Did you know there was a whopping 424% increase in new small business cyber breaches last year? Yikes! That's a scary statistic, but don't panic. Many of these breaches are preventable with a few key changes to your cybersecurity habits.

Here are 6 harmful habits small businesses often fall into, and how to prevent them:

1. Underestimating the Threat:

Many small businesses mistakenly believe they're too small to be a target for hackers. This simply isn't true. Hackers often target small businesses because they may have weaker defenses.

Fix: Acknowledge that you are a target.

2. Not Having a Cybersecurity Plan:

Just like you wouldn't open a store without a fire escape plan, you shouldn't operate online without a cybersecurity plan. This plan should outline how to protect your data, respond to incidents and recover from attacks.

Fix: Develop a plan! We're here to help.

3. Using Weak Passwords:

"Password123" is not going to cut it. Weak passwords are the easiest entry point for hackers.

Fix: Enforce strong password creation for all employees. Use a password manager to generate and store complex passwords securely.

4. Not Patching Software:

Software updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities hackers can exploit.

Fix: Enable automatic updates whenever possible. Make sure a system is in place to review and install updates manually if needed.

5. Not Backing Up Data:

A cyberattack could leave you with irreplaceable data loss. Backups are your safety net.

Fix: Implement a regular data backup schedule. Store backups securely, ideally offsite.

6. Not Training Employees:

Employees are often the first line of defense against cyberattacks. Phishing emails and social engineering tactics can trick even the most tech-savvy people.

Fix: Provide regular cybersecurity training for all employees. This should cover common threats, how to identify them and what to do if they suspect an attack.

By breaking these harmful habits and implementing these simple solutions, you can significantly improve your small business' cybersecurity posture. Remember, even small changes can make a big difference in protecting your valuable data and your business' reputation.

Ready to break these habits? Get started with a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment today (fill out the contact form and we'll be in touch shortly)!