Cyber security is something that everyone should be concerned with, especially small business owners. Statistics show that hackers are more likely to target small businesses, probably because the smaller and newer businesses may have defenses that are easier to break through. There are some ways to increase the online security of your small business, and it is important to keep them in mind as you set up your network.  

The first and most obvious way to increase your business’ cyber security is to regulate who can access the data or equipment you are using. It is important to make this information or equipment difficult to access without having the right information such as a password or a key. There are many ways to track this, such as keeping track of who has keys and make employees turn the keys in before they leave the company, requiring personalized key cards for certain doors and changing locks in the event that a key is lost or stolen by a disgruntled ex-employee.  

Another way to increase your security is to make good use of your document shredder. You can use this to shred any documents that may have important and classified information. When in doubt, you can make it a company policy to shred all documents, in order to decrease the likelihood of important information getting out on accident.   

Although the physical forms of security are important, it is even more important to focus on the digital aspect of cyber security. Make sure you are securing your network and monitoring website traffic so that intruders can be more easily spotted before they cause trouble. Teach your employees how to create strong passwords, as well as how to identify phishing scams such as through emails. Keep your antivirus up-to-date on all company computers, and lock up company laptops at night instead of leaving them out. For desktop computers, make sure that employees log off and shut down every night. When an employee leaves your company, make sure to delete their company account. 

There are many more measures that can be taken to keep your company’s information safe. Be sure that you are educating yourself and your staff on these measures and keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. Without the proper cyber security protocols in place, you are much more susceptible to a potential security breach that could end in leaking of personal information, loss of money and more. Protect yourself from this outcome, starting today.