Learn how to protect your business from current cyberthreats.
In these uncertain times, the practice of mindfulness is gaining popularity. The term mindfulness is a meditation practice that emphasizes the importance of being fully present in the moment. If you’re a business owner, the principles of mindfulness can apply to many areas of your business. And when it comes to cybersecurity, being focused on what’s happening in the present moment could not be more critical.
On average, Websites are attacked 94 times per day. Taking your attention off cybersecurity for even a moment can result in serious consequences for your business. For instance, just one cyberattack can result in lost revenue and customers, as well as a permanently damaged reputation.
The good news is that being mindful of cybersecurity can help you defend your business against security breaches. Here are some tips for how small and midsize business (SMB) owners can practice cybersecurity mindfulness to protect their businesses from cyber threats.
Update Your Plugins and Applications Regularly
Did you know that plugins are a major area of vulnerability for your website? Having a large number of plugins makes your site more vulnerable to cyber threats. In fact, research shows that for every 5 plugins you add to your site, your risk of being compromised doubles.
Given these risks, it’s crucial to make sure all your plugins and applications are kept up-to-date to protect your site and sensitive company information. Another way SMB owners can practice cybersecurity mindfulness is by setting a reminder to ensure that all plugins and applications are updated monthly. In addition, be sure to delete any plugins and applications you are no longer using as a precaution.
Stay Informed About Common Cyber Threats
Another important cybersecurity mindfulness practice is to keep an eye on the current threat landscape. Staying informed about cyber threats is an important first step when it comes to protecting your business.
Some of the top current cyber threats that all business owners should know about include:
- Malware attacks:Malware attacks that specifically target site visitors, including SEO spam and malicious redirects, can harm your customers. For instance, cybercriminals use these attacks to steal their sensitive information or infect their devices with malware.
- Cross site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection (SQLi) vulnerabilities: Cybercriminals can exploit these vulnerabilities to gain access to your site. Once inside, they can steal customer information, destroy data, or even take over your entire website.
- Phishing attacks and ransomware: Some of the biggest threats facing SMB owners today are phishing attacks and ransomware that target employees. It’s estimated that 97% of individuals can’t identify a sophisticated phishing email.
Stop Cyber Threats in Real-Time
To help proactively prevent today’s common cyber threats, SMB owners can practice cybersecurity mindfulness is by having solutions in place to help stop security breaches before they occur.
Some of the most important cybersecurity solutions include:
- Web application firewalls (WAF)s: Setting up a WAF can help you block cybercriminals, malicious bots, and other bad actors from your business Website.
- Automated website scanning and malware removal: An automated scanning solution monitors your website for threats 24/7 and removes any malware immediately when it’s detected.
- Website backup: Investing in a Website backup solution ensures your files and data are backed up automatically so that you can recover your website in the event of a cyberattack or other disaster.
Having these solutions in place not only ensures the highest level of security, but can also help stop cyber threats before they cause any damage.
Create a Culture of Cybersecurity Mindfulness
Since employees are common targets of cyberattacks, practicing cybersecurity mindfulness should extend to your entire organization. There are many ways that you can help create a culture of cybersecurity mindfulness in your company, including:
- Security Awareness Training: Implementing regular security awareness training can help your employees learn to identify potential threats such as phishing emails. They can then report these possible threats and help prevent them from harming your business and customers.
- Password Security: Be sure to educate your employees on password security best practices and stress the importance of choosing unique, strong passwords for each of their work accounts.
It’s essential for business owners to remember that security education for employees is not a one-time deal. Instead, your employees need to be constantly mindful of cybersecurity best practices. Conducting continued security awareness training can help you accomplish this goal.
Cybersecurity Mindfulness: A Must for SMBs
As cyberattacks continue to rise, practicing cybersecurity mindfulness is a crucial step for all SMB owners to protect their companies from cyber threats. By keeping cybersecurity top of mind at all times, you can help protect your business, employees, and website from the constant threat of cyberattacks.
The post How to Practice Cybersecurity Mindfulness for Your Business appeared first on Inc. and is written by Neill Feather
Original source: Inc.
