Last week, I was at my local grocery store, stuck in one of those painfully long lines. The woman in front of me—let’s call her Laura—started chatting to pass the time. I’d seen her around before (it’s a small town), and since we had plenty of time to kill (seriously, did I say the lines were long?), we talked for over 10 minutes. At some point, she mentioned that her son had visited her recently and to make things easier for her to remember, he had changed all her passwords to the same one—her birthdate.
I couldn’t help but gently warn her that while her son meant well, using the same password for everything is a big security risk.
I explained that if just one of her accounts got hacked, the rest would be easy for cybercriminals to break into. Birthdates are also easy to guess, especially if someone knows even a little bit about you. She just shrugged it off and said, “Nobody will ever guess it!”
This got me thinking about how you can’t afford to be that casual about cybersecurity as a small business owner. Hackers love targeting small businesses because they assume you’re not paying attention. Lucky for you, I’ve got your back! Here are five super easy ways to keep your business safe from cyber threats:
1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Your password is basically the front door to your business. If it’s weak, hackers will walk right in.
It is best to mix uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. For example, instead of password123, try Gr3@tBiz#2025! And whatever you do, don’t use the same password for multiple sites!
Bonus Tip: Use a password manager so you don’t have to remember a million passwords. I use Bitwarden and it is so convenient and easy to use. You just have to remember one password—the one to Bitwarden! It remembers everything else! If you would like to learn more about Bitwarden or any of the resources I use, click here.
2. Watch Out for Phishing Scams
Phishing emails can look shockingly real, but they’re designed to steal your info. Here are a few things you can do to help minimize your risk of being scammed.
Hover over the sender’s email address. The address should match the business it is from. For example, if your email says it is from CashApp, but the email address is something like [email protected], it is a scam.
Never click on suspicious links or open attachments from unknown senders. For example, if you get an email from “your bank” asking you to verify personal information like your password or account number by clicking a suspicious link, it’s safer to go directly to the bank’s website instead of clicking the link.
Scammers use a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly without thinking. They might claim your account will be locked or that you’ve won a prize, pressuring you to respond immediately. Always pause, verify the source, and never rush into sharing personal or financial information.
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Even a strong password isn’t enough these days—hackers are sneaky! Use Two-Factor Authentication whenever possible! Yeah, I get it—it’s an extra step and can be a bit annoying, but that extra layer of security could be the difference between staying safe and getting hacked. You could even use an authentication app like Google Authenticator instead of text messages for extra security.
4. Keep Software & Devices Updated
Outdated software is like leaving your windows unlocked—hackers can sneak right in. It seems like the prompt to update your antivirus and software always comes at an inconvenient time, but it is important. Just do it! You can also set your devices to update automatically so you don’t forget. I have mine set to update after office hours.
5. Secure Your Wi-Fi & Use a VPN
Public Wi-Fi is a haven for hackers, and even your home network isn’t completely safe. Make sure your Wi-Fi password is strong and you change it regularly. Also, if you are working remotely, use a VPN—it encrypts your connection.
Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be complicated! A few smart habits can keep you and your business safe.
And hey, if you know someone who is like Laura and uses the same password for all their sites, do them a favor—send them this article!