According to a recent internet security threat report, small businesses have increasingly become targets for cybercriminals. With over 40 percent of cyber attacks targeting small businesses, it is important to lower the risk of an attack and be prepared if one occurs. The following simple, economical steps can help reduce your risk of falling victim to a costly cyber attack:
- Equip each of your business’s computers with anti-virus software and anti-spyware, and update it regularly.
- Implement multi-factor authentication for all employees to protect information.
- Use a firewall and encrypting information to safeguard your internet connection.
- Establish policies outlining how employees should handle and protect personally identifiable information and other sensitive data.
- Educate employees about cyber threats and hold them accountable for the business’s internet security policies and procedures.
- Require employees to choose strong passwords and to change them often.
- Make sure your banks and card processors utilize trusted anti-fraud services. Isolate payment systems from other, less secure programs.
- Regularly back up data on all company computers, and store copies either off-site or in the cloud.
- Control physical access to computers and network components. Require individual user accounts for each employee.
- Protect every page of public-facing websites, not just the login page.
Contact Strate Insurance Group for tools to ensure you have the proper coverage to protect your company against losses from cyber attacks.
