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What do SMEs need to do for a cyber-secure future

09.08.2023
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In today's digital world, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must take cybersecurity seriously. Although larger corporations often make headlines when they fall victim to cyberattacks, company size does not matter. SMEs are equally at risk and might lack the resources to recover. To safeguard your business, customer data, and reputation, follow these essential steps for a cyber-secure future.

Conduct a thorough risk assessment: start by assessing potential vulnerabilities in your organisation's infrastructure, systems, and processes. Evaluate the likelihood and impact of various cyber threats to prioritise your security efforts effectively. Engage security experts for penetration tests and vulnerability assessments to gain valuable insights into your security weaknesses. Based on the results, create a robust cybersecurity strategy tailored to your SMEs specific needs and risk profile. Remember to encompass prevention, detection, response, and recovery mechanisms in your plan.

Educate and train your employees: human error remains one of the most significant cybersecurity risks. To mitigate this, conduct regular cybersecurity training sessions to educate your employees about the latest threats, phishing scams, and social engineering techniques. Teach them the importance of using strong and unique passwords, hide expert VPN service, and encourage the adoption of multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added security. Implement and enforce strong password policies, requiring employees to use complex passwords and update them regularly. Also, discourage password reuse across multiple accounts and consider using password managers.

Keep software updated: cybercriminals often exploit known vulnerabilities to gain unauthorised access. To prevent this, implement a strict software update and patch management process. Ensure that all applications, operating systems, and firmware are up to date with the latest security patches. This simple step with Hide Expert VPN can go a long way in bolstering your cybersecurity defences.

Fortify network infrastructure: protect your network with robust security measures. Deploy firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and reliable hide VPN and encryption technologies to safeguard data in transit. Segment your network to limit lateral movement in case of a breach and restrict access to sensitive data on a need-to-know basis. Regularly back up critical data and systems and store backups securely offline or in a separate network segment. Secure backups protect against data loss due to cyber incidents, hardware failures, or ransomware attacks. Test the restoration process to ensure data can be recovered when needed.

Collaborate with IT professionals: consider collaborating with trusted IT professionals or managed service providers to enhance your cybersecurity defences. They can offer guidance on implementing industry best practices and provide ongoing monitoring and support. This collaboration can be especially beneficial for SMEs with limited in-house cybersecurity expertise.

Safeguarding against cyber threats is no longer optional; it's a necessity for SMEs. By taking these proactive measures, SMEs can strengthen their security posture and defend against cyber threats effectively.