How to Shore Up Your Cybersecurity in 2021
2020 was rife with cyber attacks. The rapid shift to remote work amid widespread disruptions by the pandemic enabled countless security breaches, from hospital systems to hotel chains to financial services companies.
Growing and evolving cyber threats underscore the need for a cybersecurity strategy in every organization, no matter the size. Small businesses have become just as desirable a target as corporations to hackers because they often have the same access to money and data without the level of fortifications.
But you don’t need a multi-person IT department to strengthen your digital defenses. Small business owners have a number of tools at their disposal – it’s just a matter of having the safeguards in place before an attacker strikes.
Here are five best cybersecurity practices to keep your small business protected in 2021.
1: Choose a Cloud Platform You Can Adapt to Your Security Needs
Small and large businesses alike have increasingly turned to the cloud for its flexible, scalable, accessible, and cost-effective storage. Chances are cloud-based systems are already baked into your IT infrastructure.
When vetting or reevaluating your cloud provider, make sure it has these qualities:
Strong authentication, like multi-factor identification and password controls
Additional protections for highly sensitive and valuable data
Data encryption
Rigorous compliance certifications
But the cloud won’t do all the cybersecurity heavy lifting on its own. You’ll need to identify your security goals first so you can proactively protect your cloud-stored assets. To determine your cloud management plan of action, ask these questions:
Which datasets and applications are mission-critical if there’s an outage?
Which datasets and applications are highly sensitive or regulated?
The answer to each question will determine which assets need the tightest safeguards, such as restricted user access, encryptions, and backups – all of which are up to the user to implement.
2: Back-Up Data Regularly and Plan for Disaster Recovery
The old IT adage is no less true today: back up your data, and back it up consistently. Even if your assets are stored in a public cloud platform like AWS, you’ll still need to make your own copies.
An easy rule to follow for backups is the 3-2-1 strategy. Have at least three copies of your data stored in two different locations, one of which is off-site, like cloud storage. This helps minimize the likelihood that ransomware or malware attacks compromise crucial data.
Disaster recovery (DR) planning, which encompasses backups, ensures a data breach won’t result in financial losses that jeopardize your business’ survival. As an extension of routine backups, here’s a simple outline of a disaster recovery plan:
Define your DR team and each member’s responsibilities.
Identify common industry-related risks, such as vulnerabilities in legal document storage or financial services customer data.
Specify backup storage and recovery procedures.
Test your DR plan at least annually, ideally quarterly.
3: Secure Your Devices and Network with VPN and Firewall
Professionals working from home during the pandemic have probably complained about their wi-fi connection at one point or another. But speed isn’t home wi-fi’s only problem – it’s also more vulnerable to attacks.
Consider investing in network security products like VPN and firewalls, especially if your team is spread out over home wi-fi networks. These defense lines can’t protect users against all types of attacks, but they’ll make remote data sharing a lot more secure.
Firmspace’s offices have Watchguard Firewalls in place at all times.
4: Create a Culture of Cybersecurity on Your Team
The WFH environment is a hotbed for security breaches. A single phishing email or malware attack on an unsecured device could cost your business a hefty fine.
Your total small business cybersecurity hinges on the activity of every team member. In a small business, thankfully, that means fewer people to monitor, but it also means the activity of everyone on your team should uphold your security.
Train your employees to be vigilant about…
Selecting strong passwords
Recognizing suspicious emails
Reporting suspected phishing or malware attempts
Volunteering login information to third-party, unsecured sites
Firmspace’s offices have on-site IT services and can assist members with any cybersecurity issues that arise.
5: Update, Update, Update
This last strategy is an easy yet underestimated one: always update and upgrade your software and devices. Outdated legacy systems make for easy targets for hackers.
Developers are always looking out for new system vulnerabilities to build better safeguards. When there’s a software update or system upgrade available, install it.
Proworking Spaces Uphold Small Business Cybersecurity
Security isn’t limited to the digital world. A secure physical environment reinforces small business cybersecurity, too: if you handle sensitive data online, you most likely need to discuss that sensitive data somewhere. Zoom can’t compete with the privacy of a closed-door office suite.
Firmspace’s proworking spaces are designed with privacy and security in mind. All of our locations have systemwide Fiber Internet, Cisco Switches, Watchguard Firewall, Ruckus WAP, and on-site IT Services, and each individual office is enclosed in floor-to-ceiling, 3/8” thick glass.
Learn more about our proworking offices to find a space that supports your business’ cybersecurity needs.
Photo by Philipp Katzenberger on Unsplash