Staying safe online should be a vital part of every business’ every day, and if it’s not, it should be! According to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2018, business cybercrime is on the up. Some 43% of businesses experienced a cyber security breach or attach during this 12-month period, yet just under three in ten UK businesses have a formal cyber security policy in place to defend against such incidents. The year before cybercrime actually accounted for almost 30% of all crimes recorded in the UK, and the threat is worsening.

Making sure your business puts up a vital defence against the fraudsters and cybercriminals that commit these crimes is important. Small businesses in particular are prime targets, but you don’t have to leave your company vulnerable. Follow our top IT security tips for small businesses and protect yourself, your company and your customers from within.

Create a culture of better security

Whatever the size or niche of your organisation, your workers will play integral roles in upholding the policies that will protect your business and its customers from the many cyber threats currently out there. Defining a policy for stronger passwords is a great place to begin.

Weak passwords or use of the same, strong password across a variety of accounts can provide vital entry points into your infrastructure for fraudsters and cybercriminals. Close these loopholes for good by enforcing a policy that promotes the use of more complex, unique passwords throughout your workforce. An increasing number of companies are also introducing two-factor authentication to beef up the security of accounts and transactions further.

Keep hardware and software up-to-date

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies are popular across many organisations too, but again this needs to be managed with security in mind to ensure cyber risks are kept to a minimum. Make sure all hardware and software, whether based in-house or brought into your business as part of your BYOD policy, is kept up-to-date. Updating on a regular basis or when prompted will ensure the devices and software you use can be successfully patched and protected against the latest threats.

Make data loss a thing of the past

Cybercrime can have a detrimental impact on businesses, with many having to close their doors for good as a result. Data loss is a common consequence of cyber security breaches and attacks. Getting onto the road to recovery as quickly as possible will ensure the best chance of survival, even after the most severe data loss disaster. Regular backups take no time at all to complete but can be lifesavers if your business falls victim to cybercrime. Make regular backups apart of your business operations to ensure data can be restored and your business can get back on track in the wake of a breach.

Get the emergency IT support you need

Whether you need help now with an IT emergency or are getting your ducks in a row to prevent or respond to future incidents, finding an IT support provider you can rely on is important. Our helpdesk is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to solve your IT issues. Simply call 01536 216146 or submit an Emergency Support Request to get the assistance you need.