For many small businesses that have an online presence, the last thing you want (or need) is to be on the receiving end of a cyber-attack.
Over the last five years, the scope and target of cyberattacks have moved from larger businesses to ones that are small to medium-sized businesses. The reason is simple: businesses that are smaller are less likely to have protection against online attacks set up, meaning it will be easier to get access to data or sensitive financial information. Also, with the rise of artificial intelligence being used to implement online attacks, webpages that are not entirely protected will be at a higher risk of hacks, which, unfortunately, tend to be websites of smaller companies.
So, if you want to stop your business from being on the receiving end of a data breach or cyberattack, here are some simple steps to follow.
Set up Detection
To protect your business data, you will need to ensure that you have a system in place that can spot, inform, and react to an incoming threat. A managed detection and response system (or MDR) is a great place to start, as these highly sophisticated software systems are perfect for businesses of all sizes and scopes. As one of the largest emerging threats is artificial intelligence, for many businesses, it is wise and ideal to get an MDR set up that works with AI to detect and block AI from accessing their systems. These systems can vary widely, so check out the blog on Red Canary for more guidance on which MDR may suit your business needs.
Set up Multi-Factor Authentication
Passwords are so ten years ago! To keep your sensitive customer data safe, as well as your accounts, you need to set up multi-factor authentication. The method with which you do this will differ based on your operating system, but these setups are foolproof (and almost entirely hack-proof) and can have up to five steps to get through to access certain files. Of course, you will need to ensure that all of your staff are happy to partake in the setting up of an MFA, as they may need their photos and fingerprints taken.
See also: How Liveness Detection Technology Is Combating Deepfake Threats
Train Staff (or yourself!)
Artificial intelligence is predicted to be one of the largest driving forces behind attacks on small businesses going forward. Indeed, it has already been linked to highly successful email scams and even has had a role in deep fakes.
This means that it is highly likely that if your business experiences a cyberattack, it’s not going to be badly worded, being sent via email from an unknown address. It will look real and may even involve official language to persuade you, or your staff, to release sensitive data or information. Luckily, there are training programmes that are aimed at business owners and staff, to help you and your team be better at spotting phishing emails and other signs of a potential cyberattack. As human error remains a leading cause of all cyberattacks, this is a step you really don’t want to skip, and even with a small investment, it can save your company millions in stopping a data breach.
