Considering that some of the biggest brands and businesses have suffered hacking attempts, data theft, and security breaches, it’s not surprising that we are talking more about cybersecurity. Contrary to what many entrepreneurs may believe, cybersecurity is not a concern for big companies alone. Growing brands and small businesses are equally prone to cyberattacks, probably more so because they don’t take security practices as seriously as they should. It is often necessary to engage IT security services and get the best possible advice on having a proactive stance on cybersecurity.
In this post, we are discussing some of the best cybersecurity practices for small and growing brands.
- Hire the right managed security service
Small companies don’t have the resources, in-house expertise or leverage to have a team for cybersecurity alone. Managed Security Service Providers are the best choice for these businesses, because they can get the experience and knowhow of the outsourced team, without spending as much.
- Focus on basic practices
There are a few cybersecurity practices that must be followed within the organization –
- Ensure that your business is relying on a firewall.
- Update all software and firmware to the latest versions.
- Uninstall any old app or program that’s not in use from every system.
- Focus on creating a clear BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) plan
- Install antimalware and antivirus software.
- Educate the employees
Insider threats are often ignored. Employees have been responsible in numerous cases of cyberattacks and security breaches. People often end up exposing the vulnerabilities of IT infrastructure, and to prevent that, it is absolutely critical to educate insiders. Hire external cybersecurity experts, if need be, to train people within the organization.
- Focus on access management
Even if you have opted to outsource IT security, you have to ensure that access management is clear and in control. Only the right people should have information to the right data and resources, at the right time. Define access control and management, and keep an eye on privilege accounts.
- Test, test and test
Testing network and IT infrastructure for potential security vulnerabilities is absolutely critical. Ensure that testing is done on a regular basis and without any intimation, so that cybersecurity loopholes can be detected and fixed.
Final word
Cybersecurity is a constant thing, and if small businesses want to do better, they have to think beyond compliance needs and create a secure environment that’s safe to operate in.
