Network Security Basics for Small and Growing Businesses

These network security basics for small businesses do not need an enterprise IT budget to make a real difference. Most of the improvements that matter most are configuration and habit changes rather than expensive hardware.

Where to start

• Replace default admin passwords on routers, switches and access points
• Separate guest Wi-Fi from the network your staff devices use
• Turn on multi-factor authentication anywhere it is offered, especially email and remote access
• Keep firmware and firewall software updated on a schedule, not only when something breaks

What often gets missed

Backup testing. Plenty of businesses have backups running that nobody has actually tried restoring from – which means the first real test happens during an actual emergency, which is the worst possible time to discover a problem.