10 Ways to Protect your Computer Systems against Cyber Threats

They are the supporting roles in the backbone of the economy, but SMEs are suffering in the ever prevalent threat of cyber crime. In 2023, the Government estimated that, on average, the most disruptive breach costed businesses around £1,100*. 

Cyber Liability Insurance can help soften the blow, but there are ways to counteract the risk in the first place. Here, McClarrons explore 10 of them:

1. Protect your system
   Through a combination of anti-virus, anti-spam and firewall solutions, you can create an initial barrier between your business computers and a variety of risks. Certain types of websites are full of opportunities for a computer to become infected, so you might consider restricting access to such sites to remove the danger altogether.
2. Update regularly
   Solutions expire, or might be superseded by another package that’s more advanced and is therefore a greater contender for malware. By reviewing your system protection regularly, you can ensure that you’re giving your network a better fighting chance against viruses and hackers.
3. Create a password policy
   Regular password changes create a greater degree of guesswork for hackers. Ask your employees to keep a password that’s not easy to guess to prevent anyone unauthorised gaining access where they shouldn’t. Many systems allow you to set up a password change request automatically, to remind each of the computer users to do so.
4. Don’t neglect your WiFi network
   Without a password to regulate users, your WiFi network can be left open to unwarranted visitors and their repertoire of tried and tested fraud tactics. Protecting your WiFi with a password is a simple way to help avoid problems.
5. Email awareness
   Not everyone knows how to spot a suspicious looking email, and it’s up to you to make sure your employees are aware of the warning signs so that they don’t accidentally infect their computer with a virus when opening an email, or confirm to a hacker that their email address is valid and active by sending a response.
6. Test a recovery strategy
   Walk through the steps you would need to take if there were a security breach or cyber attack on your business, then put measures in place which coincide with them. This might include a second site for all important data, and considering how long it would take your business to fully recover after a serious incident.
7. Check your website
   Holes in your website security are gateways for hackers, who only need small lapses in the integrity of a website to create chaos. There are a variety of online tools that can be used to do this.
8. Use cloud services wisely
   Cloud services – those which store data and information online are flexible and free up memory space. Whilst great care has been taken by providers to calm customers’ fears of storing everything online, it’s best to check the credentials of any cloud software provider you’re thinking of using.
9. Create an inventory
   Even SMEs can have enough computers and devices to easily lose track of. Creating an inventory means if there are any phones or laptops unaccounted for, you know about it. Any default passwords that could be easily guessed should be changed on any unused machines or devices.
10. Data encryption
    Ensure that any sensitive information is password protected and only accessible to authorised employees, to help prevent any potential data leaks.

If you would like to discuss the risks of cyber crime and how you can protect yourself and your business against them, talk to the team on 01653 697055 or email enquiries@mcclarroninsurance.com.

* https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2023/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2023

Blog updated Oct 2023.