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Cyber Security is one of those phrases that we all hear on a regular, sometimes daily basis. Whilst cyber security may be treated as a buzzword due to its over-usage, it is fundamental in protecting digital infrastructure and certainly not a passing trend.
Some individuals and/or businesses may think they have cyber security covered as they have taken part in a free antivirus software trial, while some even believe that, because they have an Apple/Mac device, these devices cannot get viruses. Unfortunately, robust cyber security measures require more than assumptions and “I’ll do it later.”
In this blog, we will explore 5 Cyber Security Best Practices Every SME Should Follow, helping you build a stronger and more resilient defence against modern threats.
Human error is often the weakest link in security, with phishing attacks and social engineering being common methods used by cyber criminals.
Do your employees know what to look out for in a phishing attempt? Do they know how to report such attempts and who to? Having cyber security strategies in place is fantastic. However, if the people that help run the business aren’t fully trained on how to recognise and respond to potential threats, and who to report them to, you can almost certainly assume your cyber security attempts have failed at the first hurdle.
There are plenty of options available for employee training in cyber security.
The National Cyber Security Centre provides an e-learning package called ‘Top Tips For Staff’, which can be completed either online or as part of your business’ training platform. This is a completely free service and the NCSC advises it takes only around 30 minutes to complete.
So why does Multi Factor Authentication matter? Unfortunately, in today’s world, attackers have many ways in which to steal passwords, and they keep getting more sophisticated. Implementing Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) is an excellent way to provide additional protection for your passwords.
MFA is a strong cyber security system that requires two or more distinct proofs of identity. In most cases people opt for the one-time password (OTP), which is usually a 4 or 8-digit code that is sent to the user via SMS, email or an Authenticator app such as Google/Microsoft Authenticator. However, there are also options to use Biometric Verification, which uses a fingerprint, face ID or even an iris scan to verify the identity of the user.
As mentioned above, there are various options for MFA available, and we always recommend implementing the strongest methods where available.
It is worth noting that there may be associated costs that limit your choice of which MFA option is best for you and your organisation. However, it is important to remember that any implementation of MFA is still superior to relying on passwords alone.
Keeping your software secure and up to date isn’t just good practice, it’s critical.
Patch management is a crucial process in cyber security that involves updating software and operating systems to fix vulnerabilities and improve performance. Patching plays a vital role in protecting your organisation from cyber threats, as well as protecting sensitive data and ensuring compliance, and maintaining a healthy IT environment.
All devices used within the company, even those used remotely, must be patched to remain protected against the latest security threat.
Patch management is a continuous process that involves several steps to ensure patches are identified, prioritised, tested, and applied efficiently across an organisation. Below is a structured lifecycle that forms a key part of maintaining a secure IT environment
Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus isn’t technically ‘best practice’ but it does provide a structured and effective approach to protecting against common cyber threats, offering numerous benefits that extend beyond enhanced security measures. By adopting the Cyber Essentials framework, businesses can safeguard sensitive information, gain customer trust, and improve their competitive edge.
Achieving Cyber Essentials certification demonstrates a commitment to cyber security and instils confidence in clients, partners, and stakeholders. This can be a deciding factor for potential clients when choosing between competitors, giving certified businesses an advantage in securing contracts and partnerships, especially with some government contracts.
The Cyber Essentials certification process involves implementing robust security measures, conducting regular audits, and educating employees about best practices.
Cyber Essentials is not just a smart move but an essential step in protecting your business. It provides a practical framework for securing digital environments and reducing risk. By understanding the fundamentals of cyber security and implementing the key components of the Cyber Essentials framework, businesses can unlock the secrets to a safer digital environment.
Gather Technology offer Cyber Security Awareness Training, to help educate your staff to recognise and prevent cyber threats, along with helping your organisation with Cyber Essentials certification. If you’d like to find out more, please click here and book a no obligation call with our team.
We all should know by now not to reuse passwords. However, a staggering 65% – 85% of people still reuse passwords across multiple sites, according to DeepStrike’s Password Statistics for 2026. Interestingly, 72% of Gen Z have admitted to reusing passwords, compared to 42% of Boomers.
One of the likely reasons for this is having to remember countless passwords. This is where a password manager should be used.
A password manager enhances your organisation’s digital security and makes everyone’s life easier by generating, storing and auto filling unique passwords for every account that your business uses, which in turn reduces the risk of data breaches.
Another benefit of using a password manager is that all your passwords are kept in a single encrypted digital vault, which is protected by a strong master password. It goes without saying that using a password manager is much safer than storing your passwords in a document as the password manager uses high-level encryption to protect your data.
It is also worth making sure two-step verification or MFA is turned on to your password manager account to further protect your business if your password gets phished or compromised.
There are a number of password managers available, so it is worth researching which meets your requirements and which you find easiest to use.
In 2026, cyber security is absolutely critical in protecting your business from cyber threats. Following these 5 Cyber Security Best Practices Every SME Should Follow will help strengthen your organisation’s overall security posture.
We advise that regular employee training is a great place to start because, without an educated line of defence, you are leaving your entire workforce exposed. As we mentioned above, human error is the weakest link and it only takes a single click on the wrong link to bring down an entire company.
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