In the event of an incident, a backup copy ensures that your valuable information is not lost entirely. This 54-page document outlines NIST best practices regarding the fundamentals of cyber security. Firewalls can be hardware (a physical device such as the monitor you’re reading this on) or software (a program on your computer such as Microsoft Office). If your business has not purchased an SSL certificate or hasn’t implemented this technology, talk to an IT professional like Nerds On Site to make sure you choose the right type for your industry, especially if you’re in finance or insurance. To help your business get started, we’ve prepared a FREE Cyber Security Checklist that will guide you through some of the steps to better data protection. Conduct employee awareness training to educate users on common scams and avoidance techniques. Physical Security. Before any official security checklist can be drafted, SMBs must … For … We’ve expanded on FINRA’s guidelines to create an exhaustive small business cybersecurity checklist. In fact, it’s been reported employees are involved in 40% of data breaches from small businesses. This makes it even more important for small businesses to protect their company. Using this small business cybersecurity plan template will ensure you are ready to handle any emergency. Ensure that you are performing in-depth assessments on your controls and don’t hesitate to ask for assistance from cyber security professionals if you need it. When you make Nerds On Site your cyber security partner, you are enlisting the expertise of our entire team of cyber security experts with over 100 years combined experience. EXPECT A CRISIS. Implement multi-factor authentication for extra account protection. A sole proprietor, in… Defined as “small” by SBA Size Standard that allows for higher employee threshold or is revenue based; or 3. Because of this, certain important tasks may fall to the bottom of your to-do list. Check out “How To Secure A Business Wi-Fi Network” to discover more network security tips. This is a simple checklist designed to identify and document the existence and status for a recommended basic set of cyber security controls (policies, standards, and procedures) for an organization. A 501(c)(3) with 500 or fewer employees 5. It is best practice to make a copy of your important company data and create a “backup” of the information using trusted cloud-based technology or hardware such as an external hard-drive. Within the last 12 months, nearly half (47%) of SMBs have suffered cyber attacks. To reduce this risk, it’s important to educate employees about different types of cyber attacks so they can be more vigilant in preventing them from happening. As a small business owner, you are forced to juggle many tasks, from meeting payroll to finding your next great hire. Encourage using password generators to ensure password complexity. That’s why we integrate cybersecurity into every aspect of our IT services. Reassess your enterprise-level security solution for employees’ mobile devices to maintain cost effectiveness. This Small Business Network Security Checklist is simplified in order to give you an idea of the main steps you will need to take to protect your business. Establish controls between your company and the third-party company to isolate those procedures from the rest of the business. Nerds On Site protects your business like nobody else can with adam:ONE, our exclusive DNS-based firewall and gateway solutions software. Proactive planning your IT security to avoid cyber breaches. Tricking employees with phishing scams and malicious links within email messages is common. Follow our six-step network security checklist to create a holistic security solution to prevent breaches and address issues quickly. Quick responses & fixes for hardware failures & IT security breaches, Detailed and comprehensive work to ensure full compliance, Augmenting capacity for your IT services team, 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 4 Types of Security Audits Every Business Should Conduct Regularly, Download Best WordPress Themes Free Download. Some of the most common types of cyber attacks involve hacking, malware, phishing, and human error by employees. Your employees are generally your first level of defence when it comes to data security. Microsoft reports that password reuse is common in 52% of users, and these reused passwords can be cracked within 10 guesses. Maintain current web browsers, operating systems and security patches. If your organization is seeking stronger cyber security, here are 11 tips to help keep your valuable data safe. 01        /        Resources /        The Sugarshot Blog, The Ultimate Small Business Cyber Security Checklist, 7 Steps to a Proper Patch Management Process, How Ransomware Works: How to Thwart Ransomware Attacks. A small business with maximum tangible net worth up to $15 million and the average net income for full 2 fiscal years prior to application does not exceed $5 million 4. NIST bridged that knowledge gap earlier this year when they published Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals. Provide encrypted password managers to store passwords securely. View security solutions; Contact Cisco… Rotate your Wi-Fi passwords to keep your network safe. Administrative Security Controls. Below is a basic cybersecurity checklist for small business employees. Utilize a virtual private network (VPN) to secure company internet traffic. Clarify shared data and eliminate sharing unnecessary information. NIST recommends a five-pronged approach to cyber security: Identify; Protect… You and your employees likely access company data through mobile devices. A risk assessment will reveal: Your most valuable assets: servers, websites, client information, trade secrets, partner document, customer information (credit card data, etc. It identifies and explains the most common types of cyber threats and what you can do to protect your business… Today’s internet landscape makes it essential that you do everything you can to increase the security of your valuable data and systems. Confirm the number of devices connecting to your network. Regularly updating your operating systems and antivirus software can help eliminate unnecessary vulnerabilities to your business. Nick DAlleva. Your response team information should be accessible “in case of emergency”—including the names, phone numbers, and after-hours contact information of key incident response stakeholders such as the business owner, relevant IT professionals, finance team leadership, and any other figures critical to your business operations. While the conventional method starts by giving everyone access to your networks and then kicking out known bad actors, adam:ONE gives nobody access before it is determined they are safe. A good way to check is if you see “https://” at the start of the URL in your browser. 2020 Small Business Cyber Security Checklist With a global pandemic that has lasted longer than expected, we are all struggling to adjust to the new “normal.” There has been a substantial increase in … Employees are often the biggest risk to exposing a business to a cyber security incident. As a small business owner, you might assume you're not a target for cyber criminals. The Best IT Security Audit Checklist For Small Business. If you are unsure of which types of firewall are best for your organization, consult an IT professional for guidance. The average cost of a cyberattack on a business is $200,000, which is daunting, especially for small companies without a cybersecurity plan. This checklist includes best practices every employee should know and understand. Prohibit employees from sharing login credentials. The hackers then transferred enormous sums of money via ATMs into dozens of accounts around the world. Each task is outlined in easy-to-understand non-technical terms. For example, human resources professionals will need access to employees’ social insurance numbers but sales professionals do not. Recent data shows that nearly 60% of SMBs fold within six months following a cyberattack. Moreover, it presents the information in non-technical language that is accessible to anyone. Loss of vital company data or assets through hacking or emergencies can put a small business out of business. Each access point poses an individual risk, so limit user access to specific data they need to perform their jobs. Strategy and human resources policies Ask yourself, does your company have a cybersecurity audit checklist … An unsecured Wi-Fi can open your network to anyone, including hackers. These statistics indicate that your small company is probably the target of at least one type of potentially catastrophic digital threat. Although your business might not have billions in the bank, data breaches like these could happen to any company, regardless of size. ShareFacebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Pinterest, Email. Operating a business guarantees that you are vulnerable to a cyber attack, putting you at risk of a costly data breach. Require employee signatures when implementing new policies. Setting up appropriate access at the start of employment will help protect sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands and limits the risk of a data breach. Those devices are often the easiest entry point into corporate databases. YOUR SMALL BUSINESS CYBERSECURITY CHECKLIST 1. Limit employee access where necessary. Use behavioral analysis to send alerts and execute automatic controls when other methods fail. The checklist guides you through avoiding losses to the digital criminals that exploit these weaknesses. Hence it becomes essential to have a comprehensive and clearly articulated policy in place which can help the organization members understand the importance of privacy and protection. Once successful, hackers often return through the same paths to hack again. You are eligible to apply for a PPP loan if you are: 1. Using this... 2. An IT security risk assessment helps create a sustainable disaster recovery strategy and protects your critical assets from threats. The Small Business Cybersecurity Audit Checklist < ALL RESOURCES. Set stringent criteria for employee passwords to prevent unwanted access. Small and mid-sized businesses can go a long way if they incorporate and implement the following cybersecurity steps mentioned in the checklist below. There are risks and rewards of having a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) strategy that you should evaluate regularly. Systems, network services and IT security. Thankfully, there are some simple policies you can implement today to protect yourself. ... "In fact, I strongly believe that preventative security … America’s financial systems have noted the rise in attacks on small firms and the threats they pose to the country’s economy. Require IT staff to earn cybersecurity certifications. PERFORM A RISK ASSESSMENT. Here is an ICT security checklist … Create 2 to 3 backup copies created on a regular schedule, such as every quarter, and to keep at least one copy off-site in case of theft or a natural disaster like fire or flooding. Ensure the ability to wipe those devices clean remotely so your company retains control over its contents. Keep backup data in the Cloud or other offsite storage facility. Why is cybersecurity important for a small business? Corporate Shields is an IT Management company but as our name implies, we are a cybersecurity … As reported by the 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 43% of cyber attack victims are small businesses. By following this checklist, you can put practices in place to provide protective barriers between you and the cybercrooks: Unfortunately, experiencing a security threat is a matter of “when” not “if.” Responding to a crisis is easier when a system-wide response plan is already in place. Perform a Critical IT Assets Audit. If you don’t have the internal resources to implement security policies, it may be time to consider outsourcing these services to a professional. When a cyber-attack is mentioned, a firewall is one of the first … One way to make sure system updates are a regular occurrence is to set up company-wide notifications using email, internal messaging systems, and calendar reminders for employees to prevent them from hitting “dismiss” on system update notifications. Small business network security checklist. Email is a common entry point for cybercriminals and malware. Firewalls provide a vital layer of protection to help keep your business secure, but shouldn’t be considered absolute security—firewalls are just one component of cyber security. What Will You Do When Code Breaking Hits Your Business? Clarify security elements within the device: passwords, encryption or others. Use message encryption, spam filters and antivirus software to prevent threats from reaching their intended targets. PHYSICAL SECURITY. Keep up with the latest IT security trends. Layered security involves setting up intentional redundancies so that if one system fails, another steps up immediately to prevent an attack. June 4, 2015; Posted in Small Business and tagged Small Business Cyber Security. This section is designed to help small businesses stay alert and prepared. ), The most critical threats to your business: natural disasters, system failures, accidental human interference and malicious human actions, Vulnerabilities that allow some kind of threat to breach your security: old equipment, untrained staff members, unpatched or out-of-date software, How to improve your security status: appropriate prevention and mitigation steps, Read 4 Types of Security Audits Every Business Should Conduct Regularly. Nerds On Site is a proud Partner of the NSBC, © 2020 National Small Business Chamber (NSBC), 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report. Many accounts offer an extra step for stronger security called two-factor authentication (2FA). Security … Require password changes on a timetable or when data breaches occur. Performing an annual cyber security assessment will assist your organization in identifying vulnerabilities and establishing an action plan to eliminate them. A firewall is a network security device that monitors inbound and outbound traffic to your business network. Evaluate and test the entire data recovery process. As an added security measure, limit employee access to data, systems, and software to only those who require them in their role to reduce the risks of a data breach. The essential small business cyber security checklist. The idea is to make sure your tech gear and processes aren’t out of step with your business strategy. Cyberhacks and security breaches at big corporations are well documented but a business of any size can be vulnerable to attack T he Institute of Directors (IoD) found 44pc of SMEs had been hit by a cyberattack at least once in the past year, with the average cost to each business … Every computer in your workplace runs an operating system—such as the popular Microsoft Windows system for PCs—requiring maintenance in order to stay up-to-date with the latest security updates. That being said, it is equally important to ensure that this policy is written with responsibility, periodic reviews are done, and employees are frequently reminded. Your employee education program should include: Cyber security training should start early—consider making it a part of new employee onboarding to set expectations and establish best practices as early as their first day. Unsure if your business website is secure? Identify all devices that touch the corporation and those with access to them. “How To Make Your Passwords More Secure.”, The essential cyber security checklist for your business, Testing employees’ preparedness through simulated cyber attacks, A fingerprint (through a device such as an iPhone). Cyber Threats Key Areas For a small business, even the smallest cyber security incident can have devastating impacts. For example, firewall controls won’t protect you from cyber threats if it isn’t configured properly. Don’t hesitate to lean on your management team to encourage good habits with employees and keep these updates top-of-mind, too. Technical Security Controls. A small business with 500 or fewer employees 2. 40% of data breaches from small businesses. If you have provided your employees with training on your security policies, hold them accountable to follow them. If your company shares data with third parties across any external portal, it is at risk for theft. Network Security… The Cyber Security Checklist PDF is a downloadable document which includes prioritized steps to protect your business. As a small business owner, you may assume your company isn’t big enough to be targeted for this kind of theft. When we talk about IT security, physical security doesn’t readily come to mind. Implementing a small business cybersecurity checklist is the first step to securing your digital assets. They are. There are measures you can take to secure your business network, including isolating the network where guests access a separate “guest” Wi-Fi when visiting your workplace, using a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt all the data travelling to and from your network, and keeping all firmware and software up to date. Identify all third parties (and their vulnerabilities). As an added security measure, limit employee access to … You may think that hacking scandals are the stuff of major news headlines — a threat for only large corporations. But IT security doesn’t have to be sporadic and piecemeal. This year alone, 43% of data breach victims were small businesses, discovered by the 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report. Host regular cybersecurity awareness training sessions. To learn more about SugarShot’s cybersecurity services, contact us today. 1. In fact, the reverse is true: since small companies rarely invest enough in security measures or training, they end up being the easiest targets for cybercriminals. Ensure your employees are not using “password” as their password across multiple accounts to avoid this risk. Use separate guest and corporate networks. Consider taking a layered approach, also known as multi-level security or Defense in Depth (DiD). Network security is no longer a nice-to-have. Prohibit software installation without administrator permission. Operational continuity for your IT systems. Free Antivirus Software: The Consequences of Being Cheap, 7 Critical Computer Security Tips to Protect Your Business. Most small businesses work with a tight budget and profit margin. Ideally, you should regularly evaluate your IT security as part of a larger review of all your systems. Simply because a cyber security control exists does not always mean that it is effective. Responding to a crisis is easier when a system-wide response plan is already in place. Here is a quick checklist to make sure your small business is protected and to help prevent unnecessary losses. One of those overlooked tasks may be security. Whether you’re an SMB or a large corporation, IT security will … It’s a requirement for every business, no matter how large or small. Cyber attacks are a growing concern for small businesses. The Global Cyber Alliance's (GCA) Cybersecurity Toolkit for Small Business (Use the GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit to assess your security posture, implement free tools, find practical tips, and use free resources and guides to improve your company’s cybersecurity … As a small business owner, you might feel that no one outside of your organization is interested in the data that you handle. Clarify the authority of devices users to access enterprise data. Evaluate your IT security resources. At SugarShot, we understand that virtually every company will end up experiencing some sort of security disaster over its lifespan. Opt for a firewall & virtual hardening. Learn about the threats and how to protect yourself. A complete cyber security approach consists of multi-layer controls to ensure complete protection and defence against harmful cyber threats. Always keep your system, … Require employees to use different passwords for each one of their accounts. For helpful tips on creating secure passwords, check out our article on “How To Make Your Passwords More Secure.”. Data breaches from cyber attacks are on the rise, so businesses need to stay vigilant in their cyber security efforts. Make sure your security policies and cybersecurity training curriculum are relevant and updated frequently. Typically, your inventory should include these points: the device make and model, the device MAC address, IP address if one is assigned, network communication methods (WiFi or Ethernet), licensing … Have you experienced data breaches through employee-owned devices? A secure password is unique and incorporates numbers, special characters, and a mixture of upper and lower-case letters. Security Checklist for Your Small Business. Cybersecurity Checklist For Your Business Kerrie Duvernay , July 14, 2016 Today’s headlines are troubling – data breach, records hacked – but the real threat for most businesses comes from the inside. 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