Your network security is essential to your business. A security breach due to lack of network security for SMBs can lead to disastrous consequences, which can mean lost data, identity fraud, or worse. Regardless of the size of your business, your cybersecurity should be important to you.
If your network becomes a target, your operations can suffer and may lose revenue. There are many simple ways you can boost your network security to make your business less vulnerable to a cyber attack. We’ve listed some of them here below:
What Is a Network and Why Is It Important To Secure It?
Your network is essentially the computer systems, programs, and files your business uses. Network security means securing these from intruders through various means. Your network security can include specialist software to protect against threats and physical measures such as keeping doors to computer rooms locked.
It can also include procedures that you have in place for employees to follow to keep data secure. Businesses have become a big target for hackers, mainly because of the import systems and data businesses need to function.
If you don’t take steps to secure your SMB network, you may find yourself and your business struggling against cybercriminals.
Secure Any Routers
The first step for network security for SMBs is to secure any routers that you use. If you are using Wi-Fi anywhere on your business’s premises, you should be sure to check how secure your routers are.
Never use default usernames or passwords. Hackers can easily gain access to these, so it’s crucial that you change them as soon as possible. Change the SSID (your Wi-Fi network name) to something that doesn’t include any data that is easy to identify, including any personal information.
It can also be helpful to create a separate network and password for guests. When creating passwords, it’s best to create one that uses a range of characters, numerals, and symbols and is at least 12 characters long.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
You can take your network security for SMBs one step further with multi-factor authentication. This means that users will need to enter several passphrases or complete actions to gain access. This can include receiving an email or text and clicking a link to verify any login attempts.
You can choose which numbers or email addresses receive texts or emails to alert you. This makes it much tougher for hackers to infiltrate your network.
Password Manager
Using password managers can be a good way to ensure that your users keep track of their passwords. It also means they can store them in a secure place.
Password managers store passwords on encrypted databases and can be great if you have complex passwords or need to generate them.
Managed Service Provider (MSP)
Depending on the size of your business, an MSP can provide assurance that your network has thorough protection. A managed services provider is an IT company that takes control of certain aspects of your company’s IT.
This can include network security and many other services. An MSP will keep your security system updated and secure, allowing you to focus on other areas.
Schedule Regular Backups
Backups are an essential part of protecting your data. Although performing backups can be arduous, they can help retrieve your data easily if you are ever the target of a security breach.
You can also use cloud-based backup services to automate the process and make it more manageable.
Train Employees
Employee training is essential in many areas of business. Network security is no exception. Your employees should know the procedures they need to follow to keep your network safe. This may mean avoiding opening email attachments from unknown email addresses, keeping their computers locked when not in use, and reporting any suspicious activity.
You should aim for a culture of vigilance and awareness and put policies and procedures in place to reflect this.
Summary for Network Security for SMBs
To summarize, the above steps can help you keep your network secure. These are only basic precautions that you can take, so take advice from professionals to be sure that your network is as secure as possible.
We are highly experienced in network security, and we are also legal compliance experts. If you’d like more information, please get in touch with us to learn more about how managed services can help take your business to the next level.
