Los Angeles Times - 02.10.2019

LOS ANGELES TIMES WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019 A

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ContactaSmallBusinessTechnologyAdvisortodayat

TECHNOLOGY

Enable encryption of emails and

encrypt data on devices. Make sure all

attachments and files are scanned for

suspicious code.

TRAINING

Teach employees how to use these tools.

3.Data protection

TECHNOLOGY

Automatic, frequent data backups to

secure locations walled off from the rest

of the network can allow a business to

recover quickly.

TRAINING

Employees need to know how to

recognize when data has been

compromised, who to report it to, and

how to access and use the backup.

2.Attack recovery

TECHNOLOGY

Buy equipment with layers of security, like

fingerprint and facial recognition on top

of passwords. Install remote-wipe tools.

TRAINING

Make sure employees use the technology.

Setupaprotocolandexpectationto

report missing devices promptly.

1.Device security

Three ways people and technology work

together to secure small businesses

working together

It’s also important to remember what is at

stake in cybersecurity– not only direct financial

losses, but potentially the loss of business

secrets, customer data, legal fees, and ultimately

the reputation of a business – which makes

cybersecurity worth the effort for businesses

of every size.

Advice: Do as much as you can, and plan for

the next phase

Rao sees small business security is a balancing act.

The key is recognizing the threats and starting

with the behaviors and mentality of employees

and owners. Once that is in place, the security

tools they use become much more effective.

Train employees to spot phishing: Often

sent via email, cybercriminals use email to

direct people to legitimate-looking login pages

to capture login credentials and then break into

or infect systems. Teach employees to check

the return email address and link. If anything

seems off, don’t click the link. Log in from a new

browser window or call to ask about the email.

Don’t click suspicious texted links on

phones:In a new tactic used to infect mobile

devices, hackers text message a link to a target.

Clicking it downloads and installs a hidden

app that can capture information or provide a

backdoor into a network.

Establish a clear chain of approval for

financial transactions: A popular scheme

involves spoofing an email to an employee,

seemingly from a business leader (whom the

hacker knows to be unavailable), asking for an

urgent financial transfer – right to the hacker’s

account. Businesses should set up backup

protocols to check the validity of transfer

requests.

Practice safe online habits:Set expectations

about not visiting suspicious sites, not

downloading unapproved software or media,

and setting strong, unique passwords that are

changed regularly.

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Training employees is essential and can

counter emerging threats

Still, many of the most serious cyberthreats facing

small businesses actually use employees as a way

in, and even require the employee to take some

action to enable the attack.

“I tell my clients, security also depends on

behavior,” said Rao. “The vast majority of threats

start at the endpoints, somebody clicking on a

link they shouldn’t or responding to a phishing

email.”Taking the time to train employees can go

a long way to repelling the most successful types

of cyberattacks.

Some good training to put in place to address top

threats:

The computers and devices employees use

are different for business use as well, with

added physical security features. Working with

a consultant who can bundle solutions, offer

financing** and establish what is truly necessary

can help even the smallest businesses get strong

security.

“One of my customers was planning to buy 10

or 15 very, very basic computers,” recalls Rao. “By

understanding his needs, and working on the

financing, we were able to get him better systems

plus a good firewall, and that’s had a huge

impact on the overall security of his business.”

“Some products are tailored for home use,

and some for business,”said Rohit Rao, a Senior

Technology Advisor with Dell Small Business

Solutions. “Small businesses sometimes opt for

home-use technology for budget reasons, but

there is a difference when it comes to security.”

“Security starts with the overall network,”said Rao.

Small businesses are better served by a hardware

firewall that is designed to stop hackers from

getting in, can analyze and sequester suspicious

data before it gets to a computer, and can protect

networked devices that don’t have software

firewalls. For home users, a combined modem/

router with less robust software-based firewall

usually suffices.

Small business cybersecurity is a multi-layered

defense that combines the right technology

with people trained to use it, with upgrades and

training on a regular schedule. But one size does

not fit all.

Equipping smart employees to use smart technology

part three of three

over90%

of successful cyberattacks

start as phishing emails

(Better Business Bureau, 2017)

72%

of employees admit they’d

share confidential info

in some circumstances

(Dell, 2017)

<

50%

of small businesses

train their employees

in cybersecurity

(Better Business Bureau, 2017)

Why updating cybersecurity is a necessity for small businesses

Stay a Step Ahead: Cybersecurity in Motion

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