Cybersecurity isn’t just important to large corporations; it’s essential to every small business, too. Whether you run an online store or have an offline brick-and-mortar shop, cybersecurity measures can help ensure that your business has the protection it needs against hackers, malware, and other digital threats. These measures might take some time and effort to put in place, but they’re worth the investment to make sure your company’s information doesn’t get compromised or stolen. Read on to learn more about why cybersecurity is so important for small businesses like yours.

Why SMBs are an inviting target
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are more likely to fall victim to cyberattacks, because they don’t have extensive security procedures in place. Ransomware attacks—when hackers encrypt a company’s files, demanding a ransom be paid to unlock them—are on the rise: 45% of SMBs experienced a ransomware attack in 2021, according to Ransomware Defense Study.

Why you shouldn’t ignore the threat
Cybersecurity is a big deal these days, but when you have little to no security in place at all, it can be easy to shrug off. Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics and using a growing arsenal of tools and methods. With that said, we’re seeing three main ways they’re breaking into businesses’ IT systems: phishing, malware and SSO attacks.

How cybercriminals find targets like yours
Cybercriminals, also known as hackers, are always on the lookout for new victims to exploit. How do they find them? Small businesses typically aren’t protected by enterprise-level defenses that big companies use, leaving them susceptible to attacks by phishing and social engineering (also known as social or spear phishing). Because they’re vulnerable, cybercriminals can easily target these kinds of businesses with little fear of getting caught. So what is a social attack exactly?

How do you know if you were hacked?
The first sign that you might have been hacked is a sharp spike in server load or network activity, which can cause severe lag. Even worse, if a hacker has gotten into your WordPress-based site and is using it to host malware or phishing pages, you’ll likely see an increase in spam email going out from your domain. In most cases, you’ll notice that something is wrong with one of these things happening – but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem.

What can you do to protect yourself?
Put your data on cloud storage using something like Dropbox or OneDrive. You can also utilize password sharing sites to help you manage unique passwords that are still difficult to crack. Two-factor authentication is also an option if you want to prevent brute force attacks against your business’ accounts. Lastly, it may be time to invest in a security solution that offers SSO (single sign-on) with centralized administration across different devices and platforms.

There’s no such thing as being too careful
Cybersecurity is vital to protecting our personal information, as well as that of our clients and customers. Cyber criminals are constantly evolving their methods, often combining attacks with other threats, like malware and phishing. Don’t risk falling victim—make sure you stay up-to-date on security best practices at all times. Here are a few easy steps to take

Start with these steps from a security professional

1. Back up all of your data frequently (daily) and check them regularly
2. Encrypt sensitive information on laptops and other devices
3. Use an SSO solution with a built-in password manager to create strong passwords and secure access to your business applications
4. Avoid opening email attachments from people you don’t know
5. Use Two-Factor Authentication when available
6. Always update security software
7. Monitor network activity
8. Have a disaster recovery plan in place
9. Train employees on how to detect phishing scams and attacks
10. Ensure all endpoints that connect to your company’s critical apps and data
11. Regularly test your backups
12. Make sure everyone understands what they should do if they suspect a breach
13. Keep track of who has physical access to your office
14. Protect against social engineering
15. Take advantage of free tools like O365 Advanced Threat Protection
16. And finally, never forget: You can never be too careful with cybersecurity!
17. Get help from a professional security consultant