[London, 23-06-2023] The UK government has reported an alarming rise in cybersecurity incidents, highlighting the need for better cyber hygiene practices for British businesses. Cyber hygiene refers to the set of practices and procedures required to maintain a secure environment online. This includes various steps companies must take to protect against cyber threats that may lead to data breaches, financial losses, and other harm.

Small businesses may be uniquely vulnerable to cyber threats due to limited budgets, lack of technical expertise, and inadequate resources for security, and cyber hygiene may not be top of mind for them. However, the consequences of not implementing basic cyber hygiene practices can be dire and far-reaching. Implementing the following best practices can help small businesses protect their data and mitigate cyberattack risks.

Best Cyber Hygiene Practices
Regular Software Updates
Many small businesses fail to update their software regularly, leaving them vulnerable to bugs and viruses. Updating software regularly can help protect against the latest cyber threats detected by security vendors. Automating the process of updating software is often recommended to ensure that updates are applied promptly.

Strong Passwords
Using weak passwords is one of the most common causes of data breaches. Creating strong passwords and changing them regularly is essential for ensuring security online. A good password should contain at least 12 characters, including lowercase and uppercase letters, symbols, and/or numbers.

Data Backup
Data backup is another critical component of cyber hygiene. Regularly backing up important data can help minimise the damage a successful attack may cause. Data backups should be stored securely in multiple locations, both on-premise and off-site.

User Education
Small businesses need to invest in user education to ensure their employees understand cyber hygiene's importance and recognise potential threats. Employees should be given regular training on spotting and responding to potential threats and best practices for secure data handling.

Cybersecurity Infrastructure
Small businesses should invest in the necessary cybersecurity infrastructure to protect their data. This includes firewalls, antivirus software, and other security solutions to detect and prevent cyberattacks. Cybersecurity companies like Proximitum offer these services to small businesses to help them protect their data.

About Proximitum
Proximitum is a cybersecurity company offering a range of services to small businesses, including hosting solutions, cloud services, infrastructure solutions, managed IT support, and software as a service (SaaS) products. They provide various cybersecurity services designed to protect against the latest cyber threats, including antivirus software, firewalls, and more. Since 2000, Proximitum has been helping small and large businesses in the UK stay secure online.

See more of their services at www.proximitum.com.