Over 40 percent of cybersecurity breaches last year affected small businesses. Without the budget for a full-time in-house security team, it’s easy to let security slide.
Many business owners struggle to find time to learn about the risks to their business – and then train staff to spot them, too. Phishing attacks on small businesses are a primary cause of malicious cyber attacks, as they’re so easy to fall for.
Protect your small business from cybercriminals: read this quick and easy guide to understand and prevent phishing attacks.
The Cost of Poor Cyber Security
As a small business owner, you might wonder why someone would bother hacking your organization’s data.
In fact, hackers love small businesses precisely because they don’t have the budget or workforce skillset to create hardy security protocols that withstand cyber attacks.
The cost of a cyber attack is often devastating: over 60 percent of small businesses fold after being the victim of a data security hack. The time, money, and reputation repair from even a relatively small breach can be enough to ruin a business.
The biggest culprit? Phishing scams.
What Is Phishing?
Phishing is how hackers get into your database with ease. The most common form is when hackers send an email posing as a customer or supplier.
These emails are sophisticated: they often look like they are from a recognized source, such as the IRS or a trusted supplier. They’ll instruct you to click a link or open an attachment. In reality, malicious viruses get unleashed when this action happens.
Phishing also happens on websites. A website is hacked, redirected to a fake site – that looks like the original. The big difference is it’ll ask for your information, like financial details or logins and security data. Hackers sweep this data and use it.
Three Steps to Prevent Phishing Attacks on Small Businesses
The good news is that preventing phishing attacks is easy with a few simple steps. Employ these tactics today to protect your business!
1. Install Antivirus and Firewall Software
Paying for high-grade antivirus and firewall software is essential. Free programs only do so much – and hackers know they’re often used by small businesses on tight budgets.
Ask an IT expert about the best digital security software to suit your business.
2. Train Staff To Spot Phishing Tactics
Mystery links in emails, spelling errors, and requests for information (when you’ve not contacted a company first) all raise red flags. In addition, websites missing an SSL certificate (the ‘s’ on ‘https://’) are susceptible to malware, for the user or site owner.
Train your staff to spot suspicious emails and websites to reduce the risk to your data.
3. Change Passwords Regularly
Always change passwords every month! And also make sure people use different passwords for each login. It’s easy to get lazy and use the same password for everything.
However, imagine if a hacker finds out this access-all password. Update all passwords and remind staff not to write them down anywhere they can be easily accessed or identified, too.
Hire a Digital Security Expert to Protect Your Business Data
Phishing attacks on small businesses happen all the time – but it doesn’t have to affect your company.
An IT security expert can analyze your system and network, identify current threats, and recommend (and install) the best security software for your needs.
Our team specializes in assisting small businesses and those without in-house tech teams to protect their sensitive data. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help prevent a catastrophic cyber attack on your business.