Cyber security can be overwhelming for many small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The constant stream of news about data breaches and cyber threats can make it seem like securing your business is a daunting, highly technical task. However, strengthening your cyber security posture doesn’t have to be complicated—in fact, anyone can do it, regardless of their IT prowess. This blog will guide you through five easy-to-implement cyber security measures that can significantly enhance your business’s protection. Ready to take the crucial first steps to a secure SMB?
1.) Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
What is MFA?
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a security system that requires more than one method of authentication to verify a user’s identity before allowing them to access a platform, service, or file. This typically involves something the user knows (a password), something the user has (like a smartphone), or something the user is (facial recognition, fingerprints, etc.).
How it Helps
MFA adds an extra layer of security between users and your data, making it much harder for cyber-criminals to gain unauthorized access. Even if a password is compromised, the additional authentication steps make it difficult for attackers to breach your systems. We ran through its benefits in this video.
How to Implement
Many services, like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, offer built-in MFA options. To set it up:
- Go to your account settings.
- Look for security settings or MFA options.
- Follow the prompts to enable MFA, usually involving scanning a QR code with an authentication app.
Time to Set Up
Setting up MFA typically takes about 15 minutes per user—your whole team could be done well before lunch.
2.) Strong Password Policies
What are Strong Password Policies?
A strong password policy ensures that all users create and maintain complex, unique passwords for their accounts. This can include requirements for length, the use of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
How it Helps
Weak passwords are one of the easiest ways for cyber-criminals to access your systems. They’re also concerningly common—try guessing the three most common passwords in Canada (read to the end to find out if you were right).
Enforcing strong password protocols makes it significantly harder for attackers to crack them through brute force or guessing.
How to Implement
You can introduce strong password policies by:
- Setting password requirements in your system’s security settings.
- Using password managers to generate and store complex passwords.
- Educating your employees about the importance of unique, strong passwords.
Time to Set Up
Creating and deploying a strong password policy can be done in an hour or two, depending on the size of your business.
3.) Conditional Access and Account Permissions
What is Conditional Access?
Conditional access involves setting policies that determine how and when users can access your systems based on factors like location, device, and their role.
How it Helps
By restricting access based on specific conditions, you reduce the risk of unauthorized access. For example, you can prevent logins from unfamiliar locations or devices or from team members who don’t usually require access to a certain account.
How to Implement
To set up conditional access:
- Identify the critical systems and data you’d like to protect as a first priority.
- Define conditions under which access is granted (e.g., only from company devices).
- Configure these conditions in your system’s security settings.
Time to Set Up
Setting up conditional access and account permissions may take a few hours, depending on the complexity of your systems.
4.) Regular Software Updates
What are Regular Software Updates?
Regular software updates involve installing the latest patches and updates for your operating systems, applications, and firmware.
How it Helps
Software updates often include patches for security vulnerabilities that cyber-criminals can exploit. Keeping your systems up-to-date ensures that you always have the latest defenses against cyber threats.
How to Implement
Most systems allow you to:
- Enable automatic updates.
- Schedule regular checks for updates.
- Manually update or schedule software updates to run out of work hours if needed.
Time to Set Up
Enabling automatic updates or scheduling regular updates can be done in about an hour.
5.) Employee Cyber Security Training
What is Employee Cyber Security Training?
Cyber security training educates your employees about common threats and best practices for protecting sensitive information.
How it Helps
Human error is one of the biggest risks in cyber security. By training your employees, you reduce the likelihood of phishing attacks, social engineering, and other common threats succeeding.
How to Implement
To provide effective training:
- Use online resources and courses tailored to your industry.
- Schedule regular training sessions. Once every few years isn’t going to cut it!
- Keep the training engaging, relevant, and up-to-date with the latest threats.
Time to Set Up
Initial training setup might take a few hours to a day, with ongoing sessions planned quarterly or bi-annually.
Make These Measures Your Starting Point—Not Your Final Destination
In 2023, 81% of Canadian businesses reported experiencing upwards of 25 cyber security incidents in the preceding 12 months, highlighting the ongoing need for appropriate protections. Implementing these five defenses is an excellent start for strengthening your cyber security posture; they’re manageable for all SMBs, without requiring extensive IT knowledge or resources.
While these measures significantly reduce the risk of common cyber threats, giving you a more secure foundation, comprehensive protection requires expertise that only a cyber security-focused service provider can offer. Advanced threats and targeted attacks often require specialized knowledge and tools that go beyond basic defenses. Partnering with a professional team can help you stay ahead of evolving threats and ensure that your business remains secure in the long run, instead of becoming part of the statistics.
Oh, and Canada’s most common passwords? ‘123456’, ‘password’, and ‘54321’. Half a point if you said ‘hockey’—it did trend towards the top of the list.
Tier 3 IT Solutions: Trusted Managed IT and Cyber Security Partners in Edmonton and Alberta
Our mission is to empower businesses in Edmonton and Alberta to get the best from what technology has to offer them. From IT strategy and support to cyber security solutions, our expert team is equipped with over 30 years of experience helping local SMBs thrive.
If you want to learn more about enhancing your cyber security posture, don’t hesitate to reach out for a call with our president, Jesse. Your business’s safety and success depend on staying ahead of cyber threats, and we can help you do just that.