Cybercrimes are on the rise, and your cybersecurity efforts should be too. Cybersecurity does not have to cost you an arm and a leg, but it can save you an arm and a leg if done properly. Small businesses can protect themselves against cybercrimes by creating 3 lines of defence for their organisations.

What is cybercrime?

Cybercrime refers to crimes that affect computers, data or information communications technologies (ICT), such as business email compromise, as in the case of Hawarden v ENS. It can also include crimes committed by people using the same computers or ICT, such as hacking or leaking information. Small businesses use these technologies too, so they are vulnerable to cyber attacks, and their employees can potentially commit cybercrimes as well. This begs the question: how can small businesses protect themselves against cybercrime?

We discuss the three lines of defence small businesses can implement to protect themselves against cybercrime and cyber attacks.

Line 1: small businesses can protect themselves against cybercrime with software and hardware protection

The first line of defence that small businesses can draw to protect themselves against cybercrime involves the software and hardware they use in their day-to-day operations.

Small businesses should make sure that they update their software when these updates are available. Software updates may seem annoying, but they can go a long way in protecting your business. These updates can include fixes to bugs and new and improved security features. Small businesses can support their software with the appropriate hardware, as outdated hardware may struggle with newly-released updates. This means saying goodbye to your trusty dinosaur computer for a system that can cope with regular updates.

Line 2: small businesses can protect themselves against cybercrime with technology protection

The second line of defence relates to how small businesses can protect their data and sensitive information from cybercriminals.

Small businesses can create this second line of defence by encrypting their files. Also, these files should be stored securely using a cloud solution instead of on-premise storage solutions like hard drives. This will also improve data recovery resilience if someone tries to hold your data for ransom. Small businesses also can make use of these additional tools to add extra layers of protection:

  • a VPN:  A VPN is a virtual private network that enables you to establish a secure and private connection over the internet. A VPN ensures secure and private internet browsing by encrypting your data and altering your IP address. It provides essential online privacy protection. Choose a reliable VPN service to enjoy these benefits and browse the web with peace of mind.
  • a two-factor authentication process: Two-factor authentication provides an extra level of security by requiring two forms of identification, typically your password and a temporary code sent to your phone. This helps prevent unauthorised access to your online accounts, making it harder for hackers to breach your personal information.
  • an intrusion detection or intrusion prevention system: an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) identifies and alerts you on potential security threats by monitoring network traffic. At the same time, an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) detects and takes action to block or mitigate those threats. Both systems play crucial roles in maintaining the security of computer networks and systems, helping to protect against unauthorised access, data breaches, and other malicious activities.

Line 3: small businesses can protect themselves against cybercrime with people protection

The third line of defence in protecting small businesses against cybercrime involves the people in the organisation.

Prevention is better than cure. This means you need to be proactive when protecting your data against cybercrimes. Educate your team on cyber risks – training them on spotting cyberattacks that rely on dodgy links or clever scams can help them avoid falling victim to these attacks. Training should be an ongoing process. Cybercriminals are constantly up-skilling, and so should you.

There’s been a cybercrime, now what?

You will need to act fast if a cyberattack has hit your organisation. Like all organisations, small businesses should have a response plan in place as they may be victims of cybercrime. Your plan can include:

  1. identifying the right people to help you deal with the cyberattack like an incident response coach.
  2. developing an incident response policy which explains how your organisation will deal with incidents.
  3. getting insurance to protect you against the effects of cybercrimes.

Staying ready means you won’t have to waste any time getting ready should there be a cyber attack.

Actions to take