Categories: Technology

Top Cybersecurity Measures For Small Companies To Take In 2025

Cyber-attacks have become more frequent as technology advances. With more businesses and people relying on digital systems, hackers have more security gaps to exploit. Cyber threats aren’t just a problem for governments and big companies. Small companies can be victims, too.

Hackers often target small companies because they can’t afford to put up strong cybersecurity measures.

That said, many leaders have begun to see the importance of putting up a strong defense against cyber-attacks. In fact, 53% of organizations want to implement improved cybersecurity measures to protect their systems against evolving threats.

If you want to protect your company against cyber-attacks but don’t know where to start, here’s a guide to help you out.

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What’s A Cyberattack?

A cyberattack is a malicious attempt by a company or an individual to steal data or cause disruption to another company’s system. Usually, the attacker’s end goal is to gain something by disrupting the victim’s network.

Cyberattacks can tarnish a company’s reputation or paralyze its operations. This can be costly, especially for small companies. For instance, the average cost of a cyber-attack is $4.88 million.

This price includes the cost of finding and fixing the security breach, lost income due to downtime, and the lasting damage to a company’s reputation.

Why Do Small Companied Need To Protect Themselves Against Cyber Security?

Small businesses don’t have as much money as big companies. So why are they targets for cybercriminals? That’s because they’re after valuables such as:

Your Data

Hackers are often after valuable data, such as social security numbers, medical records, bank account credentials, or credit card information. They either use this information to make fraudulent purchases or sell them to other criminals.

Your Computing Power

Sometimes, attackers want to use your company’s computers to carry out Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. These attacks work by generating huge amounts of traffic to disrupt the systems or services of another company.

Your Links To Other Entities

Cybercriminals know that small companies are digitally connected to larger companies through supply chains, transactions, and information sharing. Because big companies are harder to hack, cybercriminals may go after smaller businesses to get into larger company systems.

So, How Do You Protect Your Company From Cyber Attacks?

Small companies are very vulnerable to cyberattacks. Fortunately, there are so many ways to keep your company safe.

Perform Regular Software And Patch Updates

Updating your system is your first line of defense against cyber-attacks. Old and outdated systems can expose your company to cyber-attacks because they no longer receive updates or security patches. Without these updates, cybercriminals can easily gain access to your system.

Keeping your systems and software up to date is quite easy. Here are some of the most basic security measures you should take:

Enable automatic updates.
Regularly check for updates.
Update all devices.
Use supported software.
Secure your network

Train Your Employees

A good number of cyberattacks are caused by employees who unknowingly give attackers access to a company’s networks. That’s why it’s important to educate your employees about cyberattacks and how their actions can expose important digital assets to hackers.

For instance, you can teach them about the importance of using strong passwords and how to identify phishing emails. You should also establish clear policies on how to handle customer data and other important information.

Encrypt Your Data

Data encryption is a way to encode data so that it’s inaccessible to unauthorized users. Only people with the right key can unlock and read it.

That means even if an unauthorized person gains access to the data, they won’t be able to read it unless they have the key. Data encryption helps protect sensitive data and private information.

However, encryption is only effective if it is properly implemented. If encryption is not set up correctly or if the encryption keys are not well protected, hackers can still find ways to access the data.

Therefore, you should test your encryption methods regularly to ensure they’re stable and reliable and that you can decrypt your data.

Leverage AI For Real-Time Monitoring

AI is very useful in the real-time detection of cyberattacks. Real-time threat detection simply means detecting cyber security threats as they occur. Some of the ways in which you can use AI for real-time monitoring include:

Analyzing network traffic and detecting unusual behavior that may indicate a cyberattack
AI-powered security tools that can take immediate action when a threat is detected
Tracking normal user behavior and detecting suspicious activity
Studying past cyberattacks and predicting possible future threats
Scanning emails, attachments, and websites in real time to detect phishing scams and malware
Monitoring cloud environments for unusual activities, such as unauthorized access or data breaches

Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

A VPN provides an extra layer of security since it lets employees securely connect to your company’s network while working remotely. It creates a digital connection between your computer and a VPN provider’s remote server.

This connection creates a safe and secure environment that masks your IP address, encrypts your data, and supports secure file sharing.

VPNs are necessary since employees often use the internet to access the company’s systems, opening up cyber-attack opportunities. They’re especially useful when employees are using public internet connections, such as in Airbnb’s, airports, or coffee shops.

Limit Physical Access To Computers

Hackers can gain access to your company’s system via business devices, such as phones, laptops, and tablets. Therefore, you should be mindful of unauthorized physical access to these devices.

Put up strong security measures, which include adding physical trackers to the devices, setting up remote wiping (which allows you to erase all data from a device remotely), and physically securing them.

It’s also wise to educate your employees on the importance of keeping their laptops and cell phones safe.

Protect Your Company From Cyberattacks

Cyberattacks don’t just happen to big companies; small businesses are at risk, too. By using the tips discussed in this article, you can protect your company from cybersecurity threats.

While implementing these security measures might be costly, you will end up saving lots of money and time in the long run.