How to Keep Your Business’ Data Safe and Secure

By: Aries Payne

In today’s digital age, businesses produce and maintain tons of online data daily, from internal financial statements and employee records to customer billing details. But storing this information comes with a challenge: cybersecurity.

Just one data breach can be devastating for a small business: It may incur costs to recover lost data and rebuild its infrastructure to prevent future breaches. Certain business operations may be put on hold until an IT consultant locates and resolves the source of the issue. The company’s reputation may also be at risk, especially when customer data is compromised.

Understandably, the impact of a cyberattack can quickly make a new business’ future uncertain. However, strong data management practices can significantly lower your risk of becoming vulnerable in the first place.

Employ Technical Measures

There are a few measures you can take to lower the risk of a breach, without necessarily needing to hire a full IT team to implement them:

Create strong passwords for each website you access for the business. Ensure the password is unique to you and that site and not something you already use for personal accounts.
Leverage multi-factor authentication when accessing different applications.
Frequently update your computer and phone’s operating systems, in addition to other software you use regularly.
Install anti-virus/anti-malware software and ensure firewalls are in use.
Secure your Wi-Fi network and create a unique password for your employees. Customers that visit your business should only have access to a separate, guest network with its own password.
Back up your data. This ensures that you always have a copy of your data in the event of a breach. Ensure the backup is secure and stored outside the business’ infrastructure.

Education is Key

Your employees can be the strongest line of defense against potential cyberattacks. Regular cybersecurity training can help them stay informed about best practices and how to detect potential threats to the business’ infrastructure. The classes can range but could cover:

How to detect phishing emails
Limiting data access within the business or while working remotely
The business’ data security policies

Although most people associate cyberattacks with large corporations, any company, regardless of its size, can be a target. According to Dr. Jane LeClair, Chief Operating Officer at the National Cybersecurity Institute, approximately “Fifty percent of small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have been the victims of cyberattack.” However, with these basic tips, you can start laying the foundation for a strong, secure data infrastructure to avoid it altogether.

If your new business needs additional guidance on ensuring its infrastructure stays secure at every stage, book a no-cost consultation with our IT and cybersecurity specialist, Brad Bricker. He can help you create a proactive plan that supports business continuity before, during, and after a cybersecurity incident.