After years of high-profile data breaches at large companies, hackers have turned their attention to small businesses to collect personal information. From phishing scams to insider threats, cybersecurity a data breach can wreak havoc on small businesses as they are more vulnerable to limited budgets, struggling to acquire top talent, and often face fatigue and burnout.

Preventing a Small Business Data Breach

According to Accenture, more than half of all small businesses incurred a data breach in the past year. And unfortunately, 60% of SMBs that experienced a data breach will go out of business within six months.

While this is a staggering statistic, don’t be alarmed! Data security is not a lost cause. In fact, there are active steps every company can take to protect their information and long-term viability. Here’s how:

1. Understand how it happens

In most cases, a data breach is the result of physical actions, privilege misuse, social engineering, human error, malware, and/or criminal hacking. While hackers are resilient despite our best efforts, sometimes we enable our hackers without even knowing it! Before you move on to step 2, it’s important to make yourself aware of different types of security breaches, and what proactive steps you can take to avoid them.

2. Develop a prevention plan

Think of it almost like a product road map. What types of problems are you looking to solve and what steps do you need to take to get there? This should act as a reference guide when things go wrong and should be adaptable for inevitable changes.

3. Educate employees

In a perfect world, a data breach prevention software would handle security issues for you. In today’s world, it’s up to the organization’s leaders to boost awareness on different hacking techniques. Businesses should conduct regular security trainings as employees quickly forget what they learned. In addition to the most common data breaches listed above, employees should also know how to securely transfer files, encrypt emails, and communicate safely across platforms.

4. Keep personal and business hardware separate

Unlike larger companies, small businesses don’t have a ton of resources. This fuels the temptation to use the same laptop for business and personal use. However, this can significantly increase your exposure to risk. If possible, use a dedicated computer for business, and another for personal use.

5. Encrypt sensitive data

In a nutshell, encrypting means “code in disguise.” Once data is encrypted, only those in the company can see the correct data. If a hacker gets access to the data, it will look scrambled and rendered meaningless. There are a few types of encryption technologies small businesses can leverage, in addition to real-time monitoring and authentication techniques.

Cybersecurity for Your Small Business

For small businesses, cybersecurity is a bottom-line issue, and putting the right steps in place can make or break your business. By understanding the risks, company leaders can take proactive steps to ensure their data is secure.

Ready to take the next step in preventing a data breach? Thinline Technologies can help! Our cyber security network specialists can address active threats to your organization and prevent future hackers from threatening your business and information. Call (410) 453-9300 to speak to a specialist, or read more on our services page.