The Best Security Advice for SMEs

Small and medium enterprise businesses have to stay on the top of their game when it comes to security threats to their business. While data breaches happening to large businesses may make all the headlines, small businesses are just as vulnerable to data hacks, and it can be just as devastating for a small business as it would be for a larger business. 

Small business owners should be thinking about security from the very first part of their company's inception. This guide will help you make your business as cyber-secure as possible. Read on for 10 crucial tips.

1. Train Your Employees

Your firm is only as good as its employees. The best security system in the world could falter due to human error. The first port of call is to make sure your employees are completely up-to-date with the latest cyber-security threats. To make sure that they don't comprise a security threat, bring in an external consultant to school them in the ins and outs of staying secure. 

2. Don't Give Your Employees a Reason for Revenge

As the boss of a company, we highly recommend keeping your employees sweet. Do this by being reasonable with their demands, scheduling regular feedback, and making sure that you listen to their inputs. As a consequence, they are less likely to strike back at the company and compromise your data. If you do have to fire somebody, make sure that you log them out of the system completely first, so they are unable to lash out at the company in retaliation.

3. Install a Firewall

A firewall is an essential piece of gear that puts a virtual wall between your secure internal business system and the internet. A good firewall can filter information coming in and out of the system, block employees from accessing dangerous devices and also stop viruses from getting into your system. For a really good firewall system, the new Sonicwall TZ570 is one of your best bets.

4. Back-Up Your Data on the Cloud

There is nothing worse than suddenly losing all your data due to a breach or a human error. That's why it is absolutely essential to make sure that everything is backed up on a data cloud system. There are programs that you can install — even on a browser system — that can automatically move everything into the cloud system, meaning that it is very easy to keep everything regularly backed up. These are rather inexpensive programs that save you a lot of money in the long run.

5. Use Alphanumeric Passwords

If your company is still using basic passwords, you are just inviting hackers to come in and steal your data by easily guessing your codes. That's why it is absolutely crucial to use alphanumeric passwords instead. Simply put, these are passwords that are a combination of letters and numbers that are randomly generated and cannot be easily guessed. For extra protection, it is also recommended to use special characters. 

6. Use Two-Step Authentication

Your password should only be the first layer of security getting into your system. Most companies and even individuals use two-step authentication to make sure that they are really safe. Also known as multi-factor authentication, a two-step process usually requires you to authenticate your log-in on a separate device. For example, a special code could either be sent to your email address or your phone via text. Some companies go even further and require more than two steps to get people into their systems.

7. Secure Your Wi-Fi

An unsecured Wi-Fi network that anyone can log into the second that they walk into your office is a surefire way to invite hackers to compromise your data. That is why you should only allow your Wi-Fi network to be accessed via a password, and ensure only those you trust with the password are given it. Additionally, it's worth regularly changing this password in case somebody wants to sell your password online.

8. Have a Strict Remote Worker Policy

Securing the Wi-Fi when you have employees that work remotely like many people have pivoted to in the last year and will continue to do this year can be a bit more of a struggle. That's why it is important to make sure that you have a system in place for people that use your server from a different, out-of-office location. Additionally, it's worth having a really good policy in place that clearly communicates the security expectations of the company with your remote workers, as well as a strategy in place that allows them to log onto a system securely without having to physically be in the office.

9. Secure Your Website

Your website is your first line of defence against nefarious hackers. That's why it's recommended to keep your website as secure as it can be. This can be done by making sure you have the right security certificates. There are many benefits to doing this, as it can boost your trust rating, allowing clients to know that you are a company that is worth doing business with, as well as boosting your SEO rank on Google. Additionally, we would recommend the website running on an internal server, so only people connected to the server can manage to log into the backend of the site!

10. Be Aware of Email Phishing Schemes

Email phishing schemes are common scams used by hackers when they want to get deep into your personal information. They usually send emails purporting to be from someone who has a lot of money but cannot access it without your help. These ones are pretty easy to simply ignore and delete. Nonetheless, there are more sophisticated schemes to be on the lookout for, such as ones from official-sounding email addresses.

The best course of action is simply to double-check the name of anyone who contacts you, and if you are not sure it's them, then simply delete the email and block the sender.