Cybersecurity for non-tech businesses
Companies that do not largely rely on technology or the use of computers and software in their operations are referred to as non-tech firms. These companies might be modest neighbourhood shops or multinational conglomerates operating in a range of sectors, including retail, hospitality, healthcare, and education. They might use technology, but it’s not a major part of how they do business.
Cybercriminals could always attack non-tech businesses, no matter how big or what kind of business they operate. Small firms can nevertheless fall prey to cyberattacks, despite the fact that, historically speaking, they are not usually targeted for their money or data. Actually, a lot of non-tech businesses are the target of supply chain attacks, which are designed to allow attackers access to a larger, more profitable target by way of a non-tech business that has a reliable relationship with the target.
Assume you are creating brochures for a bank, for example. This indicates that bank employees are more likely to trust you because they already know you than a total stranger. Therefore, it stands to reason that those working in the bank’s marketing division would be less cautious when opening files and emails from you. What would happen if these emails were sent from your original address by someone else?
Supplier attacks are a serious and expanding threat. But even if your company doesn’t deal with bigger corporations, hacking could still happen to you. Attackers may use your smart gadgets or security cameras, as well as any internet-connected assets like your website and social media profiles, to conceal their attacks on other companies. This is the second most frequent reason that cybercriminals target small and non-tech businesses.
As a result, it is critical that all companies, regardless of size or sector, give cybersecurity top priority and safeguard against possible dangers.
Typical cybersecurity threats to non-tech businesses:
- Ransomware Attacks: One of the most common cybersecurity risks that non-tech businesses face nowadays is ransomware. These hacks function by encrypting the data of an organisation and keeping it under lockdown until a ransom is paid. Results of the study show that Microsoft Office files make up 48% of malicious email attachments and that a ransomware assault on a company typically costs $133,000. Because they lack the time or resources to recover from a ransomware assault, businesses frequently pay these ransoms.
- Phishing: The largest and most well-known cyberthreat that affects non-tech businesses is phishing. These scams operate by sending an email that looks to be from a reliable source or website, fooling the victim into divulging their personal information. Businesses are not exempt from these frauds. In one cyberattack, hackers sent an email with malware while pretending to be business leaders, giving them access to private data about almost 20,000 federal agency employees.
- Malware Attacks: Non-tech businesses should take precautions against malware since it is a comparatively easy form of attack. Through email attachments or other security holes, malware can enter a computer and begin operating without the user’s awareness. Malware can cause havoc on digital files once they’re inside by altering rights and settings, preventing the operation of particular programmes, and monitoring user activities. Public Wi-Fi networks are another typical place to find malware, putting users’ devices at risk of compromise if they visit an infected website or just browse the wrong page.
- Social engineering is the practice of hackers deceiving victims into divulging personal information by using a variety of techniques, such as assuming the identity of another person or a corporate representative. Social engineering is on the rise due to the popularity of social media, and communications received through these channels may contain malware that can steal a user’s personal data.
- Data Theft: For non-tech businesses, this is one of their biggest worries. Hackers steal personal information from workers by deceitful or dishonest means, which is known as data theft. Through employee email account access, ransomware, phishing, and pharming assaults can be effortlessly disseminated throughout a company’s network by hackers.
- Insider Threats: For companies of all sizes, inside staff members represent a serious security risk. Workers lose data on USB devices, make company files easily accessible by using the same password for home and work accounts, and fall victim to phishing techniques that get login credentials. 95% of cybersecurity breaches are the result of human error, according to studies.
Non-technical cybersecurity strategies:
Fortunately, by staying up-to-date with the most recent security concepts for organizations, non-tech businesses can take action to safeguard their organization. Here is some crucial guidance about non-tech businesses cybersecurity:
- Educate the staff:
- Employees may depart, leaving their organisation open to assault. Although exact figures differ by nation and business sector, it is undeniably true that insiders are responsible for a significant number of data breaches when they unintentionally or purposefully allow thieves access to their company’s networks.
- Attacks initiated by employees could occur in a variety of circumstances. An employee might misplace an official laptop or expose login information, for example. Employees could also inadvertently click on phishing emails, which could infect the network of your company with viruses.
- Consider providing employees with cybersecurity training to guard against internal dangers. For instance, instruct employees on how to recognise phishing emails and the value of using secure passwords. Create explicit policies outlining the proper handling and protection of consumer data and other important information.
- Conduct a threat assessment.
- Assess possible threats that could jeopardise the information, systems, and network security of your business. Identifying and evaluating potential risks will assist you in creating a plan to close security holes.
- Determine who has access to your data and where it is stored as part of your risk assessment. Determine who would be interested in accessing the data and how they might go about doing so. You can request assistance with your risk assessment from your cloud storage provider if your company’s data is kept on the cloud. Determine the prospective events’ risk levels and the potential effects that breaches may have on your business.
- After this research is finished and threats have been identified, use the data you have gathered to create or improve your security plan. Every time you make modifications to the way you store and use information, go over and revise this method. This guarantees that your data is always as safe as possible.
- Install security software.
- Select antivirus software that can defend against ransomware, spyware, viruses, and phishing scams on all of your devices. Make sure the software has features that assist you in cleaning devices as needed and returning them to their pre-infected form, in addition to protection. To protect yourself from the newest online threats and to fix any vulnerabilities, it’s critical to keep your antivirus software updated.
- Update all the security software:
- All of the software you use to run your business, including antivirus software, needs to be updated. Software vendors frequently patch security flaws in their products or upgrade their programmes to make them stronger. Remember that some software may require manual updates, such as the firmware of a Wi-Fi router. A router and the devices connected to it remain susceptible in the absence of updated security fixes.
- Make regular backups of your files.
- Does your business maintain file backups? In the event of a cyberattack, data may be lost or altered. Could your firm continue to operate in such a scenario? Remember to account for the volume of data that may be kept on mobile devices and laptops; without these, many firms would not be able to operate.
- Use a backup programme that copies your files to storage automatically to assist. You can use your backups to restore all of your files in the event of an attack. To avoid having to remember to perform the backup procedure, select a programme that allows you to schedule or automate it. Keep backup copies off-line to prevent them from being encrypted or rendered unusable in the event of a ransomware attack on your computer.
- Encrypt important data.
- Having an encryption programme in place is a smart idea if your company often handles sensitive data, such as bank account and credit card information. Data is protected via encryption, which converts data on the device into unintelligible codes.
- Encryption is made to withstand the worst-case situation: even if your data were stolen, the hacker would be unable to utilise it because they would not have the necessary keys to decrypt and interpret the data. In an environment where billions of records are exposed annually, that is a reasonable security measure.
- Restrict access to private information.
- Limit the number of individuals in your company that have access to vital information. This will lessen the effects of a data breach and lower the likelihood that employees acting in bad faith may obtain permission to access data. Establish a plan outlining who can access what information at what level, so that everyone knows their roles and responsibilities.
- Safeguard the network connectivity of your Wi-Fi.
- Make sure to upgrade to WPA2 or above if your company is still using WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), as these versions offer increased security. Although it’s likely that you’re currently using WPA2, it’s still a good idea to double-verify, as some companies fail to update their infrastructure. In our guide, you can learn more about WEP vs. WPA.
- By altering the name of your wireless access point or router, also known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID), you can prevent hackers from breaking into your Wi-Fi network. For extra security, you can use a complicated pre-shared key (PSK) passphrase.
- Establish robust password policies.
- Make certain that every employee uses a strong password on any device that has private data. A strong password consists of a combination of capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols and should be at least 15 characters long, if not longer. A brute force attack is less likely to succeed the harder the password is to crack.
- Additionally, you ought to institute a policy requiring password changes on a regular basis (at least quarterly). Small firms should also allow multi-factor authentication (MFA) on the devices and apps used by their employees.
- Employ a good firewall
- Any business that has its own physical servers can benefit from having a firewall since it protects both software and hardware. Another way a firewall functions is by discouraging or preventing viruses from accessing your network. As opposed to this, an antivirus programme targets software that has already been compromised by a virus.
- Making sure a firewall is installed safeguards both inbound and outbound network traffic for your company. It can prevent network attacks by hackers by blocking specific websites. It can also be configured to limit the transmission of private emails and sensitive data from your business’s network.
- Employ a VPN (Virtual Private Network)
- For your company, a virtual private network adds an extra degree of protection. Employees that work remotely or on vacation can safely access your company’s network with the help of VPNs. They accomplish this by building a secure link between your home internet connection and the website or online service you require access to, through which they route your data and IP address. They are especially helpful when utilising potentially hackable public internet connections, like those found in coffee shops, airports, or Airbnbs. With the use of a VPN, users can connect securely and keep hackers away from the data they are trying to steal.
- Make sure the people you deal with are secure as well.
- Be cautious when allowing partners or suppliers to access your systems; they could be other businesses. Verify if they are adopting the same routines as you. Checking before granting someone access is nothing to be afraid of.
- Vendor Support:
- Explore the availability of user-friendly security solutions offered by vendors that cater to non-tech businesses. Look for products and services designed with simplicity and accessibility in mind.
By focusing on these tailored strategies, non-tech businesses can bolster their defenses against ransomware without requiring extensive technical know-how. These measures are designed to be practical and feasible for teams.
There is no assurance that you will receive your data back or that the hacker will not sell it after you pay the ransom; thus, paying the ransom carries a significant risk. Furthermore, all it does is support and encourage these attackers. Organizations should strategically invest in strengthening their cybersecurity rather than paying a large ransom. The expense of cybersecurity is always lower than the price of a cyberattack.