No business is immune from a cyber attack. In fact, they are becoming bigger targets for hackers because they are more vulnerable to an attack. It is much easier to go after these businesses rather than corporations or government-related sectors (unless you are the Russians). Small businesses practice information security, which protects information from a wide range of threats, to ensure business continuity. This past October, the Department of Homeland Security released a number of tips to small businesses across the country to bring awareness to the possibility of being sought after by criminals. It was part of the department’s Comprehensive NationalCybersecurity Initiative. For starters, it is important that small businesses establish a security protocol with their employees and security system. Establishing rules on how to handle and protect information and installing, using, and updating antivirus and anti-spyware software gives a base on how to handle the possibility of a cyber-hack. Employees may be unaware that they are giving to others sensitive details about the company’s internal structure, so they should be taught how to post online that does not reveal secrets to the public or competitors. This type of safe social networking can help avoid serious risks to your business.  A common practice in business is risk assessment. Determine what has to be protected at the most and regularly backup the data critical to your business including word processing documents, spreadsheets, databases, and financial files. Also, control access to computers and Wi-Fi by individuals unauthorized to do so by putting in difficult passwords only known by employees, and make sure to change them every several months. Do not provide to one employee access to all data systems, but those specific to their job and should not install any software without permission. The Federal CommunicationsCommission (FCC) has also gotten involved providing resources for small businesses regarding safety measures. They provide free training materials, security configuration guides, and downloads to free anti-virus software. The FBI, in association with academics and private businesses who specialize in security, developed the InfraGard program to expand contacts to private sector infrastructure owners and operators to share information about any threats and vulnerabilities online.For all of this is to counter the difficulty for businesses to come up with cost-effective security mechanisms and get training that is practical.  Redport’s CEO Steve Reinkemeyer said “Risk assessment is an essential part of business practices, ensuring that employees understand the risks involved with posting information on social media can also help to control some of the serious risks to your company.” According to NAM,95 percent of all US businesses are labeled as small to medium sized with listed employees of 500 or less. They cannot afford an extensive security system or even an expert to help protect them. The vulnerability is common to these businesses and it could pose a threat to the economic base of the entire country. These practices are enforced to ensure the safety of the economic base from anyone who intends to damage the American economy in any form. They are as important as any major conglomerate because, in the political sense, they are the backbone of the nation’s economic philosophy of private property and economic liberalism.

For more information about Redport’s information assurance and cyber security services, visit www.redport-ia.com, email us at info@redport-ia.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter@redport_ia.

Gaithersburg, MD, USA