As small businesses increasingly rely on the internet to do business, it is crucial to ensure you have effective cyber security measures in place to form protection against vicious cyber-attacks.
Some of the basic measures you can implement to mitigate cyber risks include:
Secure your accounts
- Use strong and secure passwords or passphrases (including numbers and symbols)
- Regularly change passwords and avoid sharing them
- Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever possible
- Ensure each user can only access what they need for their role
Back up your information
- Use cloud backup services, an external storage device or a combination of both
- Also secure your backups by disconnecting when not performing a backup
- Regularly try to restore your backups to test if they are working properly
Update your software
- Turn on automatic updates for your devices and software
- Set up security software to run regular anti-virus and malware scans
Do not leave your information unattended
- Configure devices to automatically lock after a short time of inactivity (e.g 10 minutes)
- Securely store portable storage devices (e.g thumb and hard drives) when not in use
Remove system access
Immediately remove access to systems for staff who:
- No longer work for your business
- Have changed positions and do not require access anymore
Avoid using USBs or external hard drives from unfamiliar sources
- They may contain malware that can infect your business computers without you noticing
Educate your staff
- Raise cybersecurity awareness through a formal course or internal training and this should be done periodically
- Encourage them to visit cyber.gov.au/learn and work through the modules and quizzes
- Have emergency response steps in place in the unfortunate events of ransomware attack
Some useful links
Educational Pack For Small Businesses:
https://www.cyber.gov.au/learn-basics/explore-basics/small-business/educational-pack
Cyber Security Assessment Tool:
https://digitaltools.business.gov.au/jfe/form/SV_0dnd9cF15I8LnH8?ref=bga
Author
May Aung
