1 Understand Your Risk
Small businesses are prime targets because they often have valuable data but weaker security than large enterprises.
- 43% of cyber attacks target small businesses
- 60% of small businesses close within 6 months of a major breach
- Average cost of a breach for small business: $120,000+
- Most attacks come through email (phishing) and weak passwords
2 Secure Employee Accounts
Your employees are your first line of defense - and your biggest vulnerability if not properly trained and equipped.
- Require unique, strong passwords for all business accounts
- Mandate 2FA/MFA on email, financial, and critical business systems
- Use a business password manager (LastPass Teams, 1Password Business)
- Create separate admin accounts - don't use admin for daily work
3 Protect Your Email
Email is the #1 attack vector for businesses. A single clicked link can compromise your entire company.
- Use a business email provider with built-in security (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365)
- Enable spam filtering and phishing protection
- Train employees to verify requests for money or sensitive info by phone
- Implement DMARC, DKIM, and SPF to prevent email spoofing
4 Secure Your Network
Your business network is the backbone of your operations. If it's compromised, everything is at risk.
- Use a business-grade firewall (not consumer routers)
- Segment your network: separate guest Wi-Fi from business operations
- Use VPN for remote workers accessing company resources
- Regularly audit who has access to what
5 Back Up Everything
Ransomware can encrypt all your files in minutes. Without backups, you're at the attacker's mercy.
- Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite
- Test restoring from backups quarterly
- Keep at least one backup offline (air-gapped) from ransomware
- Back up cloud data too - SaaS providers don't always protect your data
6 Create Security Policies
Written policies set clear expectations and give you recourse when employees don't follow security practices.
- Acceptable Use Policy: What employees can/can't do on company devices
- Password Policy: Requirements for password strength and rotation
- Incident Response Plan: What to do when something goes wrong
- Data Handling Policy: How to protect customer and business data
7 Train Your Team
The best security technology fails if your people don't know how to use it or recognize threats.
- Conduct security awareness training at least annually
- Run simulated phishing tests to identify vulnerable employees
- Make security part of onboarding for new hires
- Create a culture where reporting suspicious activity is encouraged
8 Get Cyber Insurance
Even with good security, breaches happen. Cyber insurance helps you survive the financial impact.
- Coverage typically includes: breach response, legal fees, notification costs
- Many policies include access to incident response teams
- Costs vary based on industry, size, and security posture
- Some policies require specific security controls to be in place
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Our team specializes in helping small businesses identify and fix security gaps before attackers find them.