Keep it locked: Your guide to small business network security best practices

Cyber security

Curious what to do to keep your small business as secure as possible? Read on to learn all about small business network security basics

Is your network secure? More than half of British firms faced cyber attacks last year. About 43 percent of cyber attacks target small businesses, and only about 14 percent are prepared.

Wondering if your small business is ready? Learn how these small business network security tips can keep your business safe.

Train and Educate Employees

You need to create basic security practices for employees. This includes a strong password policy and internet protocols.

You need to make sure employees know there are consequences for violating company policies. Employees should also not download anything on their computers or devices without approval.

Encourage employees to report any unusual or strange happenings on their computers immediately.

Make sure employees know about phishing emails and know not to click on links or provide sensitive information from a link in an email.

Use a Firewall and Install Anti-Malware Software

A major first line of defense against a cyber attack is a firewall. This firewall creates a barrier between the cybercriminals and your data. In addition to an external firewall, you may also want to add an internal firewall for added protection.

If you have employees that work from home, make sure they have internal firewalls to protect their systems. To ensure the employees add this firewall software, provide them the software and support for their home network.

You should also have anti-malware software on all machines.

You also need to make sure your machines are always up-to-date with the latest operating systems, security software, and web browsers. After an update, set your antivirus software to run a scan. Install updates as soon as they are available.

Plan for Mobile Devices

Don’t forget about mobile devices because they can hold confidential information. Require your employees to password-protect all devices, download security apps, and encrypt data to prevent theft.

You should also have a policy about accessing the information on public or unsecured networks. If your employees use mobile devices often, you may want to consider a VPN to encrypt the data.

You should also have a reporting procedure for stolen or lost equipment for any time of day.

Establish Accounts for Each Employee

You need to prevent access by unauthorized people to your business computers. One way to do this is to have a separate user account for each employee. Laptops are easy to steal and should be locked when not in use.

User identity management is vital to your safety because you know who is on your network and can give appropriate access to each employee. You can control which programs and information each employee have access to for safety.

Use Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication

Each employee needs unique passwords to sign on the network. They should also change the password every three months.

You should also implement multi-factor authentication that requires information in addition to a password to gain access. This could be a pin.

Check with how your vendors handle your sensitive data.

Improve Your Business Network Security

Use these tips and improve your business network security. Make sure you create security policies and communicate with your employees.

Keep perusing our site for other insightful information on running your business in the UK.

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