements, findings remediation, and technical execution, CyberWarrior gives customers peace of mind that every potential risk is identified and addressed.
Wrap-up
Enhance your small business cybersecurity and resilience. Implement robust measures to protect crucial business information as intruders are getting savvier and malware stronger.
There are proper tools and improved systems you can use to combat malicious attacks toward your computing technologies.
These will help you alleviate cybersecurity concerns and prepare you to fend off cybersecurity problems successfully in the future. Top enterprise software developers are known to help companies with this important aspect of any business.
