Is Your Maine Small Business Secure? 5 Steps to Take Today
- Dale Stevens
- Sep 8
- 3 min read
If you're a business owner in Maine, there's no doubt you're juggling a dozen things at once. Whether you're managing inventory and serving customers or navigating the seasonal rush, your to-do list tends to be endless. It's easy for something like cybersecurity to fall to the bottom of that list. But in today's world, protecting your digital assets is just as important as locking your front door at night. Cyber threats aren't just a "big city" issue; they are right here in our communities, and small businesses can often be seen as easy targets. Don't worry, we have good news. You don't need a massive budget or a dedicated IT department to make a significant difference. Here are five straightforward steps you can take today to dramatically increase your business's security, brought to you by your local partners at InfoTech Maine.
Train Your Team: The Human Element
Your employees are your first and most important line of defense. Hackers and Scammers often know it's easier to trick an individual than it is to break through complex software. The most common attacks we tend to see target employees with deceptive "phishing" emails, which trick them into revealing passwords or clicking malicious links.
What to do now: Have a talk with your team about being cautious. A good rule of thumb: If an email seems unexpected or urgent (like a sudden request for a password change or a wire transfer from the "CEO"), take a minute or two to verify it. A brief phone call could be the difference between a business ending move or just a minor inconvenience.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
If you decide to only do one technical thing from this list, make it this one. MFA is a simple layer of security that requires a second piece of information (like a security code being sent to your phone or e-mail) in addition to your password. It means that even if a criminal steals your password, they can't access your account without your phone or your e-mail address as well.
What to do now: Turn on MFA or (2 Factor Security) for your critical accounts, starting with your email, banking and financial software. The majority of services like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace offer this simple security improvement for free.
Back Up Your Data (And Test It!)
Imagine losing all your client information, financial records, or the entirety of your project files, all in an instant due to a hard drive failure or ransomware attack. A reliable backup is your safety net. You should keep a recent copy of all your critical data, stored separately from your main network/computer.
What to do now: Check your current backup system. When was the last time it ran successfully? For true peace of mind, consider a hybrid approach. A local backup for quick recovery and a secure cloud backup in case of a physical disaster such as a fire or a flood.
Keep Your Software Updated!
We get it, updating can sometimes be a hassle, sitting there and playing the waiting game while the system seems to just be stuck in an endless loop. Updates often contain critical "patches" for security vulnerabilities that criminals love to exploit. Running outdated software is like leaving a window unlocked on your house. What to do now: Set your key software and operating systems (like Windows) to update automatically. Encourage your employees to do the same and restart their computers at least once a week to ensure updates are applied.
Don't drop the ball on physical security
Cybersecurity doesn't stop at software and what's "invisible" to the human eye. It's also about protecting the physical assets the business runs and operates on. A stolen server or laptop is a massive data breach waiting to happen. Likewise, you need to control who has physical access to sensitive areas of your business. What to do now: Review who has keys or access codes to your office or storefront. Is your server room or networking closet kept locked? Modern security camera systems and access control such as the ones InfoTech Maine offers and installs can be surprisingly affordable. They provide both great deterrent and invaluable evidence if a breach does occur.
You Don't Have to Do It Alone
You're probably an expert in your field, but maybe not in IT Security. Taking these steps is a fantastic start, but navigating the field of IT can still feel overwhelming. At InfoTech Maine, we are your neighbors. We specialize in helping Maine businesses like yours navigate the complexities of both cyber and physical security. We can assess your specific risks and build a practical, affordable plan to protect what you've worked so hard to build. Ready to gain peace of mind? Contact us today for a consultation and let's make sure your business is secure, inside and out.