A recent blog post from the Small Business Administration highlights what small businesses can do to implement cybercrime protections.
10/13/2022 12:15 P.M.
2 minute read
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently shared updated tips on protecting your small business from cyberattacks and cybercrime in a blog post last week.
The internet is an invaluable tool for small businesses, but it also opens the door for bad actors to exploit the hard work you and your employees are putting in—leading to a rise in cybercrime, according to the SBA.
According to RiskRecon, data breaches at small businesses globally increased by 152% in 2020 and 2021, compared to the previous two years.
Each year cyberattacks cost the American economy billions of dollars, and new threats materialize every day. More than half of small businesses had been subject to a cyberattack in the year prior, according to a 2021 survey by IBM, but only 50% had a cybersecurity plan in place at the start of 2022.
The good news is that there are measures you can take to defend your company against cyberattacks. In the event that hackers target your company, the SBA has outlined tips to ensure you are ready:
- Train your employees. Your first line of defense against cyberattacks should be training your employees, who are major contributors to data leaks. Setting up fundamental security procedures and guidelines is essential. Strong passwords should be used consistently; suspicious files, downloads and phishing emails should be avoided; vendor and customer information should be protected and all other internet usage policies connected to the business should be followed.
- Install antivirus software and keep it updated. Having the right antivirus safeguards is essential for protection. Your operating systems, web browsers, and other apps can be protected from attacks by using antivirus and anti-spyware software, especially when it is updated frequently.
- Secure your networks. Private networks are used by cybercriminals to access sensitive data. Employing a firewall, encrypting your data, configuring your wireless access point (WAP) or router to avoid broadcasting the network name, and more are all ways to secure your networks against cyberattacks.
- Back up all critical business data. Never put yourself in a situation where you risk losing important data due to a single cyberattack. Because of this, it’s important to back up files like Word documents, spreadsheets and financial records. If your physical office location is hacked, make them accessible remotely or via the cloud.
Learn more about common cyber threats, vulnerabilities in your business and resources to build a cyber-safe environment for your company here.
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