5 Ways To Improve Your Small Business Cybersecurity

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By Toby Cox

Published | Updated on
7 min read
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Ever-evolving cybersecurity threats means your small business needs an ever-evolving cybersecurity plan to match. Find out from the experts how you can better protect your business from cyber threats.

How’s your cybersecurity these days?

If you’re like most small businesses, you’ve probably beefed up your cybersecurity in recent years. According to Capterra’s 2022 Data Security Survey[*]:

  • 63% of IT security managers at businesses report that their organizations increased security spending between 2021 and 2022.

  • 78% report that their organization’s security budget is appropriately funded.

  • 80% say their organizations have protocols in place to report cyberattacks.

This is all great news, but don’t be lured into complacency. More than half of respondents (66%) have experienced a data breach in the last 12 months. As hackers and their strategies evolve, so must your business and cyberattack mitigation plan.

In this article, we will examine some of the most common cyber vulnerabilities among businesses and discuss strategies from experts to minimize risks.

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1. Train employees to recognize cyber risks

Careless employees were identified by IT security managers as their organizations’ top cyber vulnerability. Though human error is a great security risk, it can be mitigated through education and awareness programs.

That’s why Nick Santora of Curricula[1] urges formal security training for employees: “One of the best investments a small business can make to protect against cyber threats is a security awareness training program.”

By conducting regular security awareness training, you’ll help workers recognize phishing emails and malicious links, create stronger passwords, understand the consequences of using unauthorized applications, be aware of social engineering schemes, and know what to do in the event of a data breach.

Cybersecurity education will protect them and, ultimately, your business.

Frequency of these programs vary across businesses, but most businesses opt for annual (40%) or biannual (39%) security awareness training.

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The benefit of regularly occurring training is to keep the information fresh in workers’ minds.

If you’re not sure where to start, check out the Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity website[2]. It includes resources for businesses as well as a list of training and education courses you can use.

2. Keep your computers, software, and applications updated

Making sure your operating system (OS) and software is up to date should be a priority. IT security managers reported that software and programming bugs are the second biggest security vulnerability facing their organizations.

Some businesses hesitate to upgrade an OS because they think it’ll be too expensive, too complicated, or lead to disruptions. That might be why reports indicate that many Windows users are still using outdated systems, posing a huge security risk[3].

If you’re running an older OS on your computers, you should upgrade it immediately to reduce your vulnerability to cyberattacks.

If you’re already using the latest OS, make sure you’re updating it frequently and installing the latest patches.

Have a regular update schedule for your computers, or just set them to auto-update.

But there’s more to keeping your computer updated than just your OS: The software and applications you use, such as web browsers and other web applications, also pose potential risks.

Andrew Newman, CEO and founder of Reason Core Security[4], specifically cites internet browsers as a potential vulnerability:

“Using an outdated browser, like older versions of Internet Explorer, can leave a company computer, or its servers, wide open to browser-based attacks. Using updated browsers, and ensuring that the software is up to date, can protect employees from easily avoided cyber-threats.”

Don’t ignore alerts that ask you to update your software. Keep programs updated, and you’ll keep your business more secure.

3. Create more secure password processes

If you think you’ve protected your system by creating a really complicated password, you’re wrong. Your passwords might actually be luring you into a false sense of security.

IT security managers identified weak passwords and authentication as the third biggest security vulnerability facing their organizations.

Caroline Smith, a cybersecurity expert from Frontier Business[5], suggests that passwords are an oft-overlooked vulnerability of small businesses.

“Businesses often assume their employees know proper password protocol,” Smith says. “But that’s simply not true.” Employees may not know how to create strong passwords, or they may practice bad habits such as sharing passwords or using the same password for everything. In fact, more than half of respondents (59%) for Capterra’s 2022 Data Security Survey admitted to using the same password for multiple accounts.

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Smith urges companies to outline their password policies: “Let everyone in your company know what the expectations are for passwords, and provide training as needed.”

One important part of that training should be making sure that everyone in your company knows how to craft a strong password. Too many people are still using weak and common passwords for their data. According to Nordpass’s 2021 survey of 200 most common passwords[6], the password “123456” is still being used for more than 103 million accounts worldwide. This bad practice could be putting your company at risk

You should also consider using multi-factor authentication or even going passwordless, opting instead for various forms of biometric security measures, such as fingerprints, voice scans, or retinal scans for added layers of protection.

4. Encrypt and back up data consistently

Cybersecurity is about protecting data—information about your business, about your employees, and about your customers or clients.

Businesses can protect data by limiting access and encrypting data that is shared between employees.

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One way you can do this is by allowing employees access to only the data they need to do their jobs.

You should also back up all important data regularly. Should all else fail, data backup will allow your business to continue operating and to recover quickly.

But of course, that only works if you’ve backed everything up recently.

As Sonia Awan, previously of Beyond Security[7] says, “Backing up your critical data regularly reduces the impact of a potentially successful ransomware attack. The delta between your last update and the time of attack defines your pain level. Make it short.”

The less time between backups, the less missing data you have to worry about, and the less costly an attack will be.

Ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly common. More than half of businesses have experienced at least one ransomware attack in the past 12 months. Of these businesses, 46% reported they paid the ransom and were able to recover the data, while 20% reported they paid the ransom and lost the data anyway.

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Ten percent reported they were able to recover the data from a backup without paying the ransom.

Steven J.J. Weisman of Scamicide offers more specific advice: “All data should be backed up daily in at least two separate platforms, such as the cloud and on a portable hard drive.”

Daily backups will mean you’re never missing large chunks of vital data, and the separate platforms will keep you secure even in the case of unexpected technological problems or ransomware.

If you’re not already creating redundant backups, you should begin doing so today.

5. Strengthen network security with software

IT security managers cited insufficient network security as another top vulnerability in their organizations’ cybersecurity. Network security can be improved with the use of tools such as network security software and virtual private networks (VPNs) to protect in-house and remote employees.

Among businesses, the most common security tools are antivirus software, firewalls, data backup, email security, password managers, and network security software.

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Your businesses may not need every type of security tool, but it never hurts to take an inventory of the tools you’re already using alongside a cybersecurity audit to identify gaps in protection.

If your audit shows you have vulnerabilities that your current software toolbox isn’t covering, consider investing in a tool that will give your business the protection it needs.

Protect your small business from cybersecurity threats

The world of cybersecurity is complex and changing, but these four simple steps can have a great impact on your business.

Don’t wait to become more secure. Start making changes today, before the next big ransomware attack or phishing scheme hits. You’ll breathe easier knowing your business is safe.

Use our handy checklist to make sure you’ve followed all of the expert tips we’ve discussed:

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* Capterra’s 2022 Data Security Survey was conducted in August 2022 among 1,006 respondents who reported full-time employment. 289 respondents identified as their company's IT security manager.


Looking for IT Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best IT Management software solutions.

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About the Author

Toby Cox profile picture

Senior Content Writer @ Capterra covering software trends and stories of small business resilience. B.A. in Foreign Affairs and Middle Eastern Languages from the University of Virginia. Beekeeper and bookworm. Virginia native. I love yoga, getting lost in new places, and being outside.

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