Cybersecurity & Small Business During The Holidays

In today's digital age, protecting your small business against cybercrime is absolutely essential. With the Holiday Shopping season upon us, cyber attacks can become a problem in the blink of an eye for small business owners.

If you have a small business or startup, a cyber attack can quickly cause major setbacks that in some cases can take months or years to bounce back from. We want all of our MintBuilder Community, Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners to have a safe, successful holiday shopping season. So we paired up with our own IT team to create a list of things to consider for protecting Your business and Yourself this Holiday Season. Although many may not apply, we encourage you to read through the safety points so you can become familiar with what to look out for.

Here are some practical steps to safeguard your business from online threats:

Stay Wary of Emails: Don't open emails from contacts you haven't been in touch with for a while. Always reach out to them first to confirm their authenticity. Even the most authentic looking email can be a phishing or virus scam.

Verify Email Coupons: Before clicking on or opening any emailed coupons or offers, check the email address they came from. If it seems unrelated to the company or you don't recall subscribing to the list, exercise caution.

Beware of Browser Add-Ons: Be extra cautious when considering browser add-ons. These extensions have full access to your web activity, so make sure they are trustworthy and necessary.

Strong Passwords: Encourage the use of strong, unique passwords for all accounts and systems. Consider implementing a password manager to help with this.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA for sensitive accounts and systems to add an extra layer of security.

Regular Software Updates: Keep all software up to date, including operating systems, antivirus, and applications, to prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities.

Antivirus and Anti-Malware: Use reputable antivirus and anti-malware software, and keep them updated to protect against viruses and ransomware.

Firewall Protection: Install and configure a firewall to monitor and filter network traffic for unauthorized access. This can be a first and highly effective method to protect your businesses sensitive information.

Data Backups: Regularly back up critical data and systems, and store backups securely offline or in a trusted cloud service.

Access Control: Implement the principle of least privilege, granting employees access only to necessary data and systems to reduce insider threats.

Secure Wi-Fi: Use strong encryption for Wi-Fi networks, change default router passwords, and consider a separate guest network.

Payment Processing Security: If you handle payments, ensure compliance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements.

System Monitoring: Implement intrusion detection and security event monitoring systems to detect and respond to suspicious activities.

Incident Response Plan: Develop a plan outlining how your business will respond to a cyber incident, including containment, notification, and data recovery steps.

Data Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest to prevent unauthorized access.

Vendor Assessment: Assess third-party vendors' cybersecurity practices to ensure they meet your security standards.

Regular Audits: Conduct security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address weaknesses in your systems.

Employee Offboarding: Promptly revoke access to systems and accounts when employees leave the company.

Cyber Insurance: Consider cyber liability insurance to provide financial protection in case of cyberattacks or data breaches.

Legal Compliance: Stay informed about cybersecurity laws and regulations relevant to your industry to ensure compliance.

Incident Reporting: Establish clear procedures for employees to report suspicious activities or security incidents.

Foster a Cybersecurity Culture: Create a culture of cybersecurity awareness in your organization, encouraging employees to be vigilant and report concerns.

Remember, cybersecurity is an ongoing effort. As cyber threats evolve, stay vigilant, adapt your security measures, and consider consulting cybersecurity experts or managed security service providers to enhance your protection against cybercrime.