02/10/2025
Is your business safe from cyber attacks - not the most fascinating of topics but hugely important to the health of your business!
Most small businesses (and plenty of larger ones, I’m sure) could benefit from a data security health check every now and then.
Here are some things to consider:
► Use Multi-Factor Authentication wherever possible – it adds another level of security on top and is easy to set up. It only takes a few extra seconds to log in but could make all the difference.
â–ş Strong passwords are a given, but are yours strong enough? The National Cyber Security Centre recommends using three random words, with nothing linked to any names within your family. Changing letters for numbers (e.g. an 'a' to a '4') is not as clever as you think and is very easy to crack. Find more information about strong passwords [here]. If you struggle to remember them, use a password manager such as LastPass.
► Do you have robust and up-to-date anti-virus software? Most operating systems now include it, but is it configured correctly and, most importantly, turned on? If you or an employee uses a different computer at home, is that protected too? And while those annoying update notifications may be tempting to ignore, they contain critical security patches that could protect your device — so make sure everything is kept up to date.
â–ş Back up your data and check that your back-ups are working regularly.
► Be cautious of phishing emails. They are increasingly difficult to detect, often appearing as though they are from someone you already know. If something feels out of character, it probably is — be suspicious. A common attack is an invoice for a service you haven’t used; when opened, malware is automatically downloaded. If a supplier tells you they have changed their bank details, always verify this with a phone call.
â–ş Think about your digital footprint online. Are you giving away too many details on social media or via your website that could make you vulnerable to attack? Consider what you need to share, and what could be kept private, so it cannot be used against you.
► Public Wi-Fi can put you at risk. Make sure you use a secure connection, such as your phone’s hotspot, whenever you’re online.
â–ş When sharing files, only share what is required to work collaboratively on a project. Sharing whole folders unnecessarily increases your vulnerability.
