How to secure your IT systems as an SME 

It would be fair to say that the topic of cybersecurity has become more understood than ever before over recent years. 

After all, one only has to cast their eye over the technology news to see that it’s not huge corporations that are open to cyber-attacks – SMEs are well and truly in this category as well. 

Bearing this in mind, today’s article will mull through some of the top tips that all SMEs should keep in mind in a bid to keep their IT infrastructure as secure as possible. 

Have firm policies in place for emails 

One trend that we have seen over the last few years is companies becoming unstuck through “phishing” and similarly related activities. If we were to cast our eyes over some of the biggest IT security breaches, quite often it is something as innocent as opening an email attachment that starts the chaos. 

As such, it’s crucial you have stringent rules and policies in place for emails. Ensure that your employees are vigilant in every way possible; from opening attachments, to replying with sensitive information to so-called trusted sources. 

In truth, the list could go on, but the point is that rules and policies need to be put in place for email correspondence – and these need to be adhered to at all times. 

Educate your staff on cybersecurity 

Linked to the point above, one of the best things you can do to ensure that your company’s IT infrastructure is as secure as possible is to educate your staff on cybersecurity. From the basics of not sharing passwords, to not opening email attachments, your employees need to be clued up on all things cybersecurity. 

The best way to achieve this is by rolling out mandatory training sessions and courses. Not only will this ensure that everyone in your company is up to date with the latest cybersecurity threats, but it will also ensure that should something happen, everyone knows how to react and deal with it in the most efficient way possible. 

Take care with so-called “old” devices 

Just because a device is a few years old, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t open to attack. In fact, as time goes on and technology advances, so too do the methods that cybercriminals use to target businesses. 

Therefore, it’s crucial that you don’t take your eye off the ball when it comes to devices that may be a few years old. Yes, they may not be the newest on the market, but that doesn’t mean to say they can’t be used to gain access to your company’s network and, as a result, your sensitive data.

Furthermore, when it comes to disposing of these devices, further vigilance is required. Do they still contain sensitive data that can be abused in the wrong hands? If you have any such doubts, consider bringing the experts in and using a Weee Recycling service to ensure you are also meeting any additional legal requirements.

Look into cloud-based solutions 

One way to further secure your company’s IT infrastructure is to look into cloud-based solutions. By storing your data off-site, you can rest assured knowing that should something happen to your premises – be it a fire, flood or theft – your data will be safe and sound. 

What’s more, many cloud-based solutions offer additional layers of security, such as encryption, which can further protect your data should the worst happen.

Gone are the days where this is cost-prohibitive for SMEs. Nowadays, it’s much more financially accessible – and can make your business significantly more secure.