Cybersecurity for Small Business: Tips and Best Practices
Cyberattacks are on the rise, and that means one thing: You need to make sure that your business or organization is protected. Now more than ever, Cybersecurity is a critical component of IT support.
The truth is that no matter what your organization looks like, it can be a target for hackers. In fact, the federal government has warned that smaller businesses and organizations might be at a higher risk than large enterprises. That’s because small businesses tend to be less protected — and they still have the private customer data that hackers want.
Cybersecurity can seem like an overwhelming topic, but it doesn’t have to be. This article will explain some of the known threats out there and discuss some of the steps you can take to protect your business against bad actors.
Why is cybersecurity important?
The most common types of cyberattacks
Advanced cybersecurity best practices
The 4 stages of an effective security posture
Why is cybersecurity important?
Cyberattacks can be devastating.
The estimated cost of a cyberattack can range from tens of thousands to over a million dollars. Part of the reason it’s hard to put an exact figure on the financial cost is that hacking comes with many hidden costs, including intangibles like the loss of intellectual property and devaluation of your brand.
Cyberattacks also force small businesses into unwanted downtime. With your network down and your data compromised, your employees won’t be able to work. This allows the competition to surge past you, causing long-term losses for your bottom line.
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The most common types of cyberattacks
Hackers are constantly adapting and coming up with new threats. There are an almost unlimited number of cyber threats that can hamper a small business or organization today. Threat actors are constantly on the lookout for new ways to exploit a network’s vulnerabilities and stay ahead of cybersecurity measures.
That said, there are certain types of attacks that occur regularly. While you should always be alert to new types of threats, it’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about the most common vectors of attack. Here are some of the attacks that you should be aware of.
Malware
Malware is an umbrella term that refers to malicious software that is introduced into your network without your knowledge. The software is created to harm either a particular computer or a server, or to infiltrate your network for malicious purposes. Malware is often used to steal passwords or other personal information that makes it easier for hackers to gain access to other networks.
Malware can be difficult to detect, which makes it a tough problem for many organizations. There is a wide variety of malware out there, making it even more difficult to spot it when it appears.
It’s helpful to remember that malware usually appears in one of the following forms:
Virus. The computer virus may be the best-known form of malware. By now, most of us are aware of the risks of becoming “infected” by a virus and spreading the “disease” throughout the network. Viruses are capable of reproducing and spreading their malicious code throughout a network, which makes them difficult to remove once they’ve established themselves.
Worm. So-called worms can replicate themselves, just like viruses. This means they can infect your entire network once they infiltrate a single device. Worms get their name because they can “crawl” quickly from one device to another, spreading their malicious software as they go.
Trojan. Trojans get their name from the famous tale of the wooden horse that smuggled Greek soldiers into Troy. Trojan malware can make itself look like a real software program. But once you run it, a trojan infects your system with malicious code, turning your computer into an instrument that can be used to attack your network or let other forms of software in.
Spyware
As its name suggests, spyware acts like an undercover agent inside your network. Once it’s introduced, it goes to work collecting your passwords for various sites. It also combs through your browsing history and any other private data that might be useful for a hacker.
Ransomware
Ransomware takes your computing network hostage. It typically works by encrypting specific files that you need to do your work and refusing to grant you access until you pay a ransom to the hackers who launched the ransomware.
It’s important to note that ransomware, like all attack vectors, continues to evolve.
As more businesses and organizations have recognized the pivotal role that comprehensive data backup and disaster planning plays in undermining the efficacy of ransomware attacks, bad actors have responded by escalating the complexity of their attacks. A “stacked” ransomware attack, for example, incorporates multiple attack vectors and can even involve collaboration with other threat actors who specialize in specific tactics—including targeting backups.
In a “stacked” configuration, a ransomware attack becomes much more effective. A threat actor can not only encrypt your data and paralyze your operations, but they can also exfiltrate and access this data. In what is known as a “double extortion,” an attacker can put additional pressure on your organization by threatening to publish your sensitive information online. But recently, a “triple extortion” method has emerged, which has increased the pressure that threat actors can put on organizations. Leveraging their access to your sensitive data, an attacker doesn’t need to stop at merely threatening your organization. They can now threaten your clients and/or suppliers—anyone whose sensitive information you’ve been storing. In a triple extortion, attackers threaten your reputation by targeting those who placed their trust in you. Triple extortions can also involve the threat of leaking data to the media—publicizing not only your data but also the sensitive information of those who trusted you to keep their records secure.
Prevention is critical. These heightened tactics are being used with increasing regularity and have high success rates against companies with stagnant or poorly monitored security postures.
Phishing
Phishing attacks often use malware, but it’s the method by which this malware is delivered that makes a phishing attack a unique and unpredictable threat.
A phishing attack disguises itself as a real message, but it’s actually a sneaky way to get malware onto your device. Typically, phishing attacks come in the form of emails or text messages. They’re disguised so that they look like they’re coming from an acquaintance or someone you do business with.
For example, a phishing attack might look like it comes from your bank, or even from an online retailer that you regularly shop with. The email might ask you to click on a link or verify your bank account information. You could also be asked to confirm your password.
Be on your guard against phishing attacks. Never give out your password or other private information in response to an email or text message. No legitimate organization will ask you to do so. You should also never click on a link if anything about the email looks suspicious in any way.
Phishing attacks have become more sophisticated and difficult to recognize. As more organizations have taken precautions against phishing, threat actors have evolved and implemented more advanced measures—including increasingly realistic imitations of brand aesthetic and voice. To continue to protect themselves, businesses and organizations must invest in regular, comprehensive awareness training for all staff, and consistently test the efficacy of this training by sending phishing tests to staff members on a regular basis.
Denial of Service
A denial-of-service attack, also known as distributed denial of service, makes it virtually impossible for people to access your website.
This form of attack is more commonly carried out against large organizations or agencies. However, it’s a good idea to be aware of what such an attack looks like.
In a denial-of-service attack, hackers overwhelm a website or network by sending a huge stream of web traffic to it. The traffic is so intense that it forces the website or server to shut down so that customers cannot access it. Denial-of-service attacks are becoming increasingly common, and they don’t always seem to follow logic or reason.
If you ever suspect that you may be the target of a denial-of-service attack, it’s a good idea to limit traffic on your site and set up software that can monitor the traffic flow at different times of the day.
Man-in-the-middle attacks
A man-in-the-middle attack allows hackers to read emails or text messages between you and others in your network. This means that cyber attackers can read your communications with your business partners and staff. Although there are many subtle variations, part of the allure of this attack for many threat actors is its simplicity—a basic man-in-the-middle attack is one of the easiest attack vectors to learn.
Most people have heard warnings against trusting open Wi-Fi networks, but they often don’t know why. Precisely because many of these users continue to use open Wi-Fi networks, there is a tremendous opportunity and incentive for threat actors to employ this attack method. Avoiding open wireless networks is a simple way to deny would-be attackers an open invitation to your data, but it’s only one method of prevention.
A man-in-the-middle attack is the perfect mechanism for hackers to steal secrets and privileged information. There are indications that this type of attack could be on the rise, especially with more employees working remotely. Remote workers often use unsecured networks to send and receive information, making them susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks. If part of your workforce is remote, it would be a good idea to deploy end-to-end encryption on your network-facing devices so that you don’t fall victim to this kind of attack.
In recent years, man-in-the-middle variations have grown more complex. Cybercriminals are devoting energy and resources to countering the rise of preventative measures like multifactor authentication (MFA) and security awareness training—MFA-bypass kits, for example, are becoming more popular. One such kit is the triple reverse proxy, which can insert an attacker into an existing browser session. This is much more effective than luring the user to a facsimile, which can contain recognizable flaws that team members may be trained to spot. By presenting the end user with the actual site, threat actors can more effectively camouflage themselves and harvest cookies, which allows them to access your account without your password or username.
Personal-device attack
Personal- and mobile-device attacks are becoming more common, and that trend will probably continue. The rise of the “bring your own device” workplace means that more and more employees are using their own smartphones and tablets for work. Unfortunately, employees are not always careful about securing their personal devices. This makes them an easy target for cybercriminals.
It’s a good idea to implement an organization-wide mobility management program to protect all your endpoint devices. It’s also a good practice to have your employees use multifactor authentication on their phones or tablets. Organizations can further protect themselves by making this a condition of allowing employees to work on their own devices.
Cybersecurity best practices
Sometimes, small changes can make a world of difference—monitoring local admin rights, for example. That’s often the case when it comes to building a strong cybersecurity profile. Here are some relatively simple practices that can improve the safety and security of your entire organization.
Create strong, unique passwords. Ideally, a password should be at least eight characters long. It should include both upper- and lower-case letters, at least one number, and at least one symbol. Passwords should never be birthdays, sports teams, or other easy-to-guess words and numbers. Passwords should never be shared with anyone under any circumstances.
Each account should have a strong, unique password. Because threat actors have easy access to sophisticated tools, they only need to breach one password to run programs designed to probe millions of sites for matching user/password entries.
In fact, it’s wise to proceed with the assumption that each password you create will eventually be compromised—and prepare accordingly. By creating a unique password, you limit your exposure to that account, which is a great first step. Multifactor authentication on every account is a great additional security measure—at the very least, each of your most sensitive accounts should be protected by multifactor authentication measures.
Keep your software up to date. Software firms are continually monitoring for new forms of cyberattacks. When they update their software, it’s because they want to patch up the vulnerabilities in their original product.
Make sure that you update your software regularly so that you get the latest protection against cyberattacks. However, it’s important that a business never assumes that automatic updates are working without human oversight. There are many variables that routinely disrupt and delay automated updates. The process is often disrupted by machines being offline during update windows and by staff members delaying or ignoring update prompts. Even if your business is strong in every other security area, a lack of careful oversight when it comes to updates can very quickly undermine those efforts and compromise your entire IT environment.
Don’t open emails from suspicious addresses. If you get an email from someone you’ve never heard of, think twice before you open it. Check the address carefully and take a look at the subject line. Hackers are often clumsy when it comes to creating a subject line. If the email looks clunky or fake, don’t open it until you’ve run it by your IT department.
Again, it’s not enough to simply remind staff to keep an eye out for suspicious messages. To combat the emergence of innovative phishing tactics, regular staff awareness training is an absolute necessity.
Secure your personal devices. This goes for your entire staff. If you’re working on a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop, make sure that you have all the latest security measures installed. After all, if your device becomes infected, an attack could spread to the entire network.
Use next-generation antivirus software on all your network-facing devices. Antivirus software isn’t enough to protect your entire network. While it’s a good basic practice, the best practice is to invest in next-gen antivirus software. Traditional antivirus software isn’t enough. Ransomware, for example, works too fast for traditional antivirus software. Next-generation antivirus software, however, can look for and identify dynamic patterns and behaviors that traditional antivirus isn’t equipped to recognize. But, like all components of an organization’s security infrastructure, even next-generation antivirus software needs consistent oversight to operate at maximum effectiveness.
Don’t click on questionable links. If you see something suspicious, don’t click on it. Hackers love to use links to infect your device and infiltrate your network. Be on the lookout for suspicious links. If words are misspelled, or the website logo doesn’t look quite the same as usual, there is probably something wrong. Don’t click.
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Advanced cybersecurity best practices
Basic cybersecurity practices are a good start. On their own, though, they won’t offer maximum protection to your business or organization. Here are some of the more advanced best practices.
Proactive Security
A proactive security approach means that you look out for problems before they arise, and you take steps to protect yourself ahead of time. A proactive approach puts you in a position of power and security.
On the other hand, a reactive security approach means that you don’t take any action until after a problem has revealed itself. A reactive approach may mean that you scramble to pick up the pieces after a ransomware attack, or after hackers have crashed your network.
Next-Level Services
A quality managed service provider (or MSP) can proactively introduce services to keep your business secure from cyberattacks. Those services may include network security scanning, 24-hour network threat monitoring, and employee education. As you’ll see, partnering with an MSP can help you establish a highly effective security posture.
The 4 stages of an effective security posture
A strong security posture includes four stages, each of which is equally important. In order to achieve the highest level of safety possible, you will need to invest in fortifying your business’s capabilities in each stage.
Prevention
Prevention is the bedrock of a good security posture. You can prevent attacks by minimizing the opportunities for cyber attackers to enter your network in the first place.
An MSP can help you enormously at this stage by monitoring your network, implementing user controls, and educating your workforce so that everyone is alert to scams.
Detection
No matter how careful you are, cyber threats will inevitably appear. That’s why it’s so important to carry out thorough threat detection. If you can spot attacks before they reach you, you can evade those attacks.
An MSP can help make sure that you have the technology and the know-how to detect and identify an attack when it does get through your network protections. They can run a combination of detection and diagnosis and come up with the correct response to any problem that does arise.
Response
Having the correct response to threats is a game-changer. After an attack is detected, you need to be prepared to quickly protect yourself from whatever is threatening your network.
A good MSP is poised to respond quickly. They can patch your software or quarantine infected devices or servers, minimizing the overall damage to your network. Taking the right steps at the right moment, and taking those steps decisively, can make all the difference when it comes to your business’s resilience in the face of attack.
Recovery
No matter how well you prepare, there is always the possibility that you will be hit with a damaging cyberattack. If this does happen, you will need to have an effective recovery plan in place.
An MSP can help you create and implement a solid recovery plan. That means a comprehensive data backup and recovery plan, as well as replacement servers and devices as needed.
Next Steps
Hopefully, this piece has given you a sense of what some of the biggest cyber threats look like and how you can mitigate them.
However, there’s still a missing piece of the puzzle. Each business or organization is unique. Which threats are particularly dangerous for your business? What are your vulnerabilities? What does your organization’s unique security posture look like today?
Each business has slightly different security needs. That’s why it’s always a good idea to consult with a managed service provider to discuss the best approach to protecting your business’s assets.
A qualified MSP can carry out a top-to-bottom assessment of your network and identify all of your existing vulnerabilities. They can assess your level of risk and highlight areas of improvement. Cybersecurity is a critical component of a comprehensive managed IT support plan.
Improving your security posture may sound like a daunting task. But it’s really just a matter of working steadily toward a goal. When you team up with an MSP, they can help you with every stage of the process, including reviewing your internal processes and investing in employee education. This strategic partnership can help you create stronger network and endpoint protections so that your data will be shielded at every point.