SMBs, time to shield up? 🏴‍☠️ All about lock, stock, and passwords!

Security for SMBs, password tips for small business employees, recommended reads, and more.

Hi,

Welcome to the first edition of The Stack – a fortnightly newsletter by GuideStack!✨

In this edition of the newsletter, read about why security is increasingly becoming critical for small businesses, the 5 tips you can immediately share with your team to generate secure passwords, and lastly, our recommended reads for SMBs.

If you find the newsletter helpful, share it with your fellow small business owners. Let’s dive in! 💪

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Security for SMBs? Why even care…? 🤔

Imagine you have a little candy store. You’d lock the door at night to keep all your candies safe, right? Well, for small businesses, security is a bit like that lock—but for everything related to your business.

Small businesses have important things to protect: customer info, payment details, financial data, and even business plans for the future. Just like some people might want to sneak into a store and take things, there are people out there who try to sneak into computers to take valuable stuff (called hackers 😈).

Security is like putting up a strong lock around all the important things that keep the business running smoothly. Without that lock, it’s a lot easier for “digital troublemakers” to get in and cause problems, which can be a big headache for a small business.

Security helps keep things safe, so the business can grow without worry!

Here’s the reality in numbers:

• 57% of small and medium enterprises have experienced a cybersecurity breach. (Security report)

• 54% of businesses admit that their IT departments lack the experience to manage complex cyberattacks. (Sophos)

• Verizon’s 2021 SMB Data Breach Statistics reveal that on average, SMBs spend between $826 and $653,587 on cybersecurity incidents.

For small businesses, the first step is awareness. Then setting the right systems and processes to ensure safe and secure business operations.

And no, it doesn’t take A LOT to do that. Follow industry best practices, follow process recommendations, and rely on IT experts for any help when you need it. 💪

Ready to start implementing best practices? Check them out on GuideStack.

💡Hackers, who? Be a password pro! Practical tips for you and your team 💪

Keeping business safe online starts with creating strong passwords. Strong passwords are the first line of defense for businesses looking to protect themselves against online threats.

Weak passwords make it easier for hackers to get in and cause serious issues—like accessing sensitive data or even affecting your reputation.

Here are some easy ways to make passwords that are both secure and easy to manage:

1. Make It Long and Strong: Encourage passwords to be at least 12 characters, combining upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. The more complex, the better!

2. Avoid Common Words or Personal Info: Remind your team to skip easy-to-guess words, like "password" or "1234," and avoid personal info, such as birthdays or pet names, which hackers could easily find.

3. Use a Passphrase: Suggest creating a memorable passphrase that’s easy to remember but hard to guess. For example, "SunsetsAre@mazing2024!" is both strong and memorable.

4. Use Unique Passwords for Different Accounts: Emphasize the importance of using a different password for each account. Reusing passwords increases risk across multiple sites if just one account is breached.

5. Leverage a Password Manager: A password manager can help create, store, and autofill complex passwords securely, saving time and ensuring strong, unique passwords across all accounts. Looking for recommendations or know how to get started? Check them out on GuideStack!

📚 Weekly Top Reads for SMBs

• SMB Security Best Practices: Why Smaller Businesses Face Bigger Risks by Grant Gross

• SMB Security Enhancements by Microsoft Learn

• Small Businesses Are More Frequent Targets Of Cyberattacks Than Larger Companies by Forbes

• SMB Best Practices in Security by US Cybersecurity

• IT Risk Assessment for SMBs by Chris Aguilar on GuideStack

Hope you found some handy tips in this first edition of The Stack! We know security can sound like techy mumbo-jumbo, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few easy steps and awareness—like those password pro tips and our favorite security reads—keeping your business safe can be easy!

Do you have a friend or a family member who runs a small business too? Share this newsletter with them in case they need a hand with their security game.

Don’t miss checking out GuideStack. We’ll see you next time. :)

Cheers,

The GuideStack Team