The leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping, and pumpkin spice everything is back on the shelves. While you’re buying cozy sweaters and creating holiday plans, hackers are gearing up too. They know businesses get busy during the fall and winter months, which makes this the perfect time for cyberattacks.
Just like you winterize your home, you can take simple steps to strengthen your cybersecurity before the holiday rush. Here are five practical ways to update cybersecurity for small businesses.
1. Refresh Your Passwords Along With Your Wardrobe
You wouldn’t wear last year’s worn-out boots through another winter, right? The same logic applies to your passwords. Weak or reused passwords are one of the easiest ways hackers break into business systems. Here’s how to strengthen your password security:
- Create Strong, Unique Passwords: Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid obvious choices like “Password123” or your company name.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a second form of verification, like a code sent to your phone. Even if a hacker steals your password, they won’t get far without that second step.
- Use a Password Manager: These tools securely store and generate complex passwords for you, so you don’t have to remember them all.
2. Stay Alert to Phishing Scams
Hackers love the holidays because people are distracted and click without thinking. Phishing scams especially spike during this time of year as cybercriminals disguise themselves as delivery services, retail companies, and coworkers. To boost the cybersecurity for your small business, train your team to spot these red flags:
- Contain urgent language like “Act now!” or “Your account will be suspended.”
- Include suspicious links or attachments
- Come from email addresses that look almost right but have small errors
When in doubt, verify the sender by contacting them directly through a known phone number or email address.
3. Clean Out Old or Inactive Accounts
Old employee accounts, forgotten admin logins, and unused software systems create vulnerabilities that cybercriminals love to exploit. Here’s how to clean up your digital space:
- Review and Disable Inactive Accounts: Go through your employee list and deactivate anyone who no longer works for you. Don’t wait until you remember months later.
- Audit Admin Privileges: Not everyone needs full access to your systems. Your cybersecurity for your small business will improve if you limit admin rights to only those who truly need them.
- Require Regular Credential Rotation: Make it a habit to update passwords and review access permissions at least once a quarter.
4. Back Up Your Data Before the Busy Season
Unexpected outages and hardware failures can disrupt operations. Add a cyberattack to the mix, and you could lose critical business data when you can least afford it. Here’s how to back up your data the right way:
- Back Up to the Cloud and Offline: Store copies of your data in multiple locations. Cloud backups offer convenience, while offline backups protect you if your network gets compromised.
- Test Your Backup Restoration: Don’t assume your backups work. Regularly test them to make sure you can actually recover your data when you need it.
- Encrypt Your Backups: Keep your backup files secure by encrypting them. Store copies in a safe, separate location from your main systems.
5. Patch and Update Systems Regularly
Stop ignoring your software updates and security patches! Cybercriminals actively look for unpatched systems because they’re easy targets. Before the holiday rush kicks in, make sure you:
- Install System and Software Updates Regularly: Set up automatic updates whenever possible. This ensures you’re always running the latest, most secure versions.
- Patch Vulnerabilities Before They Become Entry Points: Hackers exploit known weaknesses in outdated software. Staying up to date closes those doors before they can break in.
- Update Antivirus and Firewalls: Your security tools need updates, too. Make sure they’re running the latest threat definitions to catch new risks.
Unity IT Offers Unmatched Cybersecurity for Small Businesses
Small businesses need consistent cybersecurity support, not just during the busy season but all year long. Unity IT offers comprehensive cybersecurity for small businesses that monitor, detect, and respond to cyber threats. From managed detection and response to firewall protection, we’ve got your back. Contact Unity IT today for a consultation and more details!