Small-Business Cybersecurity 101: Important Tips for Entrepreneurs

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Did you know that in 2020, small businesses made up 28 percent of cybersecurity incidents that happened across the United States? These dangerous incidents have not only increased in frequency over the years, but they are also impacting small businesses more and more. What do you need to know about small-business cybersecurity? How can you protect yourself?

Why is cybersecurity important?

As of 2019, data breaches cost small companies around $200k per incident, and that number continues to rise. The fact of the matter is that small business can’t afford to let “the big one” happen — many companies would have to shutter their windows if an incident were to occur.

The threat landscape for small businesses changes every day. Especially as more companies sent their employees to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, endpoint security was pushed into stark relief as becoming one of the most important aspects of a company’s security posture. With company laptops being used on personal home networks, and people being connected simply through a screen instead of seeing each other face-to-face, malicious actors took advantage of the situation — nearly 36 billion records were exposed throughout the year.

What can you do?

1. Small business owners should take steps now to protect their systems, instead of waiting until it’s too late. It’s relatively simple to put some precautions in place now, versus paying the price later if your systems are compromised.  Learn how to protect yourself from phishing scams and business email compromise (BEC) hacking attempts. As your business grows and you gain employees, train them to spot scams as well. Essentially, remember that you shouldn’t share sensitive information via email, check the grammar in any “phishy” messages you get, and check the domain of the sender by hovering over the ‘from’ box in the email.

2. Have a disaster recovery (DR) plan. If you are hit with a cyber-attack, you need to make sure you have a backup of your data, for one. The right DR plan will be easy to implement, flexible, affordable, and secure. Working with a managed services provider would offer you the expertise you need so you can breathe easily. Whatever solution you choose, Commvault recommends having the ability to view and manage your data through a single interface — and make sure you frequently test your plan. (Because any good plan should be tested and retested often to gauge its effectiveness.)

3. Update your systems. Updates to operating systems and regular patching often carry security updates that correct flaws that have been discovered in your OS. Therefore, it’s critical to make sure your systems are up-to-date with the latest software.

4. Secure your company Wi-Fi network. Set your router so that it is password protected and encrypted and encourage your employees to do the same.

5. Use two-factor authentication to access company machines. Enabling two-factor authentication is one of the most important things any company or individual can do to combat the spread of hackers. By requiring a second factor to log in to resources (in addition to a password, you may be asked to generate a random code), it strengthens security and keeps malicious actors out of your systems.

Protect your site and keep customers safe.

With a little bit of attention, a little bit of elbow grease, and a lot of precaution, your small business can be protected against the threat of a cyber-attack. For more information about running your small business and making sure you’re getting the most out of your website security, protect your site, and keep customers safe, visit HomeOfficeXpert.com.

Related Content: Using Free Email Accounts for Business (Podcast: Morning Joe with Gibrón) 

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6 Essentials That Can Help You Become a Better Leader

Success in small businesses starts at the top. If you are a small business owner, it’s important to keep this in mind and to recognize how your leadership style could be helping or hurting the success of your organization. To gain the respect of your team and help your business rise to the top, you need to possess certain skills and attributes. Curious as to what these are? Then you need to read through this list of some of the most effective leadership skills in business.

Continued Improvement and Education 

Self-improvement is critical if you want to be an effective leader for your business. One way you can improve your skills is by furthering your education. Earning a business degree from an accredited university can give you the management, leadership, and marketing insights you need to truly thrive as a business owner. You can even earn these skills and your degree online, which will help you preserve your most precious commodity as a leader: time.

Business and Leadership Coaching 

The ability to navigate difficult transitions is another quality that can set you apart from other business leaders. Having this skill is especially critical if you own or manage a business during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic since we’re all dealing with unprecedented challenges. If you’re not sure about the best path forward, asking your team for insights can help. You may also want to consider the potential benefits of investing in professional coaching.

Setting Positive Examples  

If you come to work with an open and positive attitude, your employees are likely to maintain a more optimistic outlook as well. That’s because whether you realize it or not, your team looks to you as a role model for everyday business practices and even their own leadership styles. So, make sure that the example you set is a supportive and positive one. Even when things get tough, remember that negative thinking can have major impacts on your entire organization. Adjusting your attitude can improve engagement and eventually improve your business. 

Acknowledging Mistakes 

Honesty is key when you are trying to build stronger connections with your employees. This includes being honest about any mistakes you make. The manner in which you handle your mistakes can make or break your team’s ability to trust you. If you make a mistake, be willing to own up to it and avoid placing blame on others or attempting to cover up mishaps. Honestly, mistakes can provide priceless opportunities for you to evolve as both a business owner and leader. You can also use your mistakes as teaching moments for your staff members. 

Supporting Team Growth 

Employees who feel content and motivated are more likely to view you as a good leader. They’re also more likely to stick around and continue to support your company. So if you haven’t already, make staff growth and development a priority for your small business team. Recognize and reward your employees for any accomplishments and also be willing to help your staff members develop their professional skills. To further increase staff loyalty and retention, it can also be helpful to create a leadership culture that encourages mentoring and communication. 

Knowing When to Ask for Help 

Even the most successful and talented leaders can’t do it all on their own. So make good use of your employees and help them feel valued by asking them for help when you need it. You could ask for honest feedback from your employees to help improve your business and your leadership abilities, or you could simply be gracious when asking for help in day-to-day routines. 

Being a great leader can lead to great success for your small business. So be willing to take a good look at your own skills and talents and commit to constantly improving them. Soon enough, you should notice improvements in your team and your overall business.

Oevae Marketing Consultants can help you create a cohesive marketing strategy for your brand through creative design, social media marketing, blogs, and email marketing.

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Fundamental Tips on Starting a Business From Your Freelance Hustle

So you have a freelance hustle that has become your passion. Maybe it’s even become lucrative. Now, you’re thinking about turning it into a full-fledged business.

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Many successful businesses have begun as side gigs. One reason is that passion plays a critical role in long-term success and happiness. When you love what you do, you typically have the drive necessary to persevere through hard times and capitalize on opportunities. 

While starting a business out of your freelance hustle might be a great idea, it’s essential to go about it the right way and lay a solid foundation. From going over your finances to working with Oevae Marketing Consultants to building your online presence, here are a few ways you can prepare:

Prepare your finances. 

First things first: You must make sure your business idea can make money. You don’t want to throw a bunch of money into it upfront — and you definitely don’t want to quit your day job, unless there is a pathway to success. Research your industry and local market to get a feel of what demand is like for your product or service. Also, try to conquer any debt that can harm your business venture, and consider saving up at least six months’ worth of living expenses before quitting your current job.

Here’s another critical consideration: Your business won’t survive without cash flow. You must get paid for the work you’re putting in. That may sound obvious, but it’s a challenge that many small businesses face, especially newer companies. Take time to review guides to learn the ins and outs of the invoicing process as well as best practices. For example: when is the best time to send invoices? What are the different types of invoices? How can I get paid faster on invoices? To ensure that you can keep up with balances owed, even when you’re extremely busy managing your business, you may find that one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways is to use a free invoice generator to prepare and customize invoices. By staying on top of such a critical component of your business, you’ll keep a better handle on your cash flow to ensure it stays at a healthy level.

Learn more.

You may know quite a bit about your freelance hustle and the industry it’s in. But if you want to excel, it’s time to dig deeper and acquire as much expertise as possible. Consider whether you could benefit from getting an online degree in your field, especially since going back to school is now more accessible and affordable than ever.

Also, find a mentor who has ample experience in the industry and who can help you navigate current and future challenges. Find online resources that can help you with the research to guide you through the development of your business. Teach yourself a lot by reading every notable business book you can get your hands on.

Know your market. 

Yes, you’ll want to research your market to determine whether or not your freelance hustle can produce profit as a business. But you also want to research to figure out what your selling points will be to customers and clients. Chances are you will be competing with hundreds — or even thousands — of freelancers and businesses in your field. The extent to which you can set your company apart from them will play a major role in your short-term and long-term success. 

Prioritize your online presence.

Finally, focus on building a solid online presence. If you create a quality website, engage on social media, and list your company on Google My Business, much of your marketing strategy will already be in place. Maintaining an online presence is essential, whether you provide your products or services via the web or a brick-and-mortar location. 

If you’ve decided to go all-in on your freelance hustle, it’s time to hit the drawing board. Be sure to put yourself in a good financial position and learn as much as you can about your field. Do plenty of research in your market and focus on building a great online presence. Implementing these tips will help you lay a foundation for a business that succeeds for many years to come.

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