If you’re looking to make a new business grow and thrive, then you’ll need to take online security seriously. A failure to do so might lead to a cybersecurity attack that results in customer data being compromised, which in turn can have major negative effects, including significant costs and legal and reputational repercussions.
Why Cybersecurity Matters More Than Ever for SMEs
Phishing, ransomware, and other threats are prevalent, albeit at a slightly declining rate. According to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey, there was a slight dip in 2024, with around 43% reporting a breach compared with 50% the previous year. However, despite the decline, there is still reason to be cautious. Not every victim of a cybercrime reports the attack; many don’t even know they’ve been involved in one. Nevertheless, there were still around 612,000 businesses affected by the reported breaches, which is not an insubstantial number.
Practical Steps to Improve Day-to-Day Cyber Hygiene
Growing companies seeking to bolster their security might adopt a few simple practices. The first is to ensure that users devise strong, unique passwords. The use of a password manager might be highly effective, as well as multi-factor authentication, with at least one factor being biometric (fingerprint or face scan).
Emails represent the most popular route for attackers, but text messages, as well as messages on platforms like LinkedIn and WhatsApp, should also be covered in any ongoing training.
Securing Remote and Hybrid Workforces
If your team is partly remote, then you’ll need to consider an additional level of risk. What if the data being sent and received by your remote workers is intercepted at some point?
There are multiple different ways you can tackle these issues. The first being a principle of privilege. Only let remote workers handle or access the data if absolutely necessary. The fewer people with access to the information, the less likely a breach is to occur, and, if one does, it’ll be easier to control/pinpoint. Additionally, you should make use of technological tools and apps. A remote access VPN, for example, can be invaluable by providing encryption.
Preparing for Attacks: Incident Response and Recovery Basics
Part of the process of strengthening your business is establishing exactly how you’ll react when a breach does occur. Have a simple, straightforward plan for responding to incidents, built around adequate reporting. Make sure all staff are aware of the process and understand its importance. You want to be able to contain any sort of breach as soon as possible to reduce risk and compromised data.
The plan you devise should be adapted to the specific makeup of your business and its website. You’ll need to understand the threats that you’re most likely to face, and then allocate your resources accordingly.