10 Steps to Improve Cybersecurity (Keep Your Business Safe!)

With 43% of cyberattacks targeting small businesses, it’s critical that you know how to improve cybersecurity. This includes mitigating risks, reducing vulnerabilities, and staving off attacks. And yet, only about 14% of businesses say they could effectively withstand an attack.

In fact, one study found that 60% of companies go out of business within six months of a data breach or other cybersecurity issues.

Half of small businesses polled had experienced a data breach, while 55% were the victims of a cyberattack. Almost half of the attacks were web-based, but a large number were malware, denial of services, ransomware, SQL injection, and more.

An easy way for hackers to exploit system-level security vulnerabilities is by capitalizing on out-of-date versions of operating systems. But, small businesses often have overworked and understaffed IT departments, if any IT support at all.

With so many threats at large, what can your business do to stay protected? We’ve curated ten of the most essential cybersecurity practices here to help you get — and stay — protected. In the end, if you can follow all of these IT security best practices, you’ll be in a much safer place.

How to Improve Cybersecurity

If you’re concerned about data protection and cybersecurity measures for your business or organization, now is the time to start planning. Here are ten tried-and-true steps that can start you on your way to a more secure future.

Develop a Risk Management Plan

Before you get started, make sure you set up a risk management plan for your organization. A quality plan will include steps to improve cybersecurity.

Manage Access

Monitor and control access and defend your network from attack by limiting accounts with high-level privileges and clearly defining account management processes.

Provide Malware Protection

Scan for malware across all business departments and establish up-to-date anti-malware defenses.

Improve Network Security

To keep networks safe from both internal and external attacks, manage the perimeter of the network by filtering unauthorized access and controlling malicious content. Test security measures regularly for best results.

Educate Network Users

Write and implement user security policies and provide staff training to maintain awareness of security risks and cyberthreats.

Control Removable Media

Limit the use and types of removable media (USBs, external hard drives, etc.) and scan all media for malware and viruses before connecting with your organization’s system.

Stay Up to Date

Ensure all security patches and updates are applied as soon as they are released. Maintain a system inventory with baseline requirements and ensure they’re maintained.

Manage Incidents

Develop an incident management/disaster recovery plan and test it. Provide training to in-house IT specialists. Report appropriate incidents to law enforcement.

Continue Monitoring

Continuously monitor networks and systems and analyze logs for suspicious activities.

Develop a Policy for Working Remotely

Develop a policy for mobile working and educate employees. Use your secure baseline to determine all devices are equally secured so data is protected in transit and on devices.

Deploying all ten of these practices will help your business stay secure and protected in a world filled with cyberattacks and often threatened by natural disasters.

Cybersecurity Improvement Experts

If your business needs advice on how improve cybersecurity and to protect your data from IT security breaches, get in touch with one of Kelley Create cybersecurity consulting management specialists. Whether your in-house IT team needs assistance creating an actionable and successful cybersecurity plan or you don’t have IT support at all, Kelley Create can help.

With over 40 years of providing IT and cybersecurity solutions to customers in the PNW, Kelley has the expertise to ensure your data — and business — are safe and secure.

From Cloud storage solutions to ensure rapid, secure data backup to disaster recovery plans that will maintain business continuity in the event of a disaster, our highly skilled team is equipped with the latest knowledge and tools.

We can leverage these to provide your network with the greatest possible level of protection. We enjoy keeping our partners updated with cutting-edge cybersecurity.