As a business owner, you’ll be familiar with juggling responsibilities and trying to prioritise tasks according to business needs.
But paying too much attention to detail could cause larger security vulnerabilities to be overlooked. It’s a common pitfall for those starting new companies.
Cyber security risk assessments were undertaken by less than a third of businesses in the UK last year, despite 50% experiencing some sort of cyber security breach too.
When every area of trade is underpinned by an understanding of digital security, you can protect your business and safeguard its employees too.
Set strong passwords
Firstly, you should try and encourage your employees to use complex, unique passwords on their company accounts.
Promoting the use of separate passwords for each account could mean enhanced security both inside and outside of your office building or shop. Never leave any login details written on a sticky note!
The strongest passwords contain a mixture of letters, numbers and special characters. Your colleagues should keep a note of these in a dedicated notebook and manage them securely with a password manager on a locked computer.
Implement multi-factor authentication
Adding an extra layer of security with multi-factor authentication could help to prevent unwanted access to company systems.
From shared folders to client communications, online activities carried out by businesses often include restricted information or even special category data. According to UK data protection laws, this must be processed only with explicit consent and under a list of strict conditions too.
Multi-factor authentication is a useful barrier. It works by sending an additional check, usually a numerical code, via another designated personal account. It’s a fast way to confirm user identity and make logins more difficult for hackers.
Secure your data
Encrypting sensitive data could be an integral step in protecting your business too. This means locking private PDF documents with specific passwords, only shared with those who need to access the material.
Backing up files, photographs and data to a secure external system could also be invaluable. Storing company documents on cloud-based software has its limitations, especially if you need to relocate or expand internationally.
External hard drives make a useful and failsafe choice for backing up files. Alternatively, you could print the most important paperwork and keep it in a locked safe until it is no longer required.
Train your staff
Providing cybersecurity training can help to prevent human errors that lead to security breaches. From simple password guessing to more complex hacking operations like those stemming from phishing attacks, there are several habits that can improve your company’s safety.
Implementing comprehensive training modules will ensure that your team members learn the essentials on cybersecurity. Knowledge is the most important tool to equip your team with, especially when it comes to protecting data.
Protect physical assets
Finally, don’t forget that office space and storage units could provide a tangible entry for cybercriminals who also operate in person. What’s more, their arrival might be more likely than you’d prefer to admit.
Whether they pose as a delivery driver or simply head through the door behind one of your employees, unauthorised access could lead to hacked computers, compromised networks, or stolen documents containing sensitive data.
Don’t leave unlocked desk computers unattended. If you leave your office, shut down all online systems and lock up securely.
Keeping your business safe doesn’t need to be daunting. Using your common sense and educating team members will foster a safety-conscious culture and ensure longevity for your business.