Many businesses are enhancing their online presence. Web development services for small business enterprises is on the rise in the last couple of years. Business-owners are getting educated in digital marketing. They learned marketing strategies in content writing and social media. As a result, the reach of their businesses expanded. They are serving more customers.
Investing in digital marketing sparked the success of their business. The next thing that they have to consider is stability. After all, success stories could easily lead to downfalls. One of the things that business owners should prioritize is cybersecurity. This ensures that their digital marketing efforts don’t go to waste. But why should they invest in cybersecurity?
The Importance of Cybersecurity
Most people are online all the time these days. According to a report by Tech Jury, humans produce 2.5 million bytes of data every single day. We post five million Tweets. We post and share 95 million photos and videos on Instagram. We send and receive 306.4 billion emails.
These all seem bizarre to think about. But these numbers represent potential customers for businesses. They also represent potential hackers and threats to said businesses. Cybercrime entails data theft and invasion of privacy. Individuals and businesses of all kinds are vulnerable to these threats. Without proper security, it could lead to serious consequences.
A report in CNBC states that an estimate of 43% of all cyberattacks was done on small businesses. Many small businesses find it hard to bounce back from the consequences of cybercrime. As further reported in CNBC, an average of $200,000 cost businesses from a single data breach. As a result, 60% of small businesses that experience cyberattacks go out of business within six months.
Small businesses fell prey to cyberattacks because a lot of them didn’t invest in cybersecurity. There’s a common misconception that cybersecurity is only for high-profile corporations. But that’s not true. As a small business owner, your website could be tampered with. It would affect your services. Your data could be stolen. A million other things could happen. These could hurt your business. They could break the trust you worked so hard to build with your consumers.
To secure the confidence and reliability of online businesses, you must prioritize cybersecurity. There are many ways to ensure that cybersecurity can make a bang for your buck. All business owners have to do is make informed decisions. Here are a few tips to do so.
Utilize Free Online Tools
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) monitors and maintains national and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the country. It’s an independent agency overseen by the U.S. Congress. In October 2012, they launched the Small Biz Cyber Planning 2.0, which is a free online resource that guides small businesses in assessing and planning their cybersecurity needs.
Train All Employees
You don’t need computer science experts to know a thing or two about cybersecurity. The most basic thing your employees must know is how to maintain password security. That means no passwords such as “katie123” or “online1.” They must also know how to control their internet activity. That means that they shouldn’t download files without scanning them first for viruses.
Have Firewall Security for the Internet
A firewall for your business’ is your first line of defense against cyberattacks. It monitors data that comes in and out of your systems. This enables it to identify virus attacks and stop them. Enable the firewall in your business’ operating system. You can also opt for a free firewall software that’s available online.
Get Strong Security Patches
A security patch is another line of defense against cyberattacks. It is installed into an existing software program. It can do many things such as fixing bugs, update software, and overcome security vulnerabilities. Businesses must ensure that security patch management is routinely checked.
Limit Access to Files
This is probably the most integral thing that small businesses can do to ensure cybersecurity. Only authorized personnel ought to have access to sensitive data that the business holds. While transparency in companies is crucial, not everyone has to know the social security numbers of their co-workers. While we’re on that note, it’s also crucial to ensure that important files are backed up offsite or in the cloud.
Cybersecurity is one of the most serious economic and social security threats. Unfortunately, not everyone prioritizes it. What small business owners can do is create a culture of cyber vigilance so that their business and personal data are secure. When they are secure, they can focus on growing their business with ease.