News about cyberattacks continues to dominate the headlines in our world today.

We can only shake our heads in disbelief as we read yet another headline about big names like eBay, Marriott International, Federal Parliament, and Channel Nine falling victim to data breaches and cybercrime.

We understand that cybersecurity can feel daunting to many people. Fortunately, you can protect your small business in a variety of ways.

In this article, we will outline some advice that you can easily apply to make your system less vulnerable to attack.

The importance of awareness for you and your staff about cybersecurity cannot be overstated.

First and foremost, make sure that all your employees are aware of common threats and risks, whether it is a suspicious email or unusual password activity.

The attempt to manipulate an individual to transfer funds or share confidential information. It is done by trickery, where an individual believes the person they are communicating with is trusted.

Phishing is most commonly in the form of malicious emails containing file attachments or links to an unknown source. When clicked, it can unintentionally download malware onto your device and compromise your computer and network.

If your system is experiencing inexplicable freezes and crashes or there are spikes in network traffic, there is a chance that your system is infected by malware. To prevent malware infection, it is important to have antivirus software and avoid clicking on suspicious pop-ups when browsing the internet, as some of them can be harmful and infected with malware, adware, and spyware.

If you received an email notifying you that there has been unusual activity, an unknown password change, or a login attempt from an unknown device, there is a high chance that your password has been compromised. It is important to act on this straightaway, update your password immediately, and have two-factor authentication in place.

Strong passwords are vital; they are your first line of defence in protecting your system and network.

Aim for a 12–15 character range for the length of your password and make it complex by using upper and lower case, numbers, and special characters.

Where possible, enabling two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security, making it so much harder for hackers to crack. It requires two separate methods of identification in order to access something. The most common methods of verification are SMS authentication codes or an authentication app such as Microsoft Authenticator.

Although software update pop-ups can be annoying, especially when we are in the middle of work, it is crucial not to ignore them.

We often find it way easier to click on the “remind me later” option and immediately get back to work.

However, it is important to keep your software, security programs (such as anti-virus, anti-malware, and anti-spyware programs), operating system, and devices up to date. Software updates could contain vital update helping you protect against known vulnerabilities and bugs.

Most software updates allow you to schedule them at a convenient time for you or outside of business hours; be sure to keep them up to date.

If you are using mobile devices such as laptops, phones, tablets, and other portable hardware for your business, you will need to be able to protect your data remotely.

Ensure that your employees are aware of the privacy and security risks associated if they are allowed to use their personal devices for work.

At the minimum level, your devices need to have remote locking and/or wiping functions in case they get stolen.

It is also recommended to avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi and turn your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off when not in use.

Your business data is one of the most valuable assets of your business. Thus, it is vital to store your data, including customer records and other important business files, somewhere safe.

In the unfortunate event of a cyber incident, besides having to handle the direct matter at hand, your business activities could potentially be interrupted completely due to not being able to access the required data to keep operating.

If you are already using a backup service, make sure you regularly check and test that your data can be fully restored from your backup.

By backing up your data, you will be able to restore your data in the event of a cyber breach.

While it is extremely important for businesses to minimise the risk of a cyber-attack and the above will help make your business less vulnerable to attacks, even the most secure organisation remains at risk of an attack.

Unfortunately, the cost of responding to a cyber incident could put most small businesses out of business.

In a world that is increasingly driven by digital technologies and information, making sure you have adequate cyber cover is an essential part of doing business.

Cyber Liability Insurance can cover the costs associated with a cyber attack.

Coverage generally includes:

To obtain a quote or to obtain some advice, contact us on 1300 739 861.

Disclaimer – “This material contains general information only and may not suit your particular circumstances. To decide if a policy is right for you please carefully read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and/or Policy wording. While we have exercised due care and skill in preparing this information, Optimum Insurance Services (Optimum) does not accept any legal responsibility or liability for negligence or otherwise to you or anyone else who seeks to rely on this information. This includes, without limitation, loss arising from a possible failure of the information to comply with statutory or regulatory requirements or the failure of the information to identify other terms and conditions beyond those considered in this document. You should obtain advice to ensure that your policy provides adequate cover for your circumstances. “Optimum Insurance Services Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Insurance Advisernet Australia Pty Ltd (Car No. 291220), Australian Financial Services Licence No 240549, ABN 15 003 886 687.”