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Cybersecurity for Small Businesses

Tips for Small Business Owners


America's small businesses are critical to our economy and fill needed niches within the industries served. However, some may not have all the resources needed to have a strong cybersecurity posture. By implementing simple practices, small businesses can safeguard their information and data.

  1. Make sure all of your organization’s computers are equipped with antivirus software and antispyware. This software should be updated regularly.
  2. Secure your Internet connection by using a firewall, encrypt information, and hide your Wi-Fi network.
  3. Establish security practices and policies to protect sensitive information.
  4. Educate employees about cyber threats and how to protect your organization’s data. Hold employees accountable to the Internet security policies and procedures.
  5. Require employees to use strong passwords and to change them often.
  6. Invest in data loss protection software, use encryption technologies to protect data in transit, and use two-factor authentication where possible.
  7. Protect all pages on your public-facing websites, not just the checkout and sign-up pages.

Resources Available To You

  • CISA.gov. The United States Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) distributes bulletins and alerts for both technical and non-technical users, shares cybersecurity tips, and responds to incident, phishing, and vulnerabilities reports.
  • SBA.gov.The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps Americans start, build, and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto
    Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.
  • USChamber.com.The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has an Internet Safety Toolkit that teaches employees how to help protect company information, customer data, and their own personal information.

If Your System Has Been Compromised

  • Inform local law enforcement or the state attorney general as appropriate.
  • Report stolen finances or identities and other cyber crimes to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
  • Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • Report computer or network vulnerabilities to CISA via the hotline: 1-888-282-0870 or CISA.gov.
This article was provided by the Department of Homeland Security. For more information visit www.dhs.gov.

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