here are six free ways to improve your cyber security today ⚒️
Many businesses think cyber security is all about having the right tech.
But that’s only half the picture. Most of the risk comes from everyday habits that get overlooked, put off, or not followed properly every time.
✅ Turn on multi-factor authentication
If you haven’t switched on multi-factor authentication (MFA) yet, make it your top priority. MFA asks users to prove who they are in more than one way before they can get into an account. In practice, that means providing something beyond a password or PIN, usually a code sent by text or an authenticator app, a security key, or something like a fingerprint or face scan.
With MFA switched on, even if an attacker steals or guesses a password, that alone usually isn’t enough to get in. They’d also need to get past that second check.
Turn MFA on first for:
- Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
- Banking and payroll applications
- Cloud storage
- VPN access
- Business-critical applications
Most platforms include MFA for free. Switching it on closes one of the easiest gaps attackers rely on.
✅ Remove accounts you no longer use
Accounts belonging to former staff, temporary contractors and suppliers you no longer work with can stay active long after anyone needs them. Because they’re easy to forget about, they can give attackers a quiet way in.
Review your user accounts and ask:
- Does this person still work with us?
- Does this account still serve a purpose for the business?
- Does it have the right level of access for what it’s used for?
If the answer to any of these is no, update the permissions or remove the account.
✅ Stop giving everyone administrator access
Admin accounts carry broad control over your systems. They can install software, change settings and turn off security protections, which makes them a favourite target for attackers.
Take stock of who has access to what, and ask:
- Does this person need to be an admin to do their job?
- Is there a lower access level that would suit their role better?
- Is admin access still appropriate for the accounts that currently have it?
Remove admin privileges wherever they’re not genuinely needed. Giving people only the access they need helps limit the damage if an account is ever compromised.
✅ Turn on automatic updates
Attackers often go after software with known weaknesses. Updates are what close those gaps.
Check that automatic updates are switched on for:
- Windows and macOS
- Phones and tablets
- Web browsers
- Microsoft Office
- Antivirus software
- Key business applications
Keeping everything up to date closes known gaps before attackers get the chance to use them.
✅ Start using a password manager
Strong passwords matter, but expecting staff to remember a unique, complicated password for every single account simply isn’t realistic.
A password manager helps people:
- Create strong passwords
- Store them securely
- Avoid reusing the same password everywhere
- Share credentials safely when they need to
The fewer passwords staff have to remember themselves, the less likely they are to fall back on weak, repeated ones.
✅ Confirm your backups are working
Having backups isn’t enough on its own. You need to know, for certain, that you can restore your data when something goes wrong.
Check your backups and ask:
- When did our last successful backup run?
- Has anyone actually tested a restore recently?
- How long would recovery realistically take?
A backup only protects your business if it works when you need it to.
small changes can make a big difference
Cyber security doesn’t have to start with a big investment. It starts with closing the gaps that create risk for no good reason.
The six steps above reduce common risks without costing you anything.
What matters now is putting them into practice, and keeping them in place. We can help you turn these into a focused action plan that fits your team, your systems and your level of risk.
Book a 10-minute discovery call to find out where you’re exposed and what practical steps to take next.
