Defending Your Small UK Business Against Cyberattacks

Cybersecurity is one of the biggest threats facing UK businesses. Did you know that a small business in the UK is successfully hacked every 19 seconds? Yet, despite being aware of the threat, many small businesses in the United Kingdom are not doing all they can to secure their data. The situation has only gotten worse thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.  

In this article, we take a look at the common cybersecurity risks in the UK especially during Covid-19, and what small businesses can do to increase protection. Read on. 

Common Cyber Risks 

The first step to protecting your business against cyberattacks is understanding the threat. Having the right information on cybersecurity threats will help small UK businesses make better and more informed decisions vis-à-vis cybersecurity defence.  

Unsecured Wi-Fi 

While they can be convenient, public Wi-Fi networks pose numerous security risks and you should avoid them when you can. Unsecured Wi-Fi networks expose users to a wide range of threats.  

Phishing 

Cybercriminals use phishing to get their victims to share sensitive information. A recent report showed over 600% increase in Covid-19 themed phishing emails since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Ransomware 

This type of malware essentially holds your system/data hostage only reinstating access when a ransom is paid. An employee can easily introduce ransomware on the company network by clicking on a phishing email. 

Ways to Increase Protection 

Now that you know the threats your business is facing, what can you do about it? Well, plenty. Here are some ways for organizations and individuals to increase protection.  

Use VPN. A Virtual Private Network is the single most effective defence against Wi-Fi attacks and a range of other online threats. Using a VPN for security helps you browse privately and anonymously by hiding your IP address and encrypting your internet traffic.  

Employee training. Some cyberthreats such as phishing target the human element. The key to prevent phishing attacks is employee training. Teaching your employees proper cybersecurity hygiene is essential to your business’s data security. 

Install Antimalware. Using anti malware solutions can stop hackers from using ransomware to hijack your systems. Choose reputable anti malware providers such as Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, etc. and always ensure that your security software is up to date.  

Globally, cybersecurity incidents have increased drastically since the onset of the pandemic. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the situation and targeting small UK businesses and their employees as they work from home. Taking the aforementioned steps will significantly reduce the risk of a successful attack against your business. 

Sponsored content.