Guest Post by: Tech Deck
3 Reasons Why Hackers May Target Your Small Business Website
According to Verizon, a large percentage of cyberattacks involve the finances of small businesses. Though every entrepreneur fears — or should fear — being targeted by a hacker, many don’t understand how to make their websites secure before launching their small business or work-from-home enterprise. Because hackers prey on small business websites that are not fully secured, leaving your website’s front door open may make you vulnerable to a cyberattack. Your data, as well as your clients’ information, could be put at risk.
Fortunately, you can take several proactive steps that include contacting freelance security experts to help prevent this anxiety-provoking situation from happening in the first place. Once you comprehend why hackers target small businesses, you can acquire the know-how to build up your cyber defenses and figure out who to contact when you want to bring in a professional.
Simple Sasquatch presents the following tips that you definitely need to think about.
Small Businesses Make Easier Targets
Hackers know that small businesses often have weak security measures in place. In addition, many of them may not want to go up against larger corporations. Hackers often go after operations that may not have the resources to stop the attack or fight back legally. Small business owners should defend against cyberattacks as if they were a large company.
Small Businesses May Not Have a Security Professional on Staff
Surprisingly, hackers don’t often make plans to break into the databases of Fortune-500 companies, banks, or large corporations. Big-name companies usually have full-time employees on payroll whose jobs are dedicated to computer information systems, security protocols, and data encryption, making these places harder to hack.
Hiring a freelancer who specializes in cybersecurity, such as a WordPress expert, can help protect your site and safeguard your clients’ information. Ensure that you pick the right person for your situation by going over online reviews, proposed costs, and the time required to complete your project.
Small Businesses Often Neglect To Protect or Encrypt Their Data
Perhaps your business got its start in an online marketplace, and it grew from there. Maybe you provide a service such as counseling, and you offer packages that your clients can purchase through your website. Unless you are tech-savvy, you may not put enough digital protection in place to hide names, addresses, and credit card numbers. You may simply forget to protect the data at all. This misstep makes you a prime target for hackers.
Make sure that you install updates on computers you use for work even if you are working from home, and always confirm that your employees or partners do the same. If you use a website builder — Simple Sasquatch can help you find the perfect website builder — update your interface with the necessary patches and plugins as needed.
Dealing with a cyberattack can be difficult for a small business owner who may not have the technical prowess or monetary resources to bounce back from the incident. Malicious attacks on computer systems or networks can also easily ruin the reputation of a small business if large amounts of customer data are stolen. Do your best to learn about basic data protection and encryption before launching your business to protect both your enterprise and your future customers. When you need help, don’t be afraid to conduct research and ask for recommendations until you find the ideal professional for the job.
About the Author:
Cody McBride's love for computers stems from high school when he built his own computer. Today he is a trained IT technician and knows how the inner workings of computers can be confusing to most. He is the creator of TechDeck.info where he offers easy-to-understand tech related advice and troubleshooting tips.
