Hackers & cybercriminals seem to find new ways to attack businesses. Increasing cyberattacks has surprised many security experts, who believe that businesses are still not doing enough to counter cyber threats. The list of threats is also constantly evolving. Hackers always relied on password hacks to again unauthorized access to networks, devices, and systems, but now extensive use of malware and phishing scams has become more common. Small businesses need to be smarter on how they handle and prep for cyber vulnerabilities. In this post, we are sharing a few guidelines that may come in handy.
- Create a cybersecurity plan
It is absolutely critical to have cybersecurity plan and policies in place, including both preventive and corrective measures. For instance, what should an employee do if she/he finds a suspicious email? What kind of steps are to be taken for network security and protection of networked devices, including IP cameras? Do employees have guidelines on how to work safely from home? These are some of the things that must be mentioned and discussed in the cybersecurity plan.
2. Enlist the threats
While no two companies are same in terms of what they do or how they operate, the list of cyber threats are often similar. Make sure that your company and employees are aware of these threats. For example, phishing scams are now so complex that just checking for suspicious emails is not enough anymore. Businesses need to identify these threats and ensure that there is enterprise-wide discussion on the same.
3. Think of bug bounty programs
Small businesses often make the mistake of believing that ethical hacking and related services are meant for big companies and brands only. Running a bug bounty program doesn’t have to be complicated at all, and it could be the best way to find cybersecurity issues and vulnerabilities that are otherwise not detected, or often hidden in plain sight. Make sure that you seek expertise, if needed, to run such a program.
Focus on smaller steps
A few basic cybersecurity steps are critical for every business. For instance, employees should know of how to respond to an incident. Password management tools must be recommended to employees, and they should be trained on how to look for emails, links, and attachments that may contain malware.
Also, guide your teams on working together, and focus on steps like penetration testing, network scanning, and updating all software and firmware products.
