Guardians of the (Digital) Galaxy: What You Need to Know About Small Business Cybersecurity

Nearly everything we do is online these days. From the TV shows we watch to buying groceries, getting our news, communicating with friends, working out, retail therapy, banking, and virtual museum visits...there's really nothing you can do in "the real world" that you can't do online (with some ahem obvious and notable exceptions.) The point is that as technology increases, so will our consumption of - and reliance on - being connected to The World Wide Web. 

As a small biz owner, protecting yourself and your customers from online threats and data breaches continues to be of utmost importance. As stewards of sensitive information, you have no choice but to adopt a serious stance towards cybersecurity.

Here are nine tips to help you stay safe.

1. It's essential to have strong passwords to protect your systems and sensitive data. You can also use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to make things even more secure.
2. Keep your software updated regularly to prevent any security vulnerabilities from being exploited.
3. Firewalls are like bouncers for your network, so make sure they're set up properly to stop unauthorized access and hacks.
4. Antivirus software is a must-have to detect and get rid of harmful software from your devices.
5. Encrypt your data to keep it secure and only accessible to authorized users.
6. Cloud platforms can be a great option, but make sure they have robust security protocols in place to protect your data.
7. Teach your employees to recognize and report phishing attempts to defend against phishing attacks.
8. Ongoing training sessions can help keep your team aware and ready to face the latest threats.
9. Encourage your team to be cautious and verify the authenticity of any suspicious communication before sharing sensitive information.

Remember, cybersecurity is not a choice; it's a necessity. To keep your small business safe from all types of cyber threats, you must be proactive. Don't wait for disaster to strike. It's far easier (and less expensive) to prevent an attack than it is to clean up the aftermath.

For more on the topic of cybersecurity and general IT, check out these past episodes of The Liquid Lunch Project.

🎧 Ep 104: Reevaluating Your Cybersecurity with Scott McCrady, CEO of SolCyber

🎧 Ep 97: Small Business IT with Orrin Klopper, CEO at Netsurit

🎧 Ep 40: The Changing World with Emerging Technology 

🎧 Ep 33: How to Win the Cyberwar with Christian Espinosa