Cybercrime is rife today and if you have a small business then just as you would secure your office, lock the doors, keep the money safe, etc., you now have to take the same precautions, if not more with your cybersecurity. While you might think that you are doing enough, do you even know what kinds of cybercrimes could happen?

According to XBASE Technologies, if a hacker gets access to your computer with you as the admin, they could install other malicious software, change settings, or even completely hijack the machine. However, if a hacker gets access to a computer used to manage the overall network, they could gain control of the entire network and do as they please. It’s better to be safe than sorry so to protect yourself and your business, you need to make sure you are doing the following.

Use a Firewall

One of the first lines of defence in a cyber-attack is a firewall which provides a barrier between your data and cybercriminals. You could also install an internal firewall as well to provide additional protection. If you have employees who work from home or remotely, then they need to install a firewall on their home network as well.

Document Your Cybersecurity Policies

It is essential to document your Cybersecurity protocols and if you don’t know how to do this then have a look at the Small Business Administration (SBA) ‘s Cybersecurity portal which provides online training, checklists, and information specific to protect online businesses.

Educate Your Employees

It is essential that all employees accessing the network be trained on your company’s network cybersecurity best practices and security policies. However, this isn’t just a one time job because policies are evolving all the time as cybercriminals become savvier. Because of this, it is essential to have regular updates on new protocols.

Enforce Safe Password Practices

While employees do find changing their passwords very annoying, the Verizon 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report found that 63 per cent of data breaches happened due to lost, stolen or weak passwords.

Regularly Back up Your Data

Even though you want to prevent any attacks, it is still possible that they may happen, so it’s important to back up your data just in case. The SBA recommends backing up word documents, spreadsheets, databases, financial files, human resources files, and accounts receivable and payable files as well as any data stored in the cloud. Make sure that these backups are stored in a separate location in case of fire or flood and you should also check your backup regularly to make sure that it is working properly.

Install Anti-Malware Software

You might think that your employees will know never open phishing emails, however, according to the Verizon 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report, 30 per cent of employees opened phishing emails, which was a 7 per cent increase from 2015. Since phishing attacks involve installing malware on the employee’s computer when the link is clicked, it’s essential to have anti-malware software installed on all devices and the network.