As cyber threats evolve at an alarming pace, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face growing pressure to not only respond to cyber-attacks but to stay one step ahead of them. From ransomware and phishing schemes to sophisticated social engineering tactics, the current threat landscape demands more than basic protection—it requires vigilance, adaptability and informed strategy.

In this installment of our Fraud, Cyber and Security Smarts series, we answer key questions about cyber-attack prevention and identify emerging risks before they strike. Learn how to strengthen your defenses, leverage smart technologies and foster a culture of security awareness to keep your organization protected in an increasingly connected world.

Q.        What are the top cybersecurity best practices every business should have in place today?

It is critical to implement robust security practices for businesses of every size. Here are the top five best practices:

1. Implement Strong Access Controls: Implementing strong access controls is one of the most effective ways to prevent unauthorized activity and protect sensitive data. Use role-based access control (RBAC), enforce strong password policies, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) and conduct regular internal audits to review access permissions. Some specific examples are discussed below.
2. Update Software and Systems Regularly: Consistently update systems and applications across your company to address known vulnerabilities. Also, monitor end-of-life software that no longer receives security updates to avoid exploitation.
3. Conduct Security Awareness Training: Cybersecurity awareness training is critical to maintaining a well-educated staff. It also allows companies to stay compliant with security operations center (SOC) frameworks or general data protection regulation (GDPR) controls.
4. Secure Data with Encryption: Make sure that data is encrypted at rest and in transit with controls such as advanced encryption standard (AES)-256 and transport layer security (TLS) 1.2 or above. AES-256 is a strong, industry-standard encryption method that uses a 256-bit key and multiple rounds of data transformation to secure sensitive information. It’s trusted for its high level of security and reliability in both commercial and government settings. TLS 1.2 is a network security protocol that encrypts data transmitted to safeguard privacy and authenticity between a client and server from man-in-the-middle attacks and eavesdropping. It is commonly used across web, email and messaging applications. It is equally important to disable deprecated and end of life protocols, like TLS 1.0 and 1.1. These protocols are no longer secure or industry compliant and thus, some businesses or government entities will not work with companies that continue to use these dangerous and outdated protocols.
5. Utilize Robust Cybersecurity Tools: Protect your organization by deploying comprehensive endpoint security that includes antivirus and anti-malware tools with real-time monitoring across all laptops and servers. Combined with strong firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS), these measures work together to defend your network and prevent unauthorized access.

Q.        How important is access control and what related measures do you recommend?

Maintaining strong access control is one of the top cybersecurity best practices. RBAC grants employees access only to the systems and data that are necessary for their roles in the organization. For example, restricting production environment access to a small group of authorized individuals helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access or malicious activity. Enabling MFA and conducting regular internal audits is critical. These audits allow IT/cybersecurity professionals to remove unnecessary access, especially for former employees or contractors.

Q.        Is employee cyber awareness just as important as technical defenses?

Yes, employee cyber awareness can be just as important as technical defenses. Employees can be a “soft” target for bad actors. Regular cybersecurity awareness training and internal phishing simulations along with educational resources can create a well-informed and cyber-secure organization.

Q.        How can leaders make cybersecurity training engaging rather than just a compliance formality?

Engaging and interactive security awareness training programs, such as KnowBe4 or Mimecast, can keep employees motivated to complete the training. Short five-minute videos monthly help employees stay informed of the latest security and phishing threats.

Q.        What resources or tools do you recommend for SMB owners to keep up with new cyber threats and integrate continuous improvement into their cybersecurity policies and processes?

As mentioned above, robust cybersecurity tools are especially important. Endpoint protection, such as Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or SentinelOne, can be used for anti-virus/anti-malware protection and include real-time monitoring. Companies like Cisco and Fortinet offer next-generation firewalls to protect organizations from advanced security threats. Cisco and Fortinet were built to support SMBs.

Since phishing emails can lead to ransomware attacks, it is important to use an email security provider, like Mimecast, Proofpoint or Abnormal, to block malicious emails from reaching employees’ inboxes.

Small Business Cyber Protection: How isolved’s Enhanced Coverage Helps

Cybercriminals are getting smarter, using tactics like fake emails and text messages to trick employees into providing access to steal funds. That’s why isolved is expanding its Acrisure Cyber plan supporting businesses in safeguarding their finances and data. The additional multi-layered protections include phishing defense, ransomware prevention, vulnerability management, secure backups and cyber insurance coverage for financial losses from cyber incidents. As digital tools become more central to daily business operations, this added protection helps SMBs be proactive and better prepared for the unexpected.

Cyber threats will continue to evolve, but so can your defenses. By combining proactive prevention strategies, businesses can reduce vulnerabilities and respond more effectively when risks arise. Through cybersecurity education, employee training, trusted security solutions and enhanced protections like Acrisure Cyber, SMBs can fortify their cybersecurity prevention and make sure their organization remains resilient in the expanding digital ecosystem.

To stay in the know about the latest fraud, cyber and security trends, connect with fellow human resources (HR), payroll, benefits and talent professionals in the isolved People Heroes Community.

^{Disclaimer: The information provided herein is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal, investment or tax advice. It is not a substitute for professional legal, investment or tax advice, and you should not rely on it as such. No attorney-client or accountant-client relationship or any other kind of relationship is formed by any use of this information. The effective date of various provisions, amendments, and regulatory guidance may impact eligibility. The accuracy, completeness, correctness or adequacy of the information is not guaranteed, and isolved assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content. You should consult with an attorney, investment professional or tax professional for advice regarding your specific situation.}

Print