Networking Cyber Security Guide for SMBs

It only takes a few moments for a normal day at your company to turn disastrous. You might be surprised to learn that the cybercrime industry is projected to cost the world over $10 trillion annually by 2025. A large portion of this value will stem from the sensitive data companies procure from businesses.

The good news is there are steps you can take to bolster your company's networking cyber security. We've created a guide that can help you hit the ground running and avoid issues you may have otherwise encountered. Let's explore the key information you should keep in mind when moving forward so you can get the best results for your needs.

1. Train Your Employees

Without the right training, you risk having your employees make mistakes. Even a single incident can result in catastrophe.

For instance, one of your workers could fall victim to a phishing attack and accidentally divulge sensitive information. A scenario like this could result in extensive downtime and damage your company's reputation. It's best to hold multiple trainings per year to minimize the chance of contingencies.

2. Carry Out Risk Assessment

To protect yourself effectively, you'll need to understand the areas with the most concern. For instance, you might operate in the finance industry and hackers could be after your customer databases. The more insight you have into problem areas, the easier it will be for you to take the appropriate course of action.

3. Deploy Antivirus Software

No matter how trained your team is at recognizing cyber threats, you'll still need to have the right software in place. This will help ensure you prevent issues from arising that could cause major problems for your organization.

This software isn't effective if you don't consistently update it, though. Never use outdated antivirus applications, as these could lead you to mistakenly believe you're protected when you aren't.

4. Work With Reputable Third-Parties

If your company works with third-party services, they must take data protection seriously. The last thing you want is for them to experience a data breach that allows hackers to gain access to your information.

They should also have a robust data backup policy that allows them to quickly recover if things go awry. This is especially useful for dealing with a ransomware attack.

These aim to encrypt information and leave it inaccessible until the ransom is paid. The FBI recommends against doing so, however, as this money will be used to fund future attacks.

5. Back up Your Files Regularly

Don't rely on a third party to back up your information for you. Regularly do so at your company so you can pull necessary information if issues manifest.

These won't always be cybercrime-related, either. A file could become corrupt and prevent you from accessing it, for example.

6. Encrypt Key Information

Sensitive info shouldn't be able to be freely read by those who have access to it. Encryption adds another layer of protection and goes a long way toward keeping information as safe as possible.

In context, it works by replacing the original data with a series of meaningless characters. Without the proper decryption key, the user won't be able to decipher the information. This means that hackers could breach your organization's defenses and gain access to this data but won't be able to read it.

7. Limit Access to Sensitive Data

Access control goes a long way toward keeping your company's information safe. These policies involve using multifactor authentication and zero-trust to ensure that data never falls into the wrong hands.

Multifactor authentication requires the user to provide multiple forms of identification before access is granted. This could be a combination of a password, birthday, employee ID number, etc.

Zero-trust is a policy that refuses to trust any user regardless of how many times they've accessed information in the past. They'll need to authenticate themselves each time they work with certain data, even if they accessed it five minutes ago.

8. Secure Your Wi-Fi Network

Wireless networks are common entry points for hackers. If they can establish a foothold in your company's Wi-Fi network, they could potentially view and manipulate the information sent over it.

One of the best ways to keep your network secure is by actively monitoring it for threats. As soon as issues arise, you can take action to resolve them and prevent further complications.

9. Ensure a Strong Password Policy

Global cyberattacks increased in 2023, and they're showing no signs of slowing down. Hackers don't always use complex methods to steal the information they're after. There are plenty of times when they simply try to guess the password to the victim's account.

Establish a password policy at your organization that requires the use of strong login credentials. Avoid using personal information, such as birthdays or names of pets, during password creation. You can also use a password manager to generate complex passwords and keep track of them.

10. Guard Against Physical Theft

Stolen devices that fall into the wrong hands are enormous business security concerns. Many people mistakenly believe their computers, tablets, smartphones, etc. are safe as long as they have passwords. Experienced hackers have access to powerful software that can circumvent these barriers.

It's crucial to protect against physical theft to prevent issues like these from occurring. You can achieve this by establishing usage and storage policies.For example, remote workers who receive a company device should be prohibited from using it anywhere except a dedicated room in their home. Devices at your workplace should be properly secured outside of business hours, as well.

Never Neglect Networking Cyber Security

Without the right networking cyber security, you risk encountering many complications that put your company's data in danger. The information in this guide will help ensure you make the best choices for your needs and maintain your data appropriately.

At Eagle Point, we specialize in offering technology solutions to small and medium-sized businesses across the country. We strive to deliver timely results that don't sacrifice quality. You'll learn more about what we can provide when you get in touch with us today.