How Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Can Improve Security and Efficiency

The most forward-thinking small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners have long since realized one crucial truth. Cybersecurity isn’t just a necessary expense in a proactive fight against the growing variety and sophistication of digital threats. It’s a vital part of an all-encompassing strategy that promotes growth and efficiency as well.

In this article, we explore several strategies rooted in cybersecurity whose implementation also positively impacts productivity and efficiency. Take them to heart and watch your business thrive regardless of digital adversity.

Strengthen Access Controls

Limiting access control based on one’s clearance level and responsibilities serves twofold purposes. Security-wise, it reduces the likelihood of insider threats and limits the damage attackers with low-level access can do to your systems. It improves productivity, too, since access only to the data and tools needed to do their work helps streamline employee workflows and minimize distractions.

You’ll also want to augment role-based access control with the best business password manager available. The manager will generate and securely store complex, unique passwords for as many accounts as your employees need. This makes the passwords resistant to brute force attacks and helps limit potential damage to a single account if compromised.

Adopt Cloud-Based Services

A dizzying array of cloud-based services has sprung up to help SMBs with everything from customer and project management through inventory handling to offering secure file backups and sharing. Switching to the cloud reduces costs since you don’t have to invest in and maintain a sprawling system infrastructure. It’s also safer since it’s in cloud providers’ best interest to secure customer data with the most sophisticated encryption available.

Enforce Regular Automatic Updates

The cloud isn’t a complete substitute for the operating systems and specialized software running on your systems. Keeping these updated is crucial from a security and efficiency standpoint.

The latest updates include fixes for known vulnerabilities, ensuring the best possible protection from exploits and hacks. Additionally, new features and resource use optimization updates offer may speed up and enhance existing workflows. 

Set up Next-Generation Firewalls 

Next-gen firewalls are an excellent example of a cybersecurity tool that also has productivity applications. Their primary function is to monitor network traffic for signs of intrusion and prevent malicious traffic from affecting your systems.

Additionally, next-gen firewalls leverage lists of known malicious websites to protect unaware users from scams. Finally, you can set them up to block social media and other time-wasting websites to help employees maintain focus. 

Educate Employees on Cybersecurity Essentials 

Sophisticated cyber defenses continuously protect your vulnerable systems and data. However, they’re powerless against social engineering attacks designed to deceive humans and gain unauthorized access using their legitimate credentials. A single careless click on a link inside a phishing email can cause an employee to reveal their login information and lead to a data breach that may jeopardize your entire operation.

The time and money spent training everyone in basic cybersecurity competencies will not go to waste! If anything, employees who know how to avoid phishing, use the internet safely, and responsibly handle accounts can recognize and report threats before they escalate. 

In addition, hosting cybersecurity events—such as workshops, simulated phishing exercises, and expert-led conferences and discussions—can further strengthen awareness and ensure employees stay informed about evolving threats.

Secure Remote Employees 

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that being present at the office isn’t an efficiency requirement. That said, remote employees need to take extra precautions when interacting with company systems, especially if they’re connecting through public Wi-Fi.

Make VPNs mandatory for these employees to mitigate risks like man-in-the-middle attacks. The VPN will encrypt their connection and prevent anyone from stealing their account credentials, financial information, or sensitive work-related documents. 

Automate Rote Tasks 

Tasks like daily reports and invoicing are fundamental to smooth business operations. They’re also repetitive and require minimal creative input from humans. On the one hand, automating such tasks frees employees up to tackle more complex and impactful work.

On the other, it significantly reduces the likelihood of errors. Moreover, consistently following procedures and handling sensitive data reduces the risk of breaches and other incidents. 

Conclusion

SMBs that adopt measures that simultaneously address cybersecurity and operational needs actively shape a more resilient and productive working environment. Let yours benefit as well by following the guidelines we’ve outlined here.