Look, we all (hopefully) know the basics of personal hygiene. Brush your teeth, wash your hands, don’t wear the same socks for a week straight.
But what about your cybersecurity hygiene?
Because let’s be real, if your business’s digital habits were a person, some of you would be walking around with unbrushed teeth, wearing yesterday’s underwear, and using gas station sushi as a primary food group.
Bad hygiene leads to bad outcomes, whether we’re talking cavities or cyberattacks. So, let’s get your cybersecurity hygiene in check before your business starts smelling like a data breach waiting to happen.
Step 1: Wash Your Hands with Strong Passwords
Would you shake hands with someone who just got back from cleaning a gas station bathroom without washing up? No? Then why are you using the same password for everything like it’s 2004?
Use strong, unique passwords for each account.
Implement a password manager so you’re not stuck remembering “Pa$$word123” ever again.
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) like you would a seatbelt—because accidents happen.
Step 2: Change Your Underwear Or At Least Your Software Updates
Wearing the same underwear for a week is a bad idea. Running outdated software is just as bad, except instead of offending noses, you’re inviting cybercriminals to snoop around.
Update your operating systems, apps, and security software regularly.
Enable automatic updates wherever possible.
Don’t ignore those pesky update reminders—they’re there to save you, not annoy you.
Step 3: Floss Daily with Data Backups
Nobody enjoys flossing but skipping it can lead to painful consequences. The same goes for backing up your data.
Regularly back up important files to an external source or cloud storage.
Use the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies of your data, on 2 different types of storage, with 1 kept offsite.
Test your backups. (If you don’t, it’s like having an emergency fire extinguisher that turns out to be full of glitter.)
Step 4: Don’t Share Your Toothbrush or Your Login Credentials
You wouldn’t let a stranger borrow your toothbrush, so why would you share passwords or login info? One compromised account can take down your whole business.
Assign individual accounts for employees.
Use role-based access controls (RBAC) so people only have access to what they need.
Beware of phishing emails trying to trick you into handing over login details.
Step 5: Avoid the Buffet of Cyber Threats and use a Cybersecurity Plan
Buffets are great for variety but terrible for stomach safety. The internet is kind of like that too. Without a cybersecurity plan, you’re rolling the dice on whether your business is ingesting something malicious.
Train employees on security best practices (yes, even your part-time intern).
Invest in basic cybersecurity tools—firewalls, antivirus, endpoint protection.
Have an incident response plan so if something goes wrong, you know what to do.
Final Rinse: Keep It Clean and Consistent
Cybersecurity hygiene isn’t a one-time shower, it’s a daily habit. The businesses that stay clean stay safe. Those that don’t? Well, let’s just say digital cavities are a lot harder to fix than real ones.
Start small, stay consistent, and keep your cybersecurity routine as fresh as your morning hygiene. Your business (and your customers) will thank you.
Need Help Scrubbing Up Your Cybersecurity?
If your business could use a cybersecurity deep clean, reach out. Because nothing smells worse than a preventable data breach.