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Small businesses are becoming more prone to cyber-attacks. Hackers are stealing data and using this to blackmail small businesses into paying out. If you’re a small business, here are a few ways that you can ward off hackers.   

Keep digital security software renewed

Most of us have digital security software installed on our computers, but not all of us make sure that it’s continuously updated. Newer digital security programmes update automatically, whilst older ones may not. Make sure that you’ve got the latest digital security installed otherwise you could be opening yourself up to new viruses and threats.

Regularly change passwords

Passwords are still the weakest point of entry. Make sure that you’re using complex passwords and not simple ones that are memorable but easy to guess. Change these passwords on a regular basis to make them more secure, especially if you have employees working for you who have access to these passwords (there have been stories of employees leaving on bad terms and then making passwords public).

If you need to have a password list, make this physical or put it in a non-obvious folder with a name that doesn’t shout ‘password list’ – if someone does gain access to your network you don’t want them having easy access to all your accounts and log-in details.

An easy password reset question can be just as much of a threat so take caution here too. A question such as ‘name your first school’ can be found online with some thorough research. Use questions that people won’t be able to find the answer to or get creative and lie – putting your mum’s maiden name for ‘what was your first school’ is sure to throw off hackers, so long as you remember this trick answer yourself.

Back up your data

Ransomware is a common form of cyberattack that involves holding all your data under ransom. Ransomware hackers usually threaten to delete all your data unless you pay out. By backing up your data, you can stop such a threat from having any impact. If you’re backing up your files on the cloud, consider going through a business-specialist cloud storage service. There are data backup services for business that offer more protection than your standard cloud server. Alternatively, you could hold physical back-ups of some documents such as contracts and other important documents.

Filter out dodgy emails

Another way in which hackers often gain access to businesses is through malicious emails. Hackers may pose convincingly as your bank or even a client in order to try and get personal details out of you. Other emails may contain links that direct you to sites infested with viruses.

Installing a spam filter on your email service can help to phish out these dodgy emails. You should always double-check that an email is from a trusted source before giving out sensitive information and should never click on links contained in suspicious emails. Make sure to tell all you employees the importance of this.