Top Cybersecurity Best Practices For many years, hackers have disproportionately targeted larger enterprises and government institutions when launching cyber attacks. More recently, however, small businesses have found themselves under increased scrutiny. Attackers are discovering that small businesses often lack the robust security measures and staff resources that larger organizations tend to have.
As businesses continue digitizing operations into 2026, cybersecurity should remain a top priority. Whether communicating with customers, transferring money, using cloud apps, working remotely with teammates, or storing business data, companies rely on connected devices that should be properly maintained and secured.
Small Businesses Make Appealing Targets
The average business owner might think that cyber criminals target large enterprises more than smaller businesses. However, many attackers purposefully go after small businesses knowing they will likely have a limited cybersecurity budget and less developed security practices in place.
Some hackers use automated programs that scan thousands of websites at once to find vulnerabilities. One weak password or overlooked software update can leave a small business exposed to attackers who can collect valuable data and sensitive business information.
Use Strong Password Policies
Weak passwords are still one of the easiest ways for hackers to gain access to your business. Weak passwords, reused passwords and guessable passwords put businesses at risk for cybersecurity breaches and account takeovers.
Employees should be required to use unique passwords for all of their business accounts. Password managers can assist in creating and remembering strong passwords, while also discouraging employees from reusing passwords.
Use Multi Factor Authentication
Multi factor authentication adds an extra layer of security. If a hacker does obtain your password, they will have a much harder time gaining access to your account.
Multi factor authentication should be used anywhere it is available. This includes email, cloud apps, financial accounts, administrative accounts and collaboration tools. The more services that use multi factor authentication, the harder your business will be to hack.
Keep All Devices and Software up to Date
Hackers frequently take advantage of vulnerabilities in software that businesses use. When software vendors discover these vulnerabilities, they will often release updates to fix them.
Businesses should make it a priority to keep operating systems, software, apps and plugins up to date. Outdated software can be very risky to business cybersecurity.
Train Employees to Spot Threats
Human error is a large cause for many cybersecurity breaches. Every day employees are exposed to phishing emails, malicious links, fake login screens and social engineering scams.
- Train employees to spot suspicious emails
- Verify requests that seem suspicious
- Practice safe browsing habits and refrain from downloading suspicious attachments
- Alert the company if you suspect a threat
If employees are taught how to spot suspicious emails, they can avoid falling victim to scams.
Secure Your Business Email
Email is one of the primary forms of communication for most businesses. Unfortunately, cyber attackers also use email as a way to infiltrate a business using phishing scams, fraud and malware.
Email security protocols, spam filters and email authentication should be used to monitor suspicious emails. Training employees to identify suspicious emails will also help businesses reduce the risk of business email compromise.
Protect Business Data
Businesses accumulate many types of data that can be valuable to hackers. Customer databases, financial records, employee personal information, contracts and business operation records are just a few examples of this information.
The following table outlines key cybersecurity practices and their key features to strengthen small business defenses.
| Practice | Key Feature | Benefit | Tools & Techniques |
| Strong Passwords | Unique for each account | Prevents breaches | Password Managers |
| Multi-Factor Authentication | Dual verification | Adds security layer | Authenticator Apps |
| Software Updates | Patch vulnerabilities | Stops exploits | Auto-update settings |
| Employee Training | Phishing awareness | Prevents human errors | Workshops & Simulations |
| Email Security | Authentication protocols | Mitigates phishing risks | Spam filters, DMARC |
By adopting these practices, businesses can significantly enhance their cybersecurity readiness and resilience.
Business data should be protected by limiting who has access to sensitive files, storing information in a secure location, encrypting data when necessary and defining company policies for data retention.
Create and Manage Backups
Cyber attacks can prevent you from accessing your data when you need it. Backups can ensure that your business has another source to access this data if your primary source is compromised due to a cyber attack.
- Create multiple backups of important files.
- Store backups in a different location.
- Test backups to ensure the files can be restored.
- Verify the backups are working.
By taking the time to create backups, you can reduce the amount of downtime your business may face if attacked.
Limit Access Rights
Just because an employee works for your business does not mean they need access to every app, tool and file your business utilizes. Limiting employee access will allow you to reduce risk by limiting access to sensitive data.
Permissions should be distributed based on job function. Employees should have access to the tools they need to do their job and little else. Regularly audit user permissions to ensure only necessary access is granted.
Secure Remote Access Points
With more teams working remotely or in a hybrid environment, employees will often connect to your business from multiple locations. Not only will they be connecting from different locations but they will also be using different networks and potentially different devices.
Establish a remote access policy that includes encryption, authentication, approved devices and security guidelines that employees can reference when working remotely.
Monitor Network Activity
There is no set it and forget it when it comes to cybersecurity. Cyber attackers are constantly finding new vulnerabilities and attacking businesses at every opportunity.
Monitoring your network will allow you to identify suspicious logins, data being sent to unfamiliar locations and other anomalies. Catching these activities early can help prevent a minor incident turning into a major breach.
Develop an Incident Response Plan
Large or small, every business should have an incident response plan in place. While we hope you never have to use it, a cyber incident response plan will allow you to respond as efficiently as possible if an attack occurs.
A cyber incident response plan should outline who responds to incidents, who should be notified, how to communicate during an attack, what to prioritize when recovering and more. Preparing for the worst will allow you to respond and recover faster.
Improve Supply Chain Cybersecurity
Today, more businesses than ever outsource work to third-party vendors. Third-party vendors can pose a serious risk to your business if their security practices do not meet your standards.
- Evaluate the security practices of vendors.
- Define security requirements in contracts.
- Limit the data you provide to vendors.
- Monitor third-party access to your network.
By taking these steps, you can ensure that your vendors will not become the weakest link in your security chain.
Encrypt Important Data
Encrypting your data adds an extra layer of security. If attackers do gain access to your information, encryption will force them to decrypt the information before they can view it, buying you more time.
Important data that should be encrypted includes sensitive information, financial data, customer data, backups and business communications.
Promote Security Awareness Throughout Your Organization
Cybersecurity should not only be the responsibility of your IT department. Every employee plays a role in keeping your business secure.
Promoting security awareness will create a culture of security and accountability. When everyone is aware of the risks and knows how to detect suspicious behavior, your employees can help stop attacks before they happen.
What to Expect in 2026
As technology continues to advance, cyber attackers will also become more sophisticated in their attacks. With the use of AI, machine learning and automated processes, attackers will be launching threats at businesses at an even greater rate.
Businesses that focus on cybersecurity hygiene like strong passwords, encryption, education and monitoring will be prepared to face tomorrow’s cyber security threats. In 2026, cybersecurity should be considered table stakes for doing business.
