Reveal Technology

Remote and hybrid work is here to stay for many small businesses, and it changes your security picture. Require MFA for any remote access to company systems, and use a VPN when employees connect from home or public networks. Make sure home Wi-Fi routers used for work have updated firmware and a strong password, not the default one printed on the device. Provide guidance on securing home networks as part of your remote work policy.

Company-owned laptops should have encryption, updated antivirus, and remote wipe capability enabled before they leave the office. Treat a remote employee's home setup as an extension of your business network, because from a security standpoint, that is exactly what it is.

Cloud storage makes collaboration easy, but easy sharing can also mean oversharing. Review who has access to shared folders and files periodically, and remove access for anyone who no longer needs it. Avoid using 'anyone with the link' sharing settings for sensitive documents. Use specific email-based sharing instead, which requires the recipient to be signed in and verified. Enable MFA on your cloud storage account just as you would for email. Check your service's activity logs occasionally to spot unusual access patterns, like a login from an unfamiliar location. Set a company policy on what types of data can be stored in shared folders versus more restricted locations, so sensitive files do not end up in a folder everyone can see.

Social engineering is manipulation, not hacking in the technical sense. An attacker might call pretending to be IT support asking for a password, or show up in person claiming to be a delivery driver to get past a locked door. These tactics work because they exploit helpfulness and a desire to avoid conflict.

Train your team that legitimate IT support never asks for a password over the phone, and that verifying identity is not rude, it is standard practice. Encourage staff to politely decline and verify through a known contact number if anything feels off. Share real examples when you hear about them, since specific stories stick with people far better than generic warnings about being careful.

Phones and tablets used for business email or file access deserve the same attention as computers. Require a passcode or biometric lock on every device that touches company data. Enable remote wipe capability so a lost or stolen phone can be erased before someone accesses your email or files.

Keep operating systems updated, since mobile updates patch security flaws just like computer updates do. If employees use personal phones for work, consider a simple mobile device management tool that lets you enforce these settings and remotely remove company data if the phone is lost or the employee leaves. This does not require a large budget, just a clear policy applied consistently across every device that connects to your business accounts.

Your security is only as strong as the weakest vendor you give access to your systems or data.

Before connecting a new software tool or handing over customer information to a vendor, ask basic questions: do they use encryption, do they support MFA, and have they had past breaches. Reputable vendors will have clear answers and documentation ready. Review contracts for data handling responsibilities and what happens if the vendor is breached.

This matters even for small vendors, since attackers often target smaller companies specifically because they have weaker defenses and access to larger clients. A short vendor checklist used consistently protects you from inheriting someone else's security problems along with their product or service.

Letting customers or visitors use the same Wi-Fi network as your point of sale system or office computers creates unnecessary risk. Set up a separate guest network on your router, isolated from your business systems. Most modern business routers support this at no extra cost. This way, a compromised guest device cannot see or interact with your internal network.

Apply the same logic to smart devices like thermostats or security cameras, which often have weaker security than your core business systems. Put them on their own separate network too. This kind of network segmentation limits how far an attacker can move if any single device gets compromised, and it is a one-time setup that pays off for years.

Encryption at rest means the data stored on your laptops, servers, and backup drives is unreadable without the correct key, even if the device itself is stolen. Modern operating systems include built in encryption tools that are simple to turn on and have minimal performance impact.

Enable this on every laptop, especially ones that leave the office. A lost or stolen laptop with encryption enabled is a minor inconvenience. One without it can mean a full data breach notification process and damaged client trust.

Extend the same thinking to backup drives and old hardware being retired. Encrypt or securely wipe drives before disposing of or donating old computers. This is one of the simplest protections available and is often already built into your existing software.

Ransomware encrypts your files and demands payment to unlock them. It typically gets in through a phishing email, an unpatched system, or a weak remote access point.

The best defense is layered: keep systems updated, use MFA on remote access, train staff to spot phishing, and maintain backups that are isolated from your main network. If ransomware does hit, having a tested, offline backup means you can restore your systems without paying anyone.

Do not assume paying the ransom guarantees you get your files back or that attackers will not target you again. Work with your IT provider ahead of time to build a response plan so you are not making critical decisions for the first time during an actual attack.

A USB drive found in a parking lot or handed out at a conference is a classic way attackers get malware onto a business network. Curiosity leads someone to plug it in just to see what is on it, and that is all it takes.

Set a policy that unknown USB devices never get plugged into company computers. If you need to share files with outside parties, use a cloud link instead. For businesses that must use USB drives regularly, consider disabling autorun and running antivirus scans automatically when a drive is connected. This is a low cost, low effort policy to put in place, and it closes a door that is often overlooked in favor of flashier defenses like firewalls and antivirus software.

Business email compromise happens when an attacker gains access to, or convincingly spoofs, an executive or vendor email account and requests a wire transfer or gift card purchase. These scams work because they exploit trust and urgency rather than technical flaws.

Set a firm rule: any request to change payment details or send funds gets verified by phone using a number you already have on file, never a number provided in the email itself. Train your finance staff specifically on this, since they are the usual target.

Watch for slightly altered domain names, like a vendor's name with one letter changed. These scams are low tech but highly effective, and a simple verification habit stops nearly all of them before money moves.