Cyber Security for Small Businesses

I write this blog from at home, instead of my usual spot at my university's library where I can concentrate and work much better. This is because recently my university was hit by a large cyber attack, which resulted in the internet being knocked out for weeks and at the moment its still unsure when it will be back running. This is just a small example of what happens if your cyber security isn't up to scratch. Cyber crime can disrupt your business, cause huge financial loss and damage your reputation as people will be afraid of their data being at risk. According to statista in 2023 the estimated cost of cyber crime globally was 8.15 Trillion US Dollars. 

Tips for your Small Business

Small businesses can be particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks as they may not have the same resources that a large one does, such as IT workers who are educated in the area of cyber security. So here are some tips to try and help you stay secure.

• Anti-virus software: Making sure you have a good anti-virus software is a great place to start, new computers that use Windows 10 and 11 come with anti-virus software which can be good for individuals, however for your business you should look to upgrade. Microsoft defender for business is a good solution for small businesses, its easy to use and cost effective and is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium package.
• Passwords: Make sure you and your employees are using strong passwords (letters, numbers, symbols etc) that they don't use anywhere else.
• Education: Educate yourself and your employees about cyber attacks. Learn about things like phishing attacks as many people can be susceptible to these, the dangers of using a work laptop on public internet, etc.
• Back-up: Backing-up your data is always a good idea, even if you aren't the victim of a cyber crime it provides a lot of advantages like protecting against hardware failures and mistakes.

There is much more to learn about protecting yourself and your business but these can be a good starting point to help you do so. Here is a good place to begin researching.