How Does it Affect Your Small Business?
As a small business, think about all of the data you “own,” from names and phone numbers to credit card information and passwords. This information is just as valuable for cybercriminals as it is to you – albeit for far more nefarious reasons.
If you are not thinking about cybersecurity, you are putting your most important asset – and your name and reputation – at significant risk.
WHY CYBERCRIMINALS TARGET SMALL BUSINESSES
You have something they want (information) – and in general small businesses are an attractive target for cybercriminals because they think they are “too small” to be targets, leaving them wide open to attack. IT infrastructure tends to go without regular updates, is configured improperly, or is out-of-date. Small businesses are also less likely to have in-house IT experts, and employees are unlikely to receive cybersecurity training.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS – AND CUSTOMERS – SAFE?
Given the increasing sophistication, frequency, and speed of cyberattacks, how can small businesses protect themselves?
Take the first step. Connect with a cybersecurity specialist, such as Reciprocal Technologies. This Noblesville, Indiana firm offers comprehensive solutions that can be tailored to your company’s needs.
At the same time, there are also some low-tech steps you can take – now – to protect your business. And make no mistake, they are effective. Human error is one of the biggest threats to your business. To combat it:
- Deliver cyber security training to your employees. Educate your team on the latest cyber threats and trends and make sure they take basic precautions.
- Teach your team (and yourself!) how to detect scammers and fraudulent requests.
- Stress the importance of strong passwords – and remind people not to use the same password for everything.
- Make sure your malware and antivirus solutions are regularly updated.
At Home Artisans of Indiana, our goal is to facilitate professional and personal development. By sharing information on critical topics like cybersecurity for small businesses, we build better businesses… together.
Learn more about our community of artisans and how it can help you thrive at homeartisans.com.
