Seven simple steps to keep your SME cyber-safe

Issue 2 2021 Information Security

Cybersecurity for small businesses has come to the fore as more SMEs shifted towards digitalisation to survive in the unstable COVID-19 circumstances. Yet, shockingly, according to research from IBM and the Ponemon Institute released in 2020, a whopping two out of five companies in the US and the United Kingdom with fifty or fewer employees do not have any type of cybersecurity defence plan in place.

That begs the question for SME owners in South Africa: if you faced a data breach today, would you be ready?

Cybersecurity experts at ENHALO, a full-circle cyber defence group, know all too well the challenges facing the SME owner; here are their seven simple steps to keep your SME cyber-safe in 2021.

1. Education must be a priority

An educated workforce has to be a top priority. The truth is, many cyberattacks target a business where it is most vulnerable: the employees. Therefore, educating staff on the type of threats and how to deal with them must take centre stage on your cybersecurity awareness plan.

Each security incident should be an opportunity to educate, test and reinforce details on what the business is protecting and why it’s important to behave in a certain way. Once staff understand what the business is trying to protect, and buy into the importance of following secure behaviours, they become accountable and actively participate in creating a secure environment.

(The National Institute for Cybersecurity Training (NIST) provides good content for security awareness training and activities.)

2. Backup data and restore quickly

Having your data backed up and restored effectively is the foundation of cybersecurity. Data that cannot be restored to its original state is useless, so you need to consistently back up and check the reliability of the data once restored.

Backup systems can be automated with a minimal time investment required. In fact, this process can take only fifteen minutes a month. Checking that your data can be fully restored using only three hours a year is the best security investment you can make.

3. Defend with multi-factor authentication

Every small business should be using multi-factor authentication (MFA) as the first line of defence because it is difficult for cyberattackers to get around. MFA is simple and available on most cloud platforms at no or a low cost.

4. Encrypt remote access to your network

Protecting and encrypting remote access on your internal network is a critical layer of cybersecurity because employees and third parties can log into your system remotely using their phones or other devices. Using VPN encryption or SSL/TLS security to protect access to your network adds a layer of assurance as employees and third parties may not have adequate security from their end.

5. Rule of least privilege

This is a simple step to implement, yet many small businesses are not vigilant about who gets access to what. Your people should only access what they need for their role and level. Also, when roles change, access should be reviewed using this principle.

Systems should be treated like people; they should also only have access that is essential for their function. If a computer or device does not need access to a server, then don’t give it access.

For example, mobile or IoT devices such as kettles or fridges should not be on the same network as your file server containing your critical business data. Such devices should be on a separate network so that if compromised, cybercriminals can’t use them to gain access to your confidential files.

6. Reduce the attack surface area

Not everything has to be online, that is, on the cloud or on a computer connected to the internal network. Something that cannot be accessed is essentially an impenetrable vault; hackers can’t attack something that they can’t reach.

7. Patch management is a must

Software is being updated all the time to address any security vulnerabilities as well as providing new features. Regularly check for software updates to make sure you are on the latest, stable and tested version. Remember that patching does not only apply to operating systems and applications, but also to the firmware for all devices such as routers, firewalls, and printers.

While there is some automation in patch management, this is not a step you can leave to vendors to control. It requires hands-on diligence, and because hackers know it is the one area that is often neglected by small business, they easily exploit this space.

If you follow these cybersecurity steps for small business, bearing in mind the principles of simplicity, access control (AC), confidentiality, integrity, availability (CIA) and layering, you will be able to build a more secure and resilient company.




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Highest increase in global cyberattacks in two years
Information Security News & Events
Check Point Global Research released new data on Q2 2024 cyber-attack trends, noting a 30% global increase in Q2 2024, with Africa experiencing the highest average weekly per organisation.

Read more...
Continuous security optimisation.
News & Events Information Security
Cymulate has announced its partnership with SentinelOne, a threat exposure validation and AI-powered cybersecurity platform. The collaboration delivers self-healing endpoint security that empowers businesses to increase protection for every endpoint on their network.

Read more...
Protect your smart home devices
Kaspersky IoT & Automation Information Security Smart Home Automation
Voice assistants, kitchen robots, smart lights and many other intelligent devices have become part of our everyday life. However, with the rise of smart technology comes the need for robust protection against potential vulnerabilities.

Read more...
ISPA’s take-down process protects from local scams
News & Events Information Security
During the recent school holidays, parents could rest a little easier knowing that ISPA, SA’s official internet industry representative body, is removing an average of three to four problematic websites from the local internet every week.

Read more...
NEC XON disrupts sophisticated cyberattack
Information Security
NEC XON recently showcased its advanced cyberthreat detection and response capabilities by successfully thwarting a human-operated ransomware attack targeting a major service provider.

Read more...
What’s your cyber game plan?
Information Security
“Medium-sized businesses are often the easiest target for cyber criminals, because they are just digital enough to be vulnerable, but not mature enough to be fully protected," says Warren Bonheim, MD of Zinia.

Read more...
Upgrade your PCs to improve security
Information Security Infrastructure
Truly secure technology today must be designed to detect and address unusual activity as it happens, wherever it happens, right down to the BIOS and silicon levels.

Read more...
Open source code can also be open risk
Information Security Infrastructure
Software development has changed significantly over the years, and today, open-source code increasingly forms the foundation of modern applications, with surveys indicating that 60 – 90% of the average application's code base consists of open-source components.

Read more...
DeepSneak deception
Information Security News & Events
Kaspersky Global Research & Analysis researchers have discovered a new malicious campaign which is distributing a Trojan through a fake DeepSeek-R1 Large Language Model (LLM) app for PCs.

Read more...
SA’s strained, loadshedding-prone grid faces cyberthreats
Power Management Information Security
South Africa’s energy sector, already battered by decades of underinvestment and loadshedding, faces another escalating crisis; a wave of cyberthreats that could turn disruptions into catastrophic failures. Attacks are already happening internationally.

Read more...










While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.