During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, discover EIGHT practical tips to protect your business from costly downtime, data loss, and compliance risks.
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Eight Ways to Strengthen Your Business Security This Month
Establish a Cybersecurity Culture
Cybersecurity isn't just an IT problem - it's everyone's responsibility. Leaders should spearhead security policies and enforce them; teams should receive ongoing training and speak up when they notice something not awry. The payoff? 68% of breaches involve human error, making culture your strongest defense.
Implement Multi-Factor Authentication Everywhere
While typing in an extra code or approving a push notification may be annoying, it's an incredibly effective way of blocking hackers from accessing your company's most valuable digital assets (like customer data, email, and business applications.) Stolen credentials fuel over half of all data breaches. Requiring MFA on every critical system lowers your risk.
Govern AI Before it Governs You
79% of SMB leaders say AI adoption is critical for their company to remain competitive. Without proper consideration to it's governance, security, and scale, however, it can increase your risk of leaking proprietary data. Set clear boundaries with an AI Acceptable Use Policy that defines what data stays protected and how employees can use approved AI tools.
Defend Against Phishing & Social Engineering
We've all received it: that email that looks mostly legitimate, but just doesn't seem quite right. Encourage employees to be extra cautious, adopting a "stop, check, and verify" process before clicking links or sending payments. Train employees through regular security awareness training and simulated phishing emails to ensure they're always up to date on the latest hacker methods.
Trust Nothing, Verify Everything
Instead of trusting someone just because they're "inside" your network, adopt a "zero-trust" posture that continuously verifies users, devices, and applications. It's like checking for ID at the door - every time - so hackers can't just slip in. Paired with least-privilege access and timely updates, and your environment is protected rom both external threats and insider risks.
Protect, Back Up and Validate Critical Data
Ransomware doesn't care about your business continuity plan. That's why having encrypted, off-site and read to deploy backups of your critical data is imperative. Organizations with tested recovery procedures avoid paying ransoms and restore operations in hours, not weeks.
Monitor, Log & Respond Quickly
Time is money when a breach happens. The faster you detect and respond, the lower the damage. The average cost of a small business data breach is upwards of $150,000. By implementing real-time monitoring, centralized logging, and practiced incident response plans, you can minimize both financial damage and reputation loss.
Secure Third-Party Vendors & Partners
Your business is only as secure as the companies you work with. In fact, many industries - from healthcare to government contracting - are now requiring proof that businesses hold their vendors to adequate cybersecurity standards. Vet your vendors rigorously, embed security requirements in every contract, and monitor their access like you would your own team's.
Trusted IT Support from a Family Who Understands Your Business Needs
At ET&T, we've dedicated ourselves to supporting businesses like yours with proactive service and dependable technology since 1968. Run by 2nd generation co-presidents Michael and Fusun Bubernack, their daughters Merjan and Emma, and a team with over 150 years of tenure, ET&T believes every dollar you spend on technology should contribute to your business' success. We're confident our service will leave you feeling confident, secure, and cared for with 15-minute response time guarantees, real, local humans on the other end of the phone, and no fine-print surprises.