Ways to Help Protect Your Business from Cyber Threats Small businesses should no longer consider themselves less at threat from cyber-attacks, viruses, malware, ransom ware, or phishing schemes than larger corporations. Yes, you hear about the big companies that are hit with the headline cyber security woes, but small businesses are being targeting just as often. These basic areas of cyber security will help minimize your risk. publish date: February 18, 2016 Small businesses should no longer consider themselves less at threat from cyber-attacks, viruses, malware, ransom ware, or phishing schemes than larger corporations. Yes, you hear about the big companies that are hit with the headline cyber security woes, but small businesses are being targeting just as often. These basic areas of cyber security will help minimize your risk. Awareness Update all employees on the reality that threats exist and the importance that individual vigilance plays in cyber security. Be aware of any security or privacy regulations that govern your specific industry (PCI, HIPPA, etc). Make sure employee passwords are strong and are changed regularly. Teach employees safe browsing techniques and encourage good online habits. Teach employees to spot spoofed e-mails and other types of phishing related emails. Teach employees what to do in the event of a breach. Prevention Purchase security software as it is vital to help protect your business from various attacks. At a bare minimum, have a firewall and anti-virus software that is updated frequently. Have a back-up of your systems performed nightly with recent copies of that data stored off-site or in the cloud. Make sure you have security updated on often overlooked items such as phones, tablets, and laptops. Maintenance Keep your operating system software patched and up to date. Keep other programs such as Flash and Java up to date with latest versions. Keep your anti-virus software updated with the most recent definitions. Professional Support These tips will help you get started with the security of your business but it is always a good idea to seek the help of professionals who focus on these matters. They will be able to give you a more accurate picture of where you are at regarding security and the measures that need to be followed for your business in particular. Partnering with a strong IT company can help in a variety of ways; from developing policies, to performing security assessments/penetration tests, and also by implementing any recommendations to fix deficiencies found in an assessment or audit. Previous Article Four Ways to Maximize your Online Presence Next Article Tablets, Laptops, Desktops: Decisions, Decisions Print