Helping local small businesses prepare against cyber threats


Florida SBDC at FIU, Chase Help Miami Small Businesses Prepare Against Cyber Threats.

In recent years, high profile data breaches and cyberattacks have garnered headlines worldwide. Most recently, the 2016 presidential campaign has kept the issue in the forefront of the public’s consciousness.

Lost in splashy headlines and high-profile breaches has been the reality: small businesses are prime targets for cyberattacks. Small businesses are often an entry point for hackers into larger companies or the federal government. They possess valuable data information hackers want, but often lack the budget and staff to mount advanced cyber defenses.

On Jan. 11, the Florida SBDC at FIU partnered with Chase for Business to address the topic at the “Keep Up Your Guard: Cyber Threats & How to Protect Your Business” event. More than 140 attendees heard from speakers including representatives from the U.S. Secret Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and JPMorgan Chase.

Key takeaways for small businesses included:

  • Use and maintain anti-virus software and a firewall
  • Regularly scan your computer and keep any software up-to-date
  • Make sure any Wi-Fi networks are secure and hidden
  • Establish office-wide policies for handling and storing sensitive work-related information (i.e. clean desk policy, procedures for posting online, routinely changing passwords, encryption)
  • Regularly update employees on new threats and share new procedures to combat them
  • If you have any sensitive records, consider storing them offline

Read the full story at BizNews.fiu.edu.

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