According to a recent internet security threat report, small businesses have increasingly become targets for cyber criminals. With over 40 percent of cyber attacks targeting small businesses, it is important to not only lower the risk of an attack but also be prepared if one occurs. Follow simple, economical tips to reduce your risk of falling victim to a costly attack.

Cyber Tips:

1. Equip each of your business’s computers with anti-virus software and anti-spyware, and update it regularly.
2. Use a firewall and encrypting information to safeguard your internet connection. Password-protect access to your router.
3. Establish policies outlining how employees should handle and protect personally identifiable information and other sensitive data.
4. Educate employees about cyber threats and hold them accountable to the business’s internet security policies and procedures.
5. Require employees to choose strong passwords and to change them often. If you use the same password for several sites, cyber criminals may use credential stuffing to hack several of your accounts. Learn more about credential stuffing here. Also, check if your password is one of the 25 most commonly stolen passwords here.
6. Make sure your banks and card processors utilize trusted anti-fraud services. Isolate payment systems from other, less secure programs.
7. Regularly back up data on all company computers, and store copies either off-site or in the cloud.
8. Control physical access to computers and network components. Require individual user accounts for each employee.
9. Create a mobile device action plan for lost or stolen equipment.
10. Protect every page of public-facing websites, not just the login page.

With cyber crime on the rise, small businesses need to be just as cautious as large businesses in preventing cyber attacks.  Contact us below for tools to ensure you have the proper coverage to protect your company against losses from cyber attacks.