Think of cyber hygiene like handwashing for your business’s technology. It’s basic, but essential.
According to IBM’s 2023 Cost of a Data Breach report, 82% of breaches involved cloud-stored data—and many could have been prevented with basic cybersecurity practices. That’s where good cyber hygiene comes in. It may not be flashy, but it’s foundational.
Here are four core principles every small business should follow:
- Keep Your Network Secure
You wouldn’t leave the doors to your office unlocked at night. The same logic applies to your network.
- Use a business-class firewall to block unauthorized traffic.
- Encrypt all sensitive data during transmission and storage.
- Hide your Wi-Fi network's SSID and require a strong password.
- Ensure remote employees connect via secure VPN.
Pro tip: Set up a guest network for visitors so they don’t access your internal systems.
- Train Your Team Regularly
Human error is one of the top causes of data breaches. Regular cybersecurity training for employees is non-negotiable.
- Teach how to create strong passwords (and why reusing them is dangerous).
- Train employees to spot phishing emails and avoid suspicious downloads.
- Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all accounts.
- Create and distribute a clear IT policy employees must follow.
Even the most secure network can be compromised if someone clicks on a bad link.
- Back Up Your Critical Data
When ransomware hits, your backups are your lifeline. Don’t just back up your data—automate it.
- Schedule daily automatic backups for all critical data.
- Store backups both on the cloud and offsite.
- Test your backups periodically to make sure they work.
It’s not a question of "if" something goes wrong—it’s when.
- Limit Access to Sensitive Data
Not everyone in your organization needs access to everything.
- Follow the principle of least privilege.
- Create user roles and assign access accordingly.
- Remove access promptly when an employee leaves.
- Monitor for unauthorized access attempts.
This reduces internal risks and strengthens your defense in case of a breach.
Stay Ahead of Threats
The best defense is proactive. Our free Cybersecurity Risk Assessment identifies hidden vulnerabilities and gives you a detailed game plan for tightening your cyber hygiene.
If you’re not sure where to start, we’ll walk you through it—step by step.
