Owning a business often requires you to wear multiple hats at once: business owner, accountant, marketing manager, social media guru and more. While you are busy taking care of your business from every angle, cybercriminals are also busy trying to steal your business’s data, your personal info, and all the dollars you work so hard to earn. So how can you keep yourself and your beloved business safe from hackers and thieves? 

Luckily, October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month! In 2004, the U.S. president declared that October would be dedicated to raising awareness and educating folks on how to stay safe in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Technological advances in the last couple of decades have only increased the need for cybersecurity awareness! You’ve chosen the right month to start diving into the details of how to protect your business. 

We’ve gathered a few simple tips to help you understand the basics of cybersecurity for your business. 

1. Learn, learn, learn! Like we said earlier, the faster the internet grows and the more info you store online, the more crucial it is for you to keep up with education on this serious subject. Find a trusted site that publishes news articles about recent data breaches or hacking attempts. Stay updated on the newest cybersecurity tactics so you can see which methods fit your business needs. 

2. Use strong, unique passwords for your personal and business accounts. One of the most basic mistakes many people make is using the same password for multiple online accounts. That means that if a hacker figures out one of your passwords, they can then use this password to break into all your other accounts that use the same login details. Keep your personal and business accounts separate. Ensure that your accounts all have unique passwords that combine letters, numbers, and symbols in random patterns. A password manager makes it simple for you to remember all these passwords without endangering your account safety. 

3. Keep your Wi-Fi network secure. Public Wi-Fi that is not locked with a password is often a prime target for hackers. Even if your Wi-Fi device comes with a default password when you purchase it, you should immediately change this to a unique password that you create. Another smart way to protect your Wi-Fi is to keep it private. You know how you can select the Wi-Fi network you want at your favorite coffee shop? Make sure your business network is hidden so that it doesn’t pop up on one of those lists. 

4. Look into firewalls and always perform routine security updates. A firewall will protect your online activity by keeping malicious or suspicious activity from reaching your network in the first place. And those security updates that seem to pop up at the least convenient time? Those are important too. Like the automatic updates your smart phone or laptop performs at home, your business computers will also need to execute these updates to make sure the latest protection is installed. 

5. Ensure that your payment processor is safe. Your payment processor is the crucial tool you use to manage card payments to and from your business. Naturally, this could be a delicious morsel for cybercriminals looking to feast on your hard-earned cash! Work with your bank or with the company that provides this processor to find out the best method of protecting your payments. 

Cybercriminals don’t want you to pay attention to your accounts. They want you to stay ignorant and just hope for the best. People often say, “Oh, that could never happen to me!” – and that’s exactly what cybercriminals want you to think. If you aren’t prepared for the worst, you will be blindsided when a hack or data breach results in weeks or even years of heartache, confusion, and loss for you and your business. 

During National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, take advantage of all the information at your disposal! Learn the best practices for keeping yourself and your business safe from thieves and other prying eyes. Enjoy the process of educating yourself and putting tools in place to drive away the criminals. And take a breath, knowing that you have just given yourself the gift of peace of mind. Now go run your business the way you are meant to run it: safely, profitably, and confidently!