Running a small or medium‑sized business doesn’t excuse you from cyber‑risk; adversaries often target smaller firms because they have fewer resources to defend themselves. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommends limiting employee access to data and systems, ensuring that employees only have the minimum permissions necessary to perform their jobs. This principle of least privilege reduces the blast radius of a compromise.
Another fundamental safeguard is to keep all operating systems and applications up to date. Attackers routinely exploit known vulnerabilities that have already been patched, so businesses should enable automatic updates and promptly install critical security patches. NIST’s guide for small businesses emphasises the importance of installing and maintaining software and hardware firewalls to block unauthorised traffic. Firewalls can be physical devices or virtual appliances that monitor network traffic and enforce rules separating trusted networks from untrusted ones.
Protecting wireless networks is also crucial. Change default SSID names, use strong encryption (WPA2 or WPA3), and restrict guest access. Filtering web and email traffic helps block malicious websites and phishing messages before employees click on them. For sensitive information, such as personally identifiable information (PII) or financial records, encryption in transit and at rest safeguards data from eavesdroppers (NIST).
Finally, document all security policies and communicate them clearly to your team. Good cybersecurity habits start with awareness—train staff to recognise suspicious emails, enforce strong password practices, and encourage a culture where employees feel comfortable reporting potential incidents. By implementing these basic controls, small businesses can significantly reduce the likelihood and impact of cyber incidents.
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