Cyber Security Tips for Small and Medium Business

Keeping business data safe is the number one concern of business nowadays. Due to the rising security breaches on several companies, data security against unwanted intrusion is on everyone’s mind. No matter big or small, IT security is the biggest challenges organizations face. When it comes to small or medium enterprise the impact of security threat is even more severe. Cyber criminals love to target small business largely due to the fact that SMBs cannot afford to implement strong security protocols. Nothing can be hundred percentage safe, but at the same time SMEs can advance the protection environment by acquiring a strong understanding of their external web presence and ensuring it is secure by undertaking penetration testing and minimizing exposure by taking action such as regularly updating security patches.

What is Data breach and how it happens?

Data breach is an incident in which sensitive, protected or confidential data has potentially been viewed, stolen or used by an individual unauthorized to do so. The most common concept of a data breach is an attacker hacking into a network to steal sensitive data. A number of industry guidelines and government compliance regulations mandate strict governance of sensitive or personal data to avoid data breaches. It is a scenario where your company or organizations’ data is stolen. When we check into the company folder and find all information is gone, client files, logs, billing information have all been compromised. Then it is clear that your business is becoming a victim of a data breach cyber-attack.

Most common causes of data breaches

Protecting sensitive data is critical to the lifeline of an enterprise. What can be the most common causes of data breaches?

• Physical loss or theft of devices is one of the most common causes of data breaches: This is arguably the most straightforward of the common causes of data breaches. However, there are many different ways that this can occur. It could be that anyone of your laptop, external hard drive, or flash drive has been damaged, stolen, or misplaced.

• Internal threats like accidental breach (employee error) or intentional breach (employee misuse): This can occur when employees handling delicate data not clearly understanding security protocols and procedures. Data breach can also occur from a mental error, when an employee sends documents to a wrong recipient.

• Weak security controls are often top concerns for protecting an organization’s data: Incorrectly managing access to applications and different types of data can result in employees being able to view and transport information they don’t need to do their jobs. Weak or stolen password has been yet another main concern. When devices such as laptops, tablets, cell phones, computers and email systems are protected with weak passwords, hackers can easily break into the system. This exposes subscription information, personal and financial information, as well as sensitive business data.

• Operating system and application vulnerabilities: Having outdated software or web browsers is a serious security concern.

Tips to prevent Cyber threat

Amid the chaos and the hype, it can be difficult to get clear, accurate information about what’s really going on when a data breach occurs. While data breaches are certainly a complex issue, equipping yourself with basic knowledge of them can help you to navigate the news, to handle the aftermath, and to secure your data as best as you can. The increasing frequency and magnitude of data breaches is a clear sign that organizations need to prioritize the security of personal data.

Latest developments like embracing cloud, deploying BYOD etc. enhances the risk of cyber threat. Employee ignorance is also one of the major concerns. Hackers are well aware of these vulnerabilities and are organizing themselves to exploit. There is no need to panic, especially if you are a small business, but it is imperative to take a decision. Make yourself difficult to target and keep your business secure with these top 5 tips.

Here are the top 5 tips to prevent the cyber threat.

1. Encrypt your data: Data encryption is a great preventive control mechanism. If you encrypt a database or a file, you can’t decrypt it unless you have or guess the right keys, and guessing the right keys can take a long time. Managing encryption keys requires the same effort as managing other preventive controls in the digital world, like access control lists, for example. Someone needs to regularly review who has access to what data, and revoke access for those who no longer require it.

2. Choose a security that fits your business: Cracking even the most secure companies with elaborate schemes is now far greater than ever. So adopt a managed security service provider that can deliver a flexible solution cost effectively and provide a seamless upgrade path.

3. Educate employees: Educate employees about appropriate handling and protection of sensitive data. Keep employees informed about threats through brief e-mails or at periodic meetings led by IT expert.

4. Deploy security management strategy: Nowadays cyber-attacks are highly organized so organizations need to establish a strategic approach so that your entire environment works as an integrated defense, detecting, preventing and responding to attacks seamlessly and instantly.

5. Install anti-virus software: Anti-virus software can secure your systems from attacks. Anti-virus protection scans your computer and your incoming email for viruses, and then deletes them. You must keep your anti-virus software updated to cope with the latest “bugs” circulating the Internet. Most anti-virus software includes a feature to download updates automatically when you are online. In addition, make sure that the software is continually running and checking your system for viruses, especially if you are downloading files from the Web or checking your email.

Actions or measures that can be taken if any, malicious attack suspected in your network

• If when an unknown file is downloaded, the first step is to delete the file. Disconnect the computer from the network and have IT run a complete system sweep to ensure no traces are left.

• Whenever a key logger is detected on a computer, IT should immediately reset password on all related accounts.

• Businesses should have central administration capabilities on their local and cloud server. Controlling which users have access to what files/folders on the server ensures that essential business data is only accessible by authorized individuals.

• Have all business files backed up in a remote cloud server. If disaster recovery is necessary, all files backed up in the cloud can be imported back to the local server to prevent complete data loss.

Perfect Cyber Security involves:

• Determining what assets need to be secured
• Identifying the threats and risks that could affect those assets or the whole business
• Identifying what safeguards need to be in place to deal with threats and secure assets
• Monitoring safeguards and assets to prevent or manage security breaches
• Responding to cyber security issues as they occur
• Updating and adjusting to safeguards as needed

Every day businesses are under attack on multiple fronts, and realizing that data breaches can stem from several different source allows for a more comprehensive protection and response plan. Never assume that your data is safe because you have the best electronic protection, or because you don’t use POS terminals. Criminals want your data, and they will try anything to get it.