7 Small Business Network Security Tips

Have you ever had your email or social media hacked? It’s upsetting, and the results can be devastating, both personally and professionally. That’s why we’ve put together these small business network security tips to help keep your accounts secure. The beauty of the internet is that it enables us to accomplish tasks efficiently and effectively at the moment, so we can continue to focus on the core functionalities of our business. That being said, it’s important that we understand and remain cognizant of the risks of being connected to the internet. Hackers and cyber actors don’t care about the size of your business or the download speed of your network, it’s nothing personal, they just want to crash your digital party and leave it in ruins. To avoid the disaster, but the following seven small business network security tips into play: 1) Craft hard-to-guess passwords - Don’t reuse old passwords. Once they’re used, they’re stored somewhere. All it takes is one breach, and Bob’s your uncle, you’re hacked! Use numbers and symbols but not in sequence. A combination of capital letters, lowercase letters, numbers and symbols mixed together is much harder for a hacker to guess. Use a longer password. The longer the password, the harder it is to guess. Most experts recommend a password length of 12 to 15 characters. 2) Change those default admin logins - Whether on your new modem provided by the cable company, that new wireless router you bought online, or your new, shiny website, if it comes with a generic “admin” login, change it right away to strengthen your small business’s network security. 3) Change your default network name - As silly as it sounds, changing the SSID sends a message to would-be hackers that you’ve most likely changed your password. It might not detract them from a hacking attempt, but it’s better than letting them think that you’re low-hanging digital fruit. 4) Stop broadcasting your SSID - Your Wi-Fi router will typically broadcast your SSID at regular intervals for people searching for a new network. Router manufacturers originally designed this feature for businesses where customers might roam in and out of range (i.e. going to their car and returning to the business). 5) Don’t auto-connect to public Wi-Fi - As convenient as it is to have your phone or computer log in to that Starbucks Wi-Fi hotspot, it’s also a potential hacker trap. If that’s the case and can’t be avoided to run your business, use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to encrypt your data, enable the “always use HTTPS” option to encrypt your login details and turn off sharing of your files and folders. 6) Keep your antivirus software updated - Antivirus software is a great way to boost your small business network security. Good antivirus software will automatically identify, quarantine and remove the different types of malware like viruses, ransomware, and worms. 7) Back up your data regularly - No matter how prepared you are for a cyberattack, sometimes the bad guys win. Where most of your business information and documents are now online, it’s critical to back up your data regularly. In today’s digital world, if you run a business, you most likely need to use connected devices like computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Each time you connect, you run the risk of being hacked. But by these seven small business network security tips, you’ll have a better chance of protecting your data. The Journey is what everyday entrepreneurs, like you, need to follow in the pursuit of online success. Our experienced GoDaddy Guides are here to take you through all the steps, both big and small, that you encounter every day.