Here's how you can safeguard your small business data and information in the digital age.

Cybercrime? Not on my watch! Here's my small biz data defence plan: Fortress passwords: Strong, unique passwords for every account. No more "password123"! Software shield: Use up-to-date antivirus and anti-malware software. Patch systems regularly. Backup & beyond: Regularly back up data securely, both locally and in the cloud. Disaster strikes, but backups save the day. Employee education: Train staff on cybersecurity best practices. Phishing scams are tricky, but awareness is our weapon. By using strong passwords, keeping software up-to-date, backing up data religiously, and educating my team, I'll create a layered defence to safeguard my small business from data breaches and cyber threats.

Encryption converts sensitive data into a form that unauthorized users cannot easily access, adding a crucial safeguard against data breaches. Implement end-to-end encryption for communication channels and data storage systems to ensure data remains protected both in transit and at rest.

Do more than consider MFA, your business should require it for any programs or websites being used by their employees. Couple this requirement with a password keeper requirement that would allow for long, strong passwords and MFA, and you have a better chance at minimizing the risk of threat. Also, teaching your team to slow down, think, process, and questions prior to responding to any emails will help reduce the chance of your company falling prey to a phishing attack.

Make sure you have a trusted IT department safeguarding the most sensitive information in the Security protocols. Words to be advised! Humbly submitted

Deploying automated patch management systems streamlines the process of applying updates across your network. These systems can schedule updates during off-peak hours to minimize disruption to business operations while ensuring that critical security patches are promptly applied.

There has to be a buy-in from leadership on the approach to patching. The security leader has to find a way to integrate the maintenance window into the overall IT support process. If management/leadership resists this, they should be advised on the risk this creates. Someone has to make a risk decision or the blame game will be big and very hairy when a breach occurs. Unpatched systems are one of the main vulnerabilities criminals exploit.

The right place to begin discussing encryption would be at the policy level - not unlike other components of the security program. If there's no encryption policy, there's no way to enforce any of the procedures necessary to use this control effectively.

It's not enough to know that you have a backup plan, you need to test it. Otherwise, when the proverbial hits the fan and the stress levels soar, you'll not be familiar with what to do. In the event of landing on water... Cabin crews on planes don't just accept that there is an evacuation plan. They test it in regular training exercises. They brief passengers at the start of every flight. That way, when it all goes wrong, they know exactly what to do, quickly and confidently. That confidence isn't just for themselves. It transfers to those who depend on them, who look to them as the trusted authority.

Employee training, like other components of the security program, also has to begin at the policy level. Security awareness training is critical if employees, the human firewall of the organization, don't know that awareness training is mandatory. Changing a culture is the most difficult task and while it takes time, it has to begin with leadership buy-in and support for such program to succeed.

Insurance is one of the few products frequently purchased sight unseen, and purchasing insurance blindly or relying upon an agent's assurances can lead to coverage gaps. Cybersecurity insurance can help transfer potential financial losses from cyber attacks to a third party if handled properly. Key Steps for Effective Cybersecurity Insurance: - Request Policy Terms: Always ask for policy documents and review them before finalizing any insurance. - Consult an Expert: Have a licensed attorney review the terms to ensure comprehensive coverage. - Understand Your Coverage: Ensure the policy matches your needs and covers all anticipated risks. - Review Annually: Regularly review and update your policy to adapt to changing business needs.

Many cyber insurance policies include clauses that require the insured to exercise due care in their cybersecurity practices. If an organization is found to be negligent, or if they cannot demonstrate they have a formal information security program in place, the insurer may argue that the policyholder did not meet the conditions of the policy, potentially voiding the coverage or reducing the payout.

Don’t take the defensibility of your cybersecurity strategy and safeguards for granted. Internal and external bad actors will eventually find workarounds. Position to prevent and mitigate evolving susceptibility through continuous documented of monitoring, oversight, rational threat identification and mitigation and other defensive actions and process.