Firstly, welcome to Pebble IT. We are a managed IT provider based in Ware, Hertfordshire.
In our first blog we cover 5 top IT security tips for small businesses. You should always work with your IT department or MSP on your backup strategy and IT security - make sure you have a backup plan, test it, test it again for good measure.... a backup plan is only as good as your testing procedure and if the backups are successful.
Pebble can help with all of the below if you're unsure, if you have any questions or if you want to find out more, please drop us an email to hello@PebbleIT.co.uk
Backup Your Data Regularly:
Establish a backup strategy that suits your needs, whether it's hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly backups.
Use reliable backup solutions such as cloud storage as recommended by your MSP.
Consider implementing a combination of onsite and offsite backups for added redundancy.
Make sure your iPhone or Android phone is backing up too - if you lost your phone, can you get your data back?
Test your backups regularly to ensure they are functioning properly and can be restored in case of emergencies. Make sure you have pass/fail emails being checked daily.
Encrypt your backups to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. Write up the procedure on how to restore the data.
Test your backups again! Get the correct end point security :
Get recommendations on best in class endpoint security from your MSP or IT department, they should know what will work best for your scenario.
There are many types of cyber security software - using an MSP with relationships will ensure you have the correct solution.
Make sure it has cloud based updates, so any new viruses that are discovered you have the latest updates.
Ensure your IT department or MSP is monitoring the whole company and ensuring everyone is updating using remote monitoring - they should be alerted if someone isn't updating. Keep Your Software Updated:
Enable automatic updates whenever possible to ensure your operating system and software applications are always up to date.
Does your MSP offer remote monitoring as part of their offer? If no, why not?
Prioritize security updates over feature updates to mitigate the risk of exploitation by cyber attackers.
There's no need to run the Alpha or Beta versions of updates - sometimes these have bugs in, run a reliable up-to-date version of any software on your computer or phone. its worth waiting an extra week to be on a stable release. Use Strong Passwords and Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):
Encourage the use of password managers to generate and store complex passwords securely. Something like LastPass is a great piece of software.
Enforce password policies that require a minimum length, combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
Implement MFA for all user accounts, particularly for remote access and sensitive systems.
Choose MFA methods that offer a combination of something you know (e.g., password) and something you have (e.g., smartphone, security token) for enhanced security.
Educate Users on Cybersecurity Best Practices:
Provide regular cybersecurity awareness training sessions to educate users about common threats and how to recognize them.
Teach employees to verify the legitimacy of emails, links, and attachments before clicking on them to prevent falling victim to phishing attacks.
Encourage a culture of reporting security incidents promptly to IT support or security teams for investigation and mitigation.
Conduct simulated phishing exercises to assess users' awareness and readiness to identify and respond to phishing attempts.
Educating your users can be done for free with the help of your IT department or MSP. Make it part of their development plans.
We hope this helps !
Pebble can help with all of the above if you're unsure, if you have any questions or if you want to find out more, please drop us an email to hello@PebbleIT.co.uk
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