Keep Your Business Secure: 5 Must-Do Steps

Running a small business today means juggling a lot of moving parts—customers, employees, vendors, finances, and technology. With so much at stake, even one weak link in your security or operations can disrupt everything. The good news is that with the right habits in place, you can significantly reduce risks while keeping things running smoothly.

Here are five essential steps every small business should take.

1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Everywhere You Can

Passwords alone aren’t enough anymore. Cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to steal or guess them. That’s why Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is one of the most powerful (and simplest) tools you can enable.

MFA requires something you know (your password) and something you have (like a code sent to your phone or an authenticator app). Even if someone gets your password, they can’t access your account without the second factor.

Start with your most important accounts—email, bank accounts, accounting software, and cloud services. Then, wherever possible, roll it out across the board. Think of MFA as your digital deadbolt.

2. Use a Password Manager—and Actually Use It

Too many small businesses rely on sticky notes, spreadsheets, or employees reusing the same passwords across multiple systems. That’s a recipe for disaster.

Instead, invest in a good password manager. It stores all your accounts securely and allows you to generate complex, unique passwords for every login. Yes, it takes time upfront to add your accounts and update weak passwords, but this is where security really pays off. We strongly suggest 1Password as your Enterprise Password management solution.

👉 One of the most important accounts to add is your DNS provider.
Your DNS controls where your website lives and how your email gets delivered. If a disgruntled vendor or ex-employee gets access, they could:

  • Take down your website.
  • Stop your email from working.
  • Potentially hijack your online presence—forcing you into legal battles just to regain control.

Most DNS providers allow you to grant limited access to vendors so they can make necessary changes without giving them full control. Take the time to review who has access and lock it down.

3. Ensure You Have Reliable Backups—Automatically

Data is the lifeblood of your business. Whether it’s customer records, contracts, accounting files, or email, losing it can grind operations to a halt. That’s why backups aren’t optional—they’re essential.

Here’s what you should do:

  • Use cloud-based storage for critical data so it’s always available, even if a laptop dies.
  • Enable automatic backups for services like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or your website.
  • Test your backups regularly to make sure you can restore them when needed.

The worst time to discover your backup doesn’t work is in the middle of a crisis.

4. Keep Systems and Software Updated

Updates can feel annoying, but they’re one of your strongest defenses against cyberattacks. Many hackers exploit known vulnerabilities—holes in software that companies already released fixes for.

That means if you’re not updating, you’re leaving the door wide open. Make it a practice to:

  • Run updates on computers, servers, and mobile devices.
  • Patch applications (especially web browsers, accounting tools, and office apps).
  • Update services like firewalls, routers, and other network equipment.

Think of updates as regular maintenance—like changing the oil in your car. Skip it, and you’re inviting costly problems.

5. Implement a Disaster Recovery Plan

Even with the best precautions, things can still go wrong. Power outages, ransomware attacks, hardware failures, or even natural disasters can disrupt operations. That’s why every small business should have a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP).

A good plan outlines:

  • What systems are most critical for your business.
  • Who is responsible for taking action during a crisis.
  • How to restore backups and resume operations quickly.
  • How to communicate with employees, customers, and vendors during downtime.

The goal isn’t just to recover—it’s to recover fast, with minimal damage to your reputation and bottom line.

Final Thoughts

Small businesses don’t always have the luxury of big IT departments, but you don’t need a massive budget to protect yourself. By enabling MFA, using a password manager, keeping backups, staying updated, and having a recovery plan, you’ll put your business in a position to stay secure and run smoothly no matter what comes your way.

At Bacon Bytes Technologies, we specialize in helping small businesses put these protections in place without the headaches. If you’d like guidance on implementing MFA, password management, backups, updates, or disaster recovery planning, we’d love to help.

📞 Call us at 520-222-7353 or ✉️ email us at angel@baconbytes.tech to get started or click HERE for more information
Because at Bacon Bytes—everything works better with Bacon.