5 Mistakes and your Small Business Get Hacked

Do small business get hacked?

Cyber-attacks are fast becoming a commonplace threat to businesses everywhere.  And to make matters worse, many companies underestimate just how susceptible they are to cyber-attacks.  Companies invest heavily in physical security for their assets, but when it comes to computer systems, only the bare minimum will do.  This is the wrong approach considering that everything about business is both computerized, and reliant on the Internet to function.

The Danger is Real

Tech Expert Paula Boyden cautions that, “With small businesses, the threats that come with being online are far too prominent to ignore. This is evident in the fact that hackers today prefer targeting smaller-sized vulnerable firms. Compared to much bigger companies with a full range of available resources and cybersecurity measures, start-ups often lack the fundamentals and tools needed to protect themselves.”

Here are a few examples of negligent practices which put small businesses at risk:

1) Working Without a Crisis-Response Plan

What would you do in the event of a cyber-attack?  What steps would your company take to protect itself after the fact?  If the answer is, ‘I don’t know,’ that means you need to start simulating emergency drills immediately.

2) Using Mediocre Passwords

The easiest way for hackers to cause trouble for small companies is through weak password protocols.  Make sure your company uses sophisticated passwords, and additional precautions such as two-factor authentication to keep accounts secure.

3) Allowing Unrestricted Admin Privileges

If your company uses a computer network, admin privileges should be centralized, and designated to a chosen few.  If every single user on a network can make systemic modifications, security gaps will emerge and give hackers access points for cyber-attacks.

4) Having Weak Firewalls

Malware and Ransomware are usually transmitted through social media and entertainment sites on the Internet.  Firewalls should be put in place to restrict people from accessing non-professional web sites through workplace computer-networks.

5) Failing to Update Software

Delinquent software updates is another frontier that hackers use to target businesses.  Software updates should be conducted routinely, and currently, so that default security features continue to withstand new attacks.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be a big ordeal.  Even the most basic common-sense precautions can work wonders with protection.  If a cyber-attack were to happen to your business, good preparation and digital hygiene, will save you from disaster.

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