Many small businesses and nonprofits do not think they need an IT security plan. Hackers and cybercriminals use this to their advantage – as it’s easy to infiltrate a network with minimal security.

The most common threat we see to these organizations is phishing attacks. These typically take the form of a phony email carefully created to appear like it’s coming from a high-level manager or executive. The emails typically ask employees or contractors to provide credentials or transfer funds. Everyone in an organization needs to understand the risks associated with phishing attacks – and how to spot them before anything bad happens.

Proper training and education are the best defenses against cybercrime. This involves taking extra steps to secure sensitive information and learning how to identify the early signs of hacking attempts. A specialized IT security firm will implement and train employees on best practices.

For starters, be sure to implement multi-factor authentication, use a password management system, and teach employees the basics of creating strong passwords. These are fundamental practices for businesses – and some of the easiest ways to prevent cybercrime.

On a baseline level, security layers need to include email security, backup and recovery services, dark web monitoring, firewall management, antivirus, and critical patching.

Growing businesses and nonprofits in Minneapolis can benefit greatly from outsourcing IT to a managed services provider. These IT plans are designed to be affordable and scalable as the organization grows. Companies pay a flat monthly rate and get access to a complete team of IT experts, which is much more feasible for small businesses than hiring in-house.