How Mom-and-Pop Businesses Can Improve Their Cybersecurity

Cyber-crime is more prevalent than ever. Often, cyber-crime is associated with bigger players in the market. However, any small business or mom-and-pop shop could one day be the target of a cyber-attack.

In fact, small businesses make up a majority of cyber-crime and data breach victims. For example, a Verizon Report from 2016 states that small businesses made up of 61 percent of all data breaches in that year. These breaches have cost mom-and-pop businesses between $84,000 and $148,000, resulting in about 60 percent of small businesses going out of business a few months after a cyberattack. Since then, the numbers have only risen.

Mom-and-pop businesses tend to overlook cybercrime when considering threats to their security. Unfortunately, the lack of skilled IT professionals, only makes security preparedness all the more difficult. Today, even the U.S. government is unable to fill 300,000 positions for cybersecurity professionals. This IT skills gap is a serious problem for everyone. However it can be especially problematic for the little guys.

There are many reasons why mom-and-pop shops and small businesses have become hackers’ preferred targets:

Small businesses store a lot of valuable data — from people’s financial information to personal details — that can be easily used for fraud.
Additionally, Mom-and-pop businesses can serve as a gateway, providing hackers with access to larger enterprises since they often source goods and services from smaller businesses. Consider the Target breach a few years ago. This was, in fact, the result of exploited access that Target had provided to a smaller HVAC contractor.
Small businesses often lack adequate cybersecurity, making them very easy and unsuspecting targets for hackers.

With all this in mind, you need to take appropriate steps to protect your business from cyber-threats. And what better time to upgrade your cybersecurity than in time for National Mom-and-pop Business Owners Day?

On March 29, small business owners and loyal customers across the country celebrate local businesses with pride. As stated by Amsterdam Printing, “National Mom-and-Pop Business Owners Day is all about honoring you — your hard, work, your dedication, and your vital contributions to the economy.”

Improving your business by upgrading vital cybersecurity protocols is the perfect way to celebrate and take your business to the next level. Here are some things you can do to improve your cybersecurity:

Use Antivirus Software

Antivirus programs play an extremely important role in protecting your devices. The best part is, antivirus programs are often free. While free plans will offer you a basic level of protection, an advanced or premium subscription will protect your devices even more, with features such as protection against spyware or malware, email virus scanning, and more. Therefore, if your budget allows it, consider investing in a premium protection plan. In the long run, a thorough antivirus program can actually end up saving you money.

Encrypt Everything

A basic knowledge of encryption can go a long way when it comes to protecting your mom-and-pop shop from theft. Encryption ensures that hackers can’t get into your files without a specific decryption key. Consider this analogy: you’re leaving your house for a holiday. Would you leave your front door unlocked? Obviously not — you would ensure that your door was securely locked so that no one could enter your home. Encryption is the equivalent of the lock, which can only be opened with a special key.

There are many free resources to learn encryption online. This includes everything from encryption emails to learning how to properly password-protect files. This year, take the initiative to learn some basic encryption so as to effectively protect your data.

Secure Mobile Devices

Mobile devices are easy targets for hackers, especially because most people overlook securing their mobile devices against cybercrime. Due to their small size, mobile devices can also be easily stolen. Therefore, if your business workflow involves communication or data storage via mobile device, you need to secure your system. Additionally, if employees are allowed to bring and use their devices at work, it is crucial to secure these devices from threats.

While it is a little more difficult to secure an employee’s personal device, enacting BYOD policies will help keep your business more secure. For instance, you could insist that employees only store work-related information on their devices until the task is complete. Additionally, you should encourage employees to store work-related information on the cloud. Using the cloud to complete tasks is much safer than allowing employees to download data onto their devices for offline use. Consider using two-factor authentication for an added layer of security and protection.

Don’t Forget Your Backup

Mom-and-pop shops still have large amounts of data to keep track of. Frequent backups can ensure the longevity of your business information. In the unfortunate event of a cyber-attack, it’s possible for all your data to be wiped clean. However, if you had a recent backup of your data, you are safe from the risk of losing your data forever.

This can shutter your day-to-day operations, particularly when it comes to inventory management.

Lost or incomplete data can lead to a host of common inventory problems, including:

An inability to track old stock, making it difficult to prioritize sales due to near expiration dates or otherwise imminently obsolete goods.
Discrepancies in numbers when quantifying stock, leading to potential shortages or overages
A lack of data for both suppliers and workers, leading to frustration and a loss of morale from business partners and employees.

Regularly conducting data backups will allow you to reclaim your data if you ever need to and prevent major losses by ensuring that you don’t have to start from the very beginning all over again.

As a mom-and-pop business owner, cybersecurity should be on the top of your priority list. With Mom-and-Pop Business Owners Day right around the corner, there is no better time than now to safeguard your business from the rising threat of cyber-attacks. The digital landscape is constantly evolving, so it is integral to keep up with the latest cybersecurity trends to ensure the safety of your business. That being said, acting on these basic cybersecurity tips is a good starting point — doing so can greatly minimize the risks of cyber-threats.

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THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES
You herein acknowledge, understand and agree, unless otherwise expressly provided in this TOS, that there shall be third-party beneficiaries to this agreement.

NOTICE
American Publishing, LLC may furnish you with notices, including those with regards to any changes to the TOS, including but not limited to email, regular mail, MMS or SMS, text messaging, postings on our website Services, or other reasonable means currently known or any which may be herein after developed. Any such notices may not be received if you violate any aspects of the TOS by accessing our Services in an unauthorized manner. Your acceptance of this TOS constitutes your agreement that you are deemed to have received any and all notices that would have been delivered had you accessed our Services in an authorized manner.

TRADEMARK INFORMATION
You herein acknowledge, understand and agree that all of the American Publishing, LLC trademarks, copyright, trade name, service marks, and other American Publishing, LLC logos and any brand features, and/or product and service names are trademarks and as such, are and shall remain the property of American Publishing, LLC. You herein agree not to display and/or use in any manner the American Publishing, LLC logo or marks.

COPYRIGHT OR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INFRINGEMENT CLAIMS NOTICE
& PROCEDURES
American Publishing, LLC will always respect the intellectual property of others, and we ask that all of our users to the same. With regards to appropriate circumstances and at its sole discretion, American Publishing, LLC may disable and/or terminate the accounts of any user who repeatedly violates our TOS and/or infringes the rights of others. If you feel that your work has been duplicated in such a way that would constitute copyright infringement, or if you believe your intellectual property rights have been otherwise violated, you should provide to us the following information:
a) The electronic or the physical signature of the individual that is authorized on behalf of the owner of the copyright or other intellectual property interest;
b) A description of the copyrighted work or other intellectual property that you believe has been
infringed upon;
c) A description of the location of the site which you allege has been infringing upon your work;
d) The physical address, telephone number, and email address;
e) A statement, in which you state that the alleged and disputed use of your work is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agents or the law;
f) And finally, a statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the aforementioned information in your notice is the truth and accurate, and that you are the copyright or intellectual property owner, representative or agent authorized to act on the copyright or intellectual property owner’s behalf. The American Publishing, LLC Agent for notice of claims of copyright or other intellectual property infringement can be contacted as follows:
Mailing Address:
American Publishing, LLC
Attn: Copyright Agent
17 Hoff Court, Suite B
Baltimore, Maryland 21221
Telephone: 443.231.7438
Fax: 410.238.2835
Email: karen.austin@uscybersecurity.net
CLOSED CAPTIONING
BE IT KNOWN, that American Publishing, LLC complies with all applicable Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations regarding the closed captioning of video content. For more information, please visit our website at www.uscybersecurity.net.

GENERAL INFORMATION
ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This TOS constitutes the entire agreement between you and American Publishing, LLC and shall govern the use of our Services, superseding any prior version of this TOS between you and us with respect to American Publishing, LLC Services. You may also be subject to additional terms and conditions that may apply when you use or purchase certain other American Publishing, LLC Services, affiliate Services, third-party content or third-party software.

CHOICE OF LAW AND FORUM
It is at the mutual agreement of both you and American Publishing, LLC with regard to the TOS that the relationship between the parties shall be governed by the laws of the state of Maryland without regard to its conflict of law provisions and that any and all claims, causes of action and/or disputes, arising out of or relating to the TOS, or the relationship between you and American Publishing, LLC, shall be filed within the courts having jurisdiction within the County of Baltimore, Maryland or the U.S. District Court located in said state. You and American Publishing, LLC agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts as previously mentioned, and agree to waive any and all objections to the exercise of jurisdiction over the parties by such courts and to venue in such courts.

WAIVER AND SEVERABILITY OF TERMS
At any time, should American Publishing, LLC fail to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the TOS, such failure shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of this TOS is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties’ intentions as reflected in the provision, and the other provisions of the TOS remain in full force and effect.

NO RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP NON-TRANSFERABILITY
You acknowledge, understand and agree that your account is non-transferable and any rights to your ID and/or contents within your account shall terminate upon your death. Upon receipt of a copy of a death certificate, your account may be terminated and all contents therein permanently deleted.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
You acknowledge, understand and agree that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or action arising out of or related to the use of our Services or the TOS must be filed within year(s) after said claim or cause of action arose or shall be forever barred.

VIOLATIONS
Please report any and all violations of this TOS to American Publishing, LLC as follows:
Mailing Address:
American Publishing, LLC
Attn: Copyright Agent
17 Hoff Court, Suite B
Baltimore, Maryland 21221
Telephone: 443.231.7438
Fax: 410.238.2835
Email: karen.austin@uscybersecurity.net

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