How to fight cyber-crime in your small business

Train your staff to recognise potentially risky emails

(Image credit: © iStockphotos)

published 30 December 2021

Cyber-attackers have small businesses in their sights. The Federation of Small Businesses says its members are the target of seven million cyber-attacks every year. The average cost of an incident for a small business is £8,460, but many prove even more expensive to fix and recover from. In the most extreme cases, the disruption and expense of a serious attack can pose an existential threat to small businesses.

However, for many smaller firms, the misconception persists that they are less likely to be targeted than larger companies. While 93% of large companies say cybersecurity is a high priority, the figure drops below 70% for the smallest businesses. In part, that may be because firms feel they lack the technical expertise to confront cyber-crime. But even taking some simple steps will provide a great deal of protection. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) suggests focusing on five key areas.

A copy of your company

First, says the NCSC, make sure your business makes regular back-ups of all its key data. Build this into your daily operations. Crucially, you need to make these back-ups to a computer or system that is not connected to your ordinary system, or accessible by staff.

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The aim is to create a copy of your key data that you can access in an emergency, but which an attack won’t reach. That way, if your systems do suffer a breach – or if you suffer a disaster such as flooding or a fire – your business will still be able to function. You’ll also be less vulnerable to ransomware attacks that freeze your data until you pay a fee to the attacker for release.

Step two is to put protections in place against malware, the malicious software programmes through which attackers aim to harm organisations. Basic cyber-hygiene is really important here: install anti-virus software and make sure it is operating, switch on your firewall, and keep your IT equipment up to date. Follow software providers’ instructions on updates and modifications.

Part of the challenge here is to make staff part of the defence. Through regular training and communication, you can help employees understand what is risky behaviour, such as opening attachments that could pose a threat. Have rules about how they use their own computers to access work systems.

The next step, suggests the NCSC, should be to think about smartphones and other digital devices, particularly as more businesses depend on these technologies. Make sure all devices are password-protected, limiting the damage if they fall into the wrong hands, and turn on apps that allow for the tracking or wiping of lost or stolen devices. Keep both the device itself, and all apps, updated. And consider instructing staff not to connect to unknown Wi-Fi hotspots, particularly in public places, with any device used for work.

Good use of passwords more broadly is another key step in protecting your business from cyber-criminals. The aim here is to strengthen your defences without making access to devices and networks so cumbersome that people don’t bother following the rules and leave themselves open to attack. Use more demanding techniques, such as two-factor authentication, for the most important points of access. Help your staff to cope with password overloads – good quality password managers, for example, can be very useful.

Finally, the NCSC suggests thinking particularly carefully about phishing attacks, one of the most common types of cyber-breach. Here, there are tools that can help you configure your accounts to repel attacks and spot breaches. But again, employees’ awareness is a crucial weapon. Make sure staff know how to ask for help if they’re unsure. Be sympathetic if they do make a mistake; this will encourage people to report potential problems quickly.

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David Prosser is a regular MoneyWeek columnist, writing on small business and entrepreneurship, as well as pensions and other forms of tax-efficient savings and investments. David has been a financial journalist for almost 30 years, specialising initially in personal finance, and then in broader business coverage. He has worked for national newspaper groups including The Financial Times, The Guardian and Observer, Express Newspapers and, most recently, The Independent, where he served for more than three years as business editor.