Let’s talk cyber hygiene. Think of it like handwashing for your business—but instead of germs, you’re scrubbing away hackers, viruses, and cyber chaos.
Not glamorous? Nope. Totally necessary? Absolutely.
According to IBM’s 2023 Cost of a Data Breach Report, 82% of data breaches involved cloud-stored info, and most could’ve been stopped with basic safety steps. Translation: the simple stuff still works.
So if you’re skipping the cyber basics, you’re basically inviting trouble in for coffee.
Here are 4 cyber hygiene must-dos every small business needs to lock down:
1. Lock Down Your Network
Use a firewall (like a security gate for your WiFi), encrypt sensitive data, and hide your WiFi name (SSID). Your router should have a strong password. Remote workers? Make them use a VPN—it’s like a secure tunnel to your business.
2. Train Your Team Not to Fall for Traps
Your employees don’t need to be hackers—but they do need basic safety smarts. Teach them how to:
- Create strong passwords
- Use multifactor authentication (MFA)
- Spot sketchy emails and links
- Handle sensitive data like pros
3. Back It Up or Risk Losing It All
Hard truth: stuff happens. Systems crash. Hackers strike. If you don’t have backups, you could lose important files forever. Set up automatic backups to the cloud or a secure offsite location. Save your documents, spreadsheets, HR files, finance data—you know, the lifeblood of your business.
4. Don’t Let Everyone Have the Keys
Only give employees access to the data they need to do their jobs. Nobody (except maybe your trusted IT folks) should have access to everything. And when someone leaves the company? Yank their access, stat.
A Little Effort Now Saves a Lot of Pain Later
Yes, setting this all up can feel like a chore. But you know what’s worse? Getting hacked and watching your business grind to a halt because of it.
Not Sure Where You Stand?
We’ve got you. Our free Cybersecurity Risk Assessment will sniff out the weak spots in your system and give you a fast, easy plan to tighten things up.
Schedule yours now here.
Because good cyber hygiene isn’t just smart—it’s survival.
