Small businesses are under the impression that they are not a target of cybercriminals since they are ‘too small’ and are not a billion-dollar company. This couldn’t be any further from the truth. As per a market study, more than 40 percent of cyber-attacks are aimed at small businesses, and most of them are clueless about how to handle the situation. This is something that a managed IT security service provider can assist with.

If your business is hacked, bad actors can inflict significant damage if they gain access to sensitive data like

• Client lists
• Customers’ credit card information
• Proprietary product designs
• Manufacturing procedures
• Company’s banking details

How to Prevent This from Happening

Although there are many security measures that you can take, today, we will mention the topmost techniques that will help you avoid the losses that can occur from a cyber-attack.

1. Layered network access – You should not provide a single person access to all data systems. Employees should be given access to only those parts of the IT network that they need for their daily work. They should also not be able to perform any software installation without prior permission.
2. Cybersecurity policy for remote/hybrid workforce – The number of cyber-attacks has seen exponential growth after the pandemic as employees started working in remote or hybrid environments using unsecured networks. Thus, organizations need a clearly-defined cybersecurity policy that lists the security approaches to be adopted to safeguard their remote employees and their devices, and ultimately, your business network.
3. Cybersecurity awareness training – Since small businesses have several employees that wear many hats, they must be aware of all the best cybersecurity practices and policies. Business owners must ensure that the cybersecurity training program is comprehensive and up to date with the information to combat the latest cyber threats.
4. Routine backups – Even implementing the latest cybersecurity measures may leave a tiny wiggle room for hackers to breach your network. In case that happens, having a complete backup of your spreadsheets, databases, and employee details is crucial. Storing this data on the cloud or in a secure data center will serve you well in the long run.
5. Antivirus, anti-malware, and software patches – You need the latest protection for your confidential business data from sophisticated cyber-attacks. Antivirus and anti-malware are two of the best tools you can possess to shield your network from breaches. Managed IT security service providers implement cutting-edge technologies and routine software patches to ensure that your hardware and software are safe from harm.

Ending Note

Deploying these measures will help your organization reinforce its security posture, thwarting incoming cyber-attacks and deterring future ones. If your business suffers minimal cyber incidents, productivity increases, and so do the profits. Isn’t that what all companies want?

One82 is a Managed IT Service Provider that helps small businesses realize their objectives by providing 360-degree IT support. Our team of experts becomes part of your organization to manage your daily IT activities effectively. With mature and reliable cybersecurity and cloud solutions, we take our client’s IT architecture to the next level.

We have only one objective in mind – to make seamless organizational workflow possible for our clients. Contact us today to upgrade your business.