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Smart Cyber Security Tips for Small Business Owners

Small businesses are doing everything they can to reach new heights. In this digital age, they are connecting to customers through websites and other modes. By doing this, they are making themselves prone to cyber attacks. Small businesses are actually the biggest targets of hackers as they are easy to breach. Juggling sales, marketing, customers, operations etc., puts security at the bottom of priority list, which is an invitation to attackers. Small businesses need to take a few measures in order to protect themselves. They need not be tech experts to protect their data; just a few simple steps can protect it. In this blog we will learn about those steps.

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  1. PASSWORDS –

 Make a strong password. Create a mix of capital letters, small letters, numbers and special characters. Change your passwords every 3 to 6 months. Weak passwords are easy to hack. Avoid using your name, phone number or 123456 etc. as your password. 

  1. TWO – FACTOR AUTHENTICATION – 

Two Factor Authentication does not let you login only using password, one has to enter OTP as well. This helps you protect your data as-  

  1. People without OTP cannot get access.
  2. You will be notified whenever someone logs in.

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  1. BACKUP –

 Information like customer information, invoice, employees’ information etc. are crucial for your business. Always keep them saved at two places – 

  1. Cloud servers 
  2. External hard disks

           This allows access to data even if it is hacked as you have it saved somewhere else as        well. Backup your data every week or twice a week.

  1. ANTIVIRUS AND FIREWALL –

 Install antivirus and firewall on your devices. Antivirus prevents, detects, and removes malicious software like virus, worms and Trojans from computers. Firewalls act as barriers between trusted networks like a company’s internal networks and an untrusted network like the internet. 

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  • FISHING AND SPAM EMAILS – 

Don’t open emails from unknown sources. Emails asking for OTP, Bank Details etc. are spam and used for the purpose of fishing. These emails have spelling mistakes, wrong names, suspicious links etc.

  1. SOFTWARE UPDATE – 

Software gets risky over time. Old software don’t offer protection after a long time. You should update software for your computers, mobiles or websites. Updated software usually has new patches that protect your device.

  1. CYBER SECURITY TRAINING – 

 Cyber attacks usually happen due to negligence. Give your worker training about how to set passwords, identify spam emails etc. Tell them to use a safe USB. Conduct a training session every 3 months.

  1. SAFE WIFI NETWORK – 

Have a strong and difficult Wi-Fi password. Try to have a different Office Network and Guest Network. Either hide the SSID or set a new name and password. 

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  1. SAFETY OF MOBILE DEVICES – 

If you control your business from a mobile phone, then thoroughly ensure its safety. Put screen lock, fingerprint, app locks etc and install antivirus in your phones. Use software that would erase your phone’s data if lost. 

  1. LIMITED ACCESS TO EMPLOYEES – 

Don’t give access to everything to every employee. Give information of concerned work only. This would help in protecting the system as if by any chance a dangerous link is opened, the entire system isn’t hampered.

CONCLUSION

 Cyber Security is no longer a concern  of only big businesses but also of small businesses. Petty mistakes like weak passwords, a click on suspicious email etc., can put your business in danger. Using the methods above one can protect their data without any tech expert.

If you’re also struggling with low sales in your business, this article can be extremely helpful for you. Moreover, if you’re facing any kind of challenge in your business and are looking for expert guidance, click on the link to the Leadership Funnel Program and get in touch with us now.

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Business motivation

Here are 4 Simple Ways to Protect your Business from Cybercrime

Protect your Business from Cybercrime

Cybercrime is on the rise. And in a classic web-based fraud that involved a well-renowned NDTV journalist Nidhi Razdan falling prey to an internet scam in January 2021, the attacks have become undetectable.

Not only individuals but cyber-attacks on MSMEs and SMEs have been on the rise. According to a 2019 study conducted by Accenture, 43% of the cyber-attacks worldwide have small-and-medium-sized businesses on their radar.

In India, there are 6 crores SMBs that contribute around 30% in the GDP as per the Confederation of Indian Industry. Their digitalization can increase their contribution further.

Unlike large organizations and enterprises, many SMBs often do not have sufficient resources and manpower to deal with the evolving threat landscape. Also, the major reason behind the less spending on cybersecurity by small business owners is their perception. Most of the decision-makers in small enterprises did not think they would be the target of cyber-attacks. It is this perception that discourages them to invest in cyber-security.

So how can you protect your business from cybercrime? Consider these tips to upgrade and stay protected from ransomware and other cyber-attacks:

  1. Update Software Regularly

If you do not update your servers and systems regularly, you could leave your networks vulnerable to hackers. One of the most common ways through which hackers gain access to your computer is via code defects, which is also known as exploits

Some of these exploits remain unnoticed for years and can affect all software from browsers to operating systems and more. Hence, keeping your system and software updated will protect the business from cyber-attack.

  1. Invest in a reliable VPN

Virtual Private Network or VPN is software that helps to create a secure connection over a less-secure network between your operating system and the internet. It makes you invisible to hackers and protects your sensitive credentials like passwords, login details, and other transactional information. As there are many VPNs available in the market, it is best to determine your organization`s needs.

  1. Divide, Encrypt & create a Backup Sensitive Data

Data is imperative for any business to make constant growth. So protecting it should be the topmost priority. Hence, protect your data by keeping it behind as many layers as possible. Divide it into different segments and do not keep it in a single source. This approach might appear less convenient, but if hackers try to breach the security, hackers will not get access to your entire data bank.

Use advanced data encryption methods to ensure that in case the data get stolen, hackers will not be able to use it.

  1. Put Strict Limitations on company Computers

Put security limitation on every computer which is used in your company. Make sure that no one can install unauthorized software without approval from your system administrator. This step will prevent any malware from infecting your company`s network and protect your business from cyber-attack.

These days, cyber-security can no longer be treated as a choice. A security breach can prove to be catastrophic for small as well as large businesses. The only way to protect businesses is to upgrade and invest in quality cybersecurity software.

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Startup

5 Ways To Protect Your Business From Cybercrime

Prevention is better than Cure: Learn how to protect your business from Cyber-Attacks
Hacking, phishing, data-stealing are the new buzz words in the business environment. Though cybersecurity is not considered significant enough in small companies, protecting business from cybercrime
should move up the priority list. Cybercrime is on the rise and so it is important to know how to fight it. We tell you 5 ways to protect small businesses against cyber-attack.
1. Keep your servers and softwares up to date
System updates can be time-consuming but some businesses don’t understand that it can help in protecting the data. 
Hackers usually know all about the updated softwares in the market and hence target the low hanging fruits, businesses that don’t have a System security plan in place
2. Train & Educate your employees about the Cybercrime threat
Educating your employees about phishing attacks is the fastest and the safest way to protect your business from Cybercrime
Cybersecurity training should be conducted on a regular basis and the IT staff should be upto date with new technologies 
Educate employees on not to open unknown pop-ups, downloading files from unknown sources
Devising an IT policy for staff will help in protecting small businesses from cyber-attacks; for e.g. not allowing the employees to use office wifi from unsecured devices. This will help in keeping cyber threats at bay
3. Strengthen Passwords
Make sure your password policy forces employees to keep strong passwords- which means, have more than 8 characters in your password, with a mix of special characters, upper and lower case alphabets and numbers. If you just have only numbers or only alphabets in your password, the hacker can crack it in less than 8 secs. For a few longer ones, it is just a matter of hours and your password is out. So frame it with the most difficult combination which you can remember!
Make sure the passwords are changed after every 3 months
The more complicated the password, the better. This will help in protecting business from cyber crimes 

4. Encrypt and take Back up of Important Data

Data is the foundation for many businesses today. Have multiple passwords to open sensitive date
Also don’t keep the data in one source, divide it into various segments 
Encrypt servers, desktops, laptops, mobiles with advanced internet security so that when data travels from one network to another it is not compromised and you can protect the business from cyber-crimes
5. Get Insured
God forbid if a cyber-attack takes place, there is insurance for cyber risk that you can avail. However, there is no insurance in the world that can make up for lost data, but it can off-set the cost borne due to business interruption.
Protecting business against cybercrime
is an ongoing process. You cannot be complacent and should always be prepared for a cyber-attack. Strict limitations and having a security framework that covers all points of breach is the only way to minimize the occurrence of such attacks