The good news? The best cybersecurity steps any small business can take are often simple and cost-free, says Andrew Pade, general manager of cyber defence operations and security integration at CommBank, a view echoed by the theme of October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month, “Secure our world”.
The idea: there are simple ways to protect yourself and your business from online threats.
“By following a few basic steps, small businesses can mitigate most security threats, significantly enhancing their resilience against cyberattacks.”
Understand the threat landscape
It’s essential to get a handle on the scams out there. The common culprits? Phishing attacks, data breaches and insider threats, to name a few. Knowing these is the start of a solid cybersafe strategy but looking at what’s going on in the world around you helps, too. “If there’s something big happening in our country there will be a cybercrime pushing into that,” says Pade. “Threat actors want to leverage how much we care to take advantage of us.” Strong access controls as well as complex passwords and phrases are your best friends here. And for an extra layer of security, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Educate your employees
Here’s a question that all small business owners should know the answer to: who has privileged access within your organisation? “Your employees can be the strongest defence or the weakest link in a company’s cybersecurity,” says Pade, noting that using free and reputable programs like Cyber Wardens to teach staff to identify phishing attempts and other malicious activities is a no-brainer. Employees are your first line of defence against cyberthreats so keeping them prepared is key. And make sure you have policies on the acceptable use of company email, devices and internet.
Never miss an update
“Keeping all your systems patched and updated is a must for small businesses wanting to stay safe from cyberthreats,” says Pade, noting that this is free for many systems. Hackers love to exploit outdated software so by regularly updating your operating systems, apps and security software, you’re closing gaps that they could sneak through. It’s a bit like giving your digital defences a fresh coat of paint – keeping everything in top shape to fend off attacks. Plus, staying on top of updates helps protect your sensitive data. It’s a straightforward but effective way for you to keep your business secure.
Visit cyber.gov.au to find out more about Cyber Security Awareness Month and other ways for small businesses to keep safe. You can also learn how to protect yourself from scams.