Cybersecurity is no longer an option for all businesses, no matter the size. With cyberattacks, data breaches and phishing scams on the rise, protecting your business systems, customer information and financial data is critical to long-term success.

As a business owner, there’s a lot to juggle between day-to-day operations and planning for its future. Unfortunately, cybersecurity is one area that some business owners might not think about until it’s too late.

These are some steps you can take to help keep your company protected.

Regular Training and Retraining

Ensure all employees (new and existing) understand your cybersecurity policies, including how to spot a phishing attempt, conceal customer data and how to protect their devices. By setting and keeping expectations, you can create a first line of defense.

Ongoing cybersecurity awareness training helps reduce human error, which is one of the leading causes of data breaches. Consider short refresher sessions or annual training programs to keep security top of mind.

Secure Your Wi-Fi Network

It is important that the only people using your Wi-Fi network are your employees or other business partners you trust. Make sure your network is secure, encrypted, hidden and password protected.

Using a secure business Wi-Fi network helps prevent unauthorized access to sensitive systems and data. Avoid using public or unsecured networks for business operations whenever possible.

Back Up Your Data

It is crucial to back up your company’s data – such as customer information, databases, finances and human resources files. If you choose to back up to a physical device in lieu of the cloud, be certain to keep it offsite. Establish a pattern of regularly backing up your data to stay as up-to-date as possible.

Regular data backups can help your business recover quickly from ransomware attacks, system failures or accidental data loss. Automated backups can reduce risk and improve business continuity.

Change Passwords

Ensuring both you and your employees are regularly changing your passwords is an important habit to create. The recommended cadence for updating passwords is once every three months. Another way to guard against scammers is to use multifactor authentication, which requires a second passcode to access your network.

Strong passwords should be unique, complex and never reused across systems. Multifactor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection even if a password is compromised.

Provide a Firewall

A firewall monitors your network and blocks certain traffic based on security rules. Make sure to enable your operating system’s firewall or research other installable firewall options to find what’s right for your business. Also, ensure your employees install the latest software updates on their devices to take full advantage of security enhancements.

You’ve worked hard to build your company, so be sure to protect it from cyber threats as you grow. Preventative measures and company-wide habits can prevent your valuable information from falling into the wrong hands.

By investing in cybersecurity best practices, your business can reduce risk, build customer trust and support long-term growth in an increasingly digital world. Ameris Bank has you covered on a variety of resources designed to help businesses succeed.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Ameris Bank does not endorse nor is affiliated with the companies listed in this article.

Sources: https://www.fcc.gov/communications-business-opportunities/cybersecurity-small-businesses