If you’re a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME), you might be the target of various cyber crimes and digital attacks. While large-scale cyber defences can be expensive to implement, there are several potential solutions you can use to increase your digital protection, without breaking the budget.
Why SMEs are targeted by cyber criminals
One of the main reasons SMEs are targeted by cyber criminals is that they typically have several vulnerabilities that are easy to exploit. Digital thieves can take advantage of this and gain access to confidential data, either ransoming it back to the business or selling it online for profit.
These data breaches can end up harming your business’s reputation and lead to customers and investors choosing one of your competitors instead. Implementing even basic digital security can make your business a less desirable target and ensure that your company and customer data are kept safe.
Low-cost practices that make a big impact
As an SME, you might believe that you need to put considerable investment into cybersecurity, but that’s not the case. In fact, there are several low-cost practices you can use to make your business more secure, such as awareness training and 2-Factor Authentication (2FA).
Employee awareness training
Perhaps one of the best options you can use for your business is employee awareness training. Phishing emails, for instance, get employees to click a link which automatically shares information or provides access to the network. Some attempts may even pose as potential recruits sharing their CV.
Training can help your team spot the signs and avoid attacks, protecting your business and its customers.
2-Factor Authentication
If you want to make sure only authorised personnel can access your systems, then adding 2FA to your systems is essential. This works by sending a unique code to a trusted device, email, or phone number for every login attempt. Without this code, the login is denied, and your systems are kept secure. You could also use certain apps like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator, which offer a similar service.
Strengthening access control the smart way
Ultimately, it’s best to ensure all passwords are strong and secure. Unfortunately, this can also make them difficult to remember, especially if they need to be changed regularly. While physically writing passwords down presents a massive security issue, there is a solution. Business password managers offer a safe, secure way to store complicated passwords without needing to write anything down.
Because your passwords are all stored safely, you can further increase your digital security by having unique passwords instead of reusing them. This can make it easier and safer for teams to access certain accounts, especially if they need to be used by several team members.