This Small Business Network Security Checklist is simplified in order to give you an idea of the main steps you will need to take to protect your business. Ensure your employees are not using “password” as their password across multiple accounts to avoid this risk. Here are a few questions to include in your checklist for this area: Some of the most common types of cyber attacks involve hacking, malware, phishing, and human error by employees. Use separate guest and corporate networks. To reduce this risk, it’s important to educate employees about different types of cyber attacks so they can be more vigilant in preventing them from happening. 1. When you make Nerds On Site your cyber security partner, you are enlisting the expertise of our entire team of cyber security experts with over 100 years combined experience. Clarify shared data and eliminate sharing unnecessary information. Evaluate and test the entire data recovery process. Layered security involves setting up intentional redundancies so that if one system fails, another steps up immediately to prevent an attack. Host regular cybersecurity awareness training sessions. Network security is no longer a nice-to-have. If you have provided your employees with training on your security policies, hold them accountable to follow them. 40% of data breaches from small businesses. Each access point poses an individual risk, so limit user access to specific data they need to perform their jobs. Proactive planning your IT security to avoid cyber breaches. Ensure that you are performing in-depth assessments on your controls and don’t hesitate to ask for assistance from cyber security professionals if you need it. A small business with maximum tangible net worth up to $15 million and the average net income for full 2 fiscal years prior to application does not exceed $5 million 4. Most small businesses work with a tight budget and profit margin. As a small business owner, you might feel that no one outside of your organization is interested in the data that you handle. A small business with 500 or fewer employees 2. The Global Cyber Alliance's (GCA) Cybersecurity Toolkit for Small Business (Use the GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit to assess your security posture, implement free tools, find practical tips, and use free resources and guides to improve your company’s cybersecurity … Identify all third parties (and their vulnerabilities). Every computer in your workplace runs an operating system—such as the popular Microsoft Windows system for PCs—requiring maintenance in order to stay up-to-date with the latest security updates. For example, firewall controls won’t protect you from cyber threats if it isn’t configured properly. If you are unsure of which types of firewall are best for your organization, consult an IT professional for guidance. Corporate Shields is an IT Management company but as our name implies, we are a cybersecurity … Implement multi-factor authentication for extra account protection. This 54-page document outlines NIST best practices regarding the fundamentals of cyber security. Provide encrypted password managers to store passwords securely. Setting up appropriate access at the start of employment will help protect sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands and limits the risk of a data breach. A sole proprietor, in… NIST bridged that knowledge gap earlier this year when they published Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals. What Will You Do When Code Breaking Hits Your Business? Follow our six-step network security checklist to create a holistic security solution to prevent breaches and address issues quickly. Create 2 to 3 backup copies created on a regular schedule, such as every quarter, and to keep at least one copy off-site in case of theft or a natural disaster like fire or flooding. Establish controls between your company and the third-party company to isolate those procedures from the rest of the business. Set stringent criteria for employee passwords to prevent unwanted access. A good way to check is if you see “https://” at the start of the URL in your browser. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the standard security technology used for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser, ensuring that all data passed between the server and browser remain private. Here is an ICT security checklist … One way to make sure system updates are a regular occurrence is to set up company-wide notifications using email, internal messaging systems, and calendar reminders for employees to prevent them from hitting “dismiss” on system update notifications. It is best practice to make a copy of your important company data and create a “backup” of the information using trusted cloud-based technology or hardware such as an external hard-drive. To help your business get started, we’ve prepared a FREE Cyber Security Checklist that will guide you through some of the steps to better data protection. Require employee signatures when implementing new policies. This is a simple checklist designed to identify and document the existence and status for a recommended basic set of cyber security controls (policies, standards, and procedures) for an organization. Rotate your Wi-Fi passwords to keep your network safe. Have you experienced data breaches through employee-owned devices? Quick responses & fixes for hardware failures & IT security breaches, Detailed and comprehensive work to ensure full compliance, Augmenting capacity for your IT services team, 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 4 Types of Security Audits Every Business Should Conduct Regularly, Download Best WordPress Themes Free Download. These statistics indicate that your small company is probably the target of at least one type of potentially catastrophic digital threat. That being said, it is equally important to ensure that this policy is written with responsibility, periodic reviews are done, and employees are frequently reminded. If you don’t have the internal resources to implement security policies, it may be time to consider outsourcing these services to a professional. You may think that hacking scandals are the stuff of major news headlines — a threat for only large corporations. Clarify security elements within the device: passwords, encryption or others. Today’s internet landscape makes it essential that you do everything you can to increase the security of your valuable data and systems. It identifies and explains the most common types of cyber threats and what you can do to protect your business… Consider taking a layered approach, also known as multi-level security or Defense in Depth (DiD). Employees are often the biggest risk to exposing a business to a cyber security incident. They are. Enabling 2FA will require you to enter your secure password and then verify your login through a secondary method such as: 2FA is an excellent way to enhance security, so if it’s offered on your accounts, we strongly recommend that you implement it for improved protection. ), The most critical threats to your business: natural disasters, system failures, accidental human interference and malicious human actions, Vulnerabilities that allow some kind of threat to breach your security: old equipment, untrained staff members, unpatched or out-of-date software, How to improve your security status: appropriate prevention and mitigation steps, Read 4 Types of Security Audits Every Business Should Conduct Regularly. Check out “How To Secure A Business Wi-Fi Network” to discover more network security tips. Cyber attacks are a growing concern for small businesses. Firewalls provide a vital layer of protection to help keep your business secure, but shouldn’t be considered absolute security—firewalls are just one component of cyber security. In 2015, the world’s first “international cybermafia” stole up to $1 billion from more than 100 global financial institutions. Here is a quick checklist to make sure your small business is protected and to help prevent unnecessary losses. At SugarShot, we understand that virtually every company will end up experiencing some sort of security disaster over its lifespan. Although your business might not have billions in the bank, data breaches like these could happen to any company, regardless of size. Loss of vital company data or assets through hacking or emergencies can put a small business out of business. As reported by the 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 43% of cyber attack victims are small businesses. Small and mid-sized businesses can go a long way if they incorporate and implement the following cybersecurity steps mentioned in the checklist below. Each task is outlined in easy-to-understand non-technical terms. Keep backup data in the Cloud or other offsite storage facility. The essential small business cyber security checklist. Small business network security checklist. Network Security… Email is a common entry point for cybercriminals and malware. Require employees to use different passwords for each one of their accounts. In fact, the reverse is true: since small companies rarely invest enough in security measures or training, they end up being the easiest targets for cybercriminals. If your company shares data with third parties across any external portal, it is at risk for theft. As a small business owner, you might assume you're not a target for cyber criminals. Operating a business guarantees that you are vulnerable to a cyber attack, putting you at risk of a costly data breach. EXPECT A CRISIS. Conduct employee awareness training to educate users on common scams and avoidance techniques. Utilize a virtual private network (VPN) to secure company internet traffic. A firewall is a network security device that monitors inbound and outbound traffic to your business network. Whether you’re an SMB or a large corporation, IT security will … Confirm the number of devices connecting to your network. A complete cyber security approach consists of multi-layer controls to ensure complete protection and defence against harmful cyber threats. Perform a Critical IT Assets Audit. Responding to a crisis is easier when a system-wide response plan is already in place. 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