Five Cybersecurity Tips for Brisbane Small Business Owners to Protect Their Business During Cyclones

While it may seem that cybersecurity and natural disasters are far from each other, the reality is that they are not.

Why Cybersecurity Matters During Natural Disasters

The real cybersecurity threat lies in the gaps that may occur as employees work remotely or when the systems are down. Power outages mean the level of protection is down. Employees who are working in their homes may be vulnerable to phishing, malware, and other cyberattacks if they are not equipped with proper training. Without a proper backup system, small business owners can be susceptible to data loss.

Getting ahead can help you minimise the risks and ensure that your business is prepared for uncertainties like these. Here are the five cybersecurity tips that you can do as a small business owner.

Backup Regularly: If all critical business data, documents, and customer information are not regularly backed up to a secure cloud storage service, then it could be lost forever. Automated Cloud backups mean your files are now available to you from anywhere, reducing the danger of data being wiped out by a crippled office environment or destroyed laptop. It not only keeps your system elevated and available but ensures that your data remains safe even if its physical location is compromised.

Secure Your Remote Working Environment Standard: When your employees are working from home or other locations during a cyclone, provide them with a secure, encrypted connection such as a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs create the equivalent of an armed and remote tunnel for all your data, substantially reducing the risk of cyber threats like hacking or intercepting messages.

Multiple Authentication Authentication (MFA): Set up multi factor authentication (MFA) for all important business systems, including email systems, financial tools, and internal software. Using MFA acts as an extra barrier against unauthorized access, making life slightly harder for cybercriminals even if they have guessed your password.

Conduct Regular Cybersecurity Training for Employees: Give regular cybersecurity training to your employees, particularly about how to spot phishing emails, odd looking links, and other common cyber threats. Employees who are well trained can spot cyber threats themselves and therefore reduce the number of successful attacks.

Regularly Update your Systems: Regularly update the security software, firewalls, and antivirus software on all your systems. Cyber attackers often prey on unpatched vulnerabilities in obsolete software. This is a particularly acute concern during periods of disruption such as those caused by cyclones. By keeping all systems up to date, you are safeguarding your business from even the latest cybersecurity threats.

In business, it’s not about how big your company is, but how long you can survive and thrive. Ensuring that your business is prepared for any uncertainties can contribute to the factors of how long can it sustain.

If you’re looking for affordable yet extensive cybersecurity training for your employees, Cyberguys is what you are looking for. With 17 years of IT expertise in the field, Cyberguys has been helping small business owners equip their employees against cyber threats.

Get in touch to get started.