Name: Total IT
Price range: $

Cybersecurity is an important and often overlooked aspect of small business operations, yet small businesses are prime targets for cyber attacks. Around 43% of data breaches targeted small to mid-size businesses in 2022 and disrupted operations. With small businesses being major targets for cybercriminals, cybersecurity should be a top priority.

But how can you protect your small business from cyber threats? Here are five cybersecurity tips that can help:

1. Hire a Managed IT Service Provider

Having the help of a managed IT service provider is one of the best cybersecurity tips for any small business. While there are things you can do to keep your business safe, monitoring for suspicious activity, updating your software, and more are all time-consuming tasks that a managed IT service provider can do for you.

They can also help with cybersecurity best practices such as data encryption and user access control. Additionally, managed IT service providers have the expertise to quickly respond to and deal with cybersecurity threats that employees may not know how to handle. A managed IT service provider can also monitor your network during weekends and holidays when your team is out of the office.

2. Update Software Regularly

Many people find software updates to be a tedious task and will click on “Remind me later” when the notification pops up on their screen. But cybercriminals look to exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software.

Regularly updating software can make it harder for cybercriminals to gain access to your system since system updates mainly include security fixes and patches. Keep your business safe and ensure all systems are running the latest available versions.

3. Use Firewalls to Protect Networks

Firewalls help protect networks from malicious traffic by blocking connections from untrusted sources. For small businesses, firewalls can often be the first line of defense against cybersecurity threats.

When choosing a firewall, make sure that it is compatible with your system and can be easily configured to fit your business’s needs. A good firewall should also have an intrusion detection system in place to alert you whenever a suspicious connection attempt occurs. Small businesses should make sure they have adequate firewall protection in place and regularly review the configuration of these systems.

4. Implement Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to user accounts and should be implemented whenever possible. This requires users to enter a code sent to their phone or email in addition to their password when logging into an account.

Two-factor authentication can help with employee login fatigue, which is when employees experience frustration from having to regularly enter their credentials into complex login processes. Often over 43% of employees will share passwords to avoid logging in to their accounts.

However, by implementing two-factor authentication, your accounts can remain secure while also eliminating employee login fatigue.

5. Educate Employees on Cybersecurity

Employees should be regularly trained on cybersecurity tips and best practices to reduce the risk of a cybersecurity threat. For example, one of the most difficult cyber threats employees fail to identify is phishing scams.

Phishing scams are fake emails or online ads that appear to come from legitimate sources and include malicious links. Employees should be trained to spot these scams and how to protect the company from them. Regular cybersecurity training can help ensure that all staff members understand the importance of cybersecurity and how to protect their devices.

Protect Your Business with Total IT

Keeping your small business safe from cyber threats is no easy task. At Total IT, we can make cybersecurity easy with our network security solutions. Our cybersecurity solutions include proactive protection, data backup solutions, expert consultation, employee training, and more.
We’ll assess your cybersecurity risks and provide a customized, comprehensive cybersecurity plan to protect your business from any cyber threats. Schedule a consultation today for more information about our cybersecurity solutions. We can help you stay safe from cybersecurity threats in no time!