For every business, cybersecurity awareness should be paramount 24/7, 365 days a year.  October, designated as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, is an excellent time to highlight what every business owner should consider as they bolster their defenses and prepare for the 2025 year ahead.

Budgeting for cyber upgrades, developing a relationship with a qualified, trusted IT managed service provider, and implementing a managed Security Operations Center (SOC) are critical to safeguarding your business, clients, and employees.

The following are ten steps every business owner can start taking now, to improve your cyber security posture.  Don’t delay, cybercrime is ever evolving, your cyber protections need to as well.

1. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

  • MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to systems and data.  Without MFA, a single compromised password could grant hackers unrestricted access to your company network exposing proprietary and confidential information.

2. Regularly Update and Patch Software

  • Keeping all software, including operating systems and applications, up to date ensures that known vulnerabilities are patched and reduces the risk of exploitation.  Neglecting updates can leave your systems open to attacks, as cybercriminals often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software.

3. Conduct Employee Cybersecurity Training

  • Educate your employees on recognizing phishing attempts, creating strong passwords, and other cybersecurity best practices. Without proper training, employees may inadvertently fall victim to phishing scams, leading to potential data breaches.
    Ask us about our training programs!

4. Use Strong, Unique Passwords

  • Enforce the use of complex passwords that are unique for each account to minimize the risk of credential theft.  One of the most prevalent cyber risks that so many people are guilty of is reusing passwords.  This increases the risk of multiple accounts being compromised if even just one password is exposed.

5. Regularly Back Up Data

  • Ensure that all critical data is backed up regularly and stored securely, both on-site and off-site.  This way, in the event of a ransomware attack, having recent backups can be the difference between a minor inconvenience and a catastrophic data loss.

6. Deploy a Managed SOC (Security Operations Center)

  • A managed SOC monitors your network for suspicious activity, providing real-time threat detection and response.  Without a SOC, threats may go unnoticed until it’s too late, leading to severe breaches and downtime.  Ask us about just a few of our recent SOC success stories!

7. Encrypt Sensitive Data

  • Encrypting data ensures that even if it’s intercepted or stolen, it remains unreadable without the proper decryption key. Unencrypted sensitive data can be easily accessed and misused if compromised.

8. Control Access to Data and Systems

  • Know who is accessing your systems at all times.  Implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring that employees only have access to the data and systems necessary for their roles.  When a company has employees with over-privileged access this increases the risk of insider threats and accidental data leaks.

9. Develop and Test an Incident Response Plan

  • Having a well-documented and tested incident response plan allows your business to respond swiftly and effectively to security breaches.  Without a plan, your business could face significant delays in responding to incidents, exacerbating the damage.

10. Monitor Network Traffic

  • Continuous monitoring of network traffic can help detect unusual activity early, allowing for a quicker response to potential threats.  Unmonitored networks are more likely to be infiltrated and exploited for extended periods, leading to larger-scale breaches. Your Managed Service Provider can really help you with a proactive approach to your security.

Conclusion:

For Long Island businesses, these top 10 tips represent critical actions that every business should consider implementing as part of their cybersecurity strategy. Neglecting these measures can leave your business vulnerable to a wide range of cyber threats.

For a more comprehensive approach, download our full guide with 31 essential cybersecurity tips to fortify your defenses and ensure a secure year ahead.

By following these recommendations and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk and protect your business, clients, and employees from the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Protect your business today with reliable cybersecurity services. Contact Tech 2020 Solutions to learn more about how we can help safeguard your company. Reach out today and take the first step toward securing your business’s future.

About Tech 2020 Solutions

Tech 2020 Solutions offers complete turn-key solutions for the technologies that drive your business, stores and secures your data and helps you communicate in and outside of your company.

Offering offer multiple levels of on-site and remote support, monitoring and maintenance for your data, IT, phones, and peripheral equipment needs including general IT Support and Services, Cloud Storage and Applications, Network Security, Back Up, Mobile Solutions, VoIP Phone Systems, Unified Communications, Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and other Scalable Technologies.
Visit www.Tech2020Solutions.com to learn more about Tech 2020 Solutions, Inc. or call 516-876-8761 or email info@Tech2020solutions.com.

Power Up with John Hassler is a blog distributed by Tech 2020 Solutions, Inc. and written by John Hassler, President, and Founder of the company. To reach John, contact him at 516.876.8761 or via email at news@Tech2020Solutions.com. Connect on Linked In and Facebook.