Cybersecurity essentials for your business

By: Janice Mejías Avilés, Edited by: Gabriela Pérez Jordán

Published: March 17, 2025

Is your small or medium-sized business prepared to defend against cyber threats? Overlooking cybersecurity in your business strategy could cost more than just money — it could jeopardize your entire operation.

Explore cybersecurity best practices to protect your business and build a strong defense against malicious actors.

5 cybersecurity best practices for businesses

A 2024 U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey found that 60% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) identify cybersecurity threats — including phishing, malware, and ransomware — as a top concern. However, many SMBs may still lack effective security strategies, making them easy targets for cybercriminals.

Implementing cybersecurity best practices with your team may help safeguard your business from these threats.

If you're an SMB owner unsure where to begin on your cybersecurity journey, start by evaluating these five areas of your operations. These recommendations align with the guidance of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and the Small Business Administration (SBA).

1. Train employees and create a cybersecurity culture

Cybersecurity starts by empowering people. Train your team to help them recognize threats like phishing, suspicious activity, and unsafe web browsing to reduce the risk of cyberattacks due to human error.

Best practices

• Set up regular cybersecurity training (not just a one-time event)
• Simulate phishing attacks to help employees recognize suspicious links, attachments, or scam attempts
• Enforce strong password policies that require frequent password changes
• Authorize multi-factor authentication for all accounts

Recommended edX courses

• HarvardX: CS50's Introduction to Cybersecurity
• UPValenciaX: IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals: Cybersecurity and social implications

2. Control access and protect sensitive data

Unauthorized access is a prevalent cybersecurity risk for SMBs. Implementing access control limits on who can view, modify, or share confidential or sensitive information reduces the risk of data breaches.

Best practices

• Map out your business data — know what data you collect, where it's stored, and who has access
• Implement role-based access control for all critical accounts
• Regularly audit user permissions and revoke unnecessary access
• Protect company devices from unauthorized access by implementing endpoint security solutions

Recommended edX courses

• UWashingtonX: Building a Cybersecurity Toolkit
• IBM: Beginners Guide to Cybersecurity

3. Secure devices and networks and update software

Having unprotected company devices and networks and out-of-date software may create security gaps in your operation. You may prevent unauthorized access, malware, and data breaches by properly configuring devices and network settings.

Best practices

• Authorize automatic updates for operating systems, browsers, and business software to patch security flaws
• Use firewalls and endpoint protection to monitor and block unauthorized traffic
• Secure Wi-Fi networks by using encryption, changing default passwords, and turning off remote management features
• Require virtual private network (VPN) use for remote access to encrypt connections and prevent exposure to public Wi-Fi

Recommended edX courses

• IBM: Networking Basics and Security
• RITx: Network Security

4. Secure business data and cloud environments

As data breaches and ransomware attacks become more common, so does the business interruption that may result in financial loss and damage your business reputation. Protecting your business's data with encryption and secure backup storage may safeguard or recover it during or after a cyber incident.

Best practices

• Follow the "3-2-1 backup strategy": keep three copies of your data, store them on two different storage types, and maintain one offsite backup
• Use cloud storage with end-to-end encryption to prevent unauthorized access and monitor cloud security settings
• Regularly test data recovery processes to ensure backups can be restored quickly after an incident
• Encrypt sensitive data at all stages:
  • At rest (files stored on a laptop, external hard drive, cloud storage, or server)
  • In transit (information sent over the internet, like emails or financial transactions)
  • During processing (operations like processing customer payments or managing service data in applications)

Recommended edX courses

• NYUx: Mobile Payment Security
• UMBC, USMx: Integrated Cybersecurity: From Physical Safeguards to Digital Forensics and Governance

5. Perform annual risk assessments and keep up with cybersecurity trends

Regular risk assessments help identify security gaps before malicious actors exploit them.

Best practices

• Consider hiring a cybersecurity expert to conduct penetration testing and vulnerability scans to find and fix security weaknesses before attackers exploit them
• Create a risk management plan to assess and address vulnerabilities based on potential impact
• Evaluate third-party vendors to ensure they meet cybersecurity standards and do not introduce risks to your business
• Follow cybersecurity news and industry reports to stay updated on new threats and best practices.

Recommended edX courses

• HarvardX: Cybersecurity: Managing Risk in the Information Age
• RITx: Cybersecurity Risk Management