Computer Security Resources for Small Businesses Available Online

Even if you are careful with your sensitive data online, you may be at risk for identity theft if anyone else is in possession of your data - including small businesses. According to the Small Business Technical Institute, more than half of the small businesses in the U.S., a number that exceeds 13 million businesses, experienced some kind of serious online or offline security breach in the past year.

Small Businesses and Computer Security

Why are the numbers of security breaches among small businesses so high, and why do small businesses seem to trail so far behind their corporate neighbors in taking measures to protect the sensitive data of their customers? The answer lies mostly in misinformation and misperception. According to the same survey by the Small Business Technical Institute, 70% of small businesses consider computer security a high priority, and 80% feel that they are doing an excellent job protecting their customers’ sensitive data against hackers and phishers. Unfortunately, these perceptions do not line up with reality, and many small businesses do not hire an in-house computer security expert to advise them differently.

Almost 20% of the polled businesses do not use anti-virus programs of any sort to scan their e-mail, a measure computer security experts consider the first line of defense and an absolutely essential part of protecting business networks and sensitive customer data. To make matters worse, 60% of businesses do not use any sort of encryption to protect the wireless networks engaged in transferring sensitive customer data. This procedure is not as well known as virus protection software but is considered just as important by security experts. Small businesses simply do not seem to know enough about computer security on their own, and tend to not enlist the help of an in-house security expert advisor because of budget concerns.

Free Computer Security Advice from the Council of Better Business

Fortunately, the nonprofit Council of Better Business has created an online, downloadable resource available to businesses with a broadband Internet connection. This downloadable security kit will help demystify security protection for small businesses, and will help business leaders develop an actionable policy and plan to take toward the protection of sensitive customer data.

The kit is geared toward non-technical users who may not be aware of some of the most costly and common schemes to obtaining sensitive customer data. Surprisingly, technical and Internet-related schemes are extremely low on the list of security issues to watch out for.

Businesses are more often victimized by low-tech means, such as receiving calls on the phone from purported customers requesting verification of sensitive details, and dumpster-diving for customer information. The kit focuses on ways a small business can proactively prevent these schemes, and points out that simple procedures larger businesses take for granted, such as spot-checking employee history, employee security training, and shredding documents are a business’s best defense against security breaches.