Cybercrime isn't going anywhere, but you can take measures to protect your small business.
Protect your business from being a cybercrime target.
What you'll learn:
- What drives cybersecurity risks?
- What cybersecurity practices should my business follow?
- How can I train my employees in cybersecurity?
- What steps can my business take to secure its data?
Cybercrime poses a big threat to businesses. According to Netwrix's 2025 Cybersecurity Trends Report, 51% of responding businesses surveyed experienced a security incident in the past 12 months, with 75% reporting financial damage due to attacks.
Other recent research shares that organizations may not be prepared enough against ransomware attacks, which may become more dangerous when powered by AI.
The good news? You can take measures to protect your small business, and you should do so promptly.
Uncertainty drives cybersecurity risks
According to recent research from Accenture, cyber threats are evolving fast. 90% of companies lack the maturity to counter today's AI-enabled threats.
As technology and AI advances and become more interconnected, cyberattacks are becoming more difficult to defend against, resulting in more and more small businesses becoming the victims of cybercrime.
The only way to protect your small business from cybercrime is to take preventative action. Cybersecurity is no longer an option – it's a necessity. It's time to gather your team and develop a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy for your small business.
5 cybersecurity practices every business needs to follow
Cyberattacks are a constant threat to businesses of all sizes. Small businesses are particularly susceptible to data breaches and cyberattacks because they are not always equipped with the proper tools and resources to combat these threats. However, there are still some valuable steps you can take to protect your business. Here are five cybersecurity practices every small business should implement right away:
1. Train all employees in cybersecurity best practices
One of the most critical security measures for small businesses is training all employees on the best cybersecurity practices. This ensures that your employees understand the risks associated with accessing company data and systems, and it provides them with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect themselves from cybercrime.
To effectively educate your employees, provide them with clear cybersecurity policies that outline the risks, the defenses in place, and the steps they can take to protect themselves. You can also offer formal cybersecurity training programs to ensure they are up to date on the latest threats and solutions.
It's also important to ensure employees are trained on internal threats. Outline strict computer policies and require staff to change passwords frequently.
2. Implement role-based access control (RBAC)
One of the most effective ways to protect your data and systems from cyberattacks is implementing role-based access control (RBAC). RBAC allows you to assign specific permissions to different employees based on their role in the company, controlling who has access to what data.
For instance, you can grant certain employees access to the company's email system, and grant others access to the company's digital sales platform. This ensures that employees only have access to the systems and data required to do their job.
This also prevents employees from accessing sensitive data that they don't need, which reduces their risk of becoming a victim of data theft.
3. Initiate automated remote backup and data recovery
Protecting data is one of the most crucial cybersecurity practices for small businesses. One of the best ways to protect your data from cyberattacks is by initiating automated remote backup and data recovery, which allows you to store an extra copy of your data offsite in a secure location.
An automated remote backup and data recovery solution not only safeguards your data from cyberattacks, but it also provides you with the ability to restore your data in the event of a data breach.
4. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA)
MFA requires users to provide additional information to prove their identity when accessing company data and systems beyond just their username and password. This additional information may include a code texted to your mobile device, a thumbprint, etc.
MFA makes it significantly more difficult for cybercriminals to access your data and systems, providing an added layer of security if a cybercriminal circumvents your password. While MFA used to stop at two-factor authentication, it now typically involves several steps to ensure the person trying to gain access is who they claim to be.
5. Secure your Wi-Fi networks
Finally, one of the most crucial cybersecurity practices for small businesses is properly securing your Wi-Fi networks to ensure your employees are connecting to a safe network when they access the internet through your business.
You can secure your Wi-Fi networks by using a VPN to encrypt internet traffic that passes through, using a firewall to block cybercriminals and using a host intrusion prevention system (HIPS) to detect and block cyberattacks.
Prioritize your cybersecurity with help from the BBB
No matter how large or small your business is, cybersecurity needs to be a priority. The BBB recognizes that small businesses face unique cybersecurity challenges, and we are here to help.
Stay up to date on the latest cybersecurity threats and best practices by checking out the BBB business news feed today! Also check out our BizHQ.
Learn more about protecting yourself against cyber attacks.