7 SMB Security Tips That Will Keep Your Company Safe

Here we are, nearly midway through the 16th annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), and while the good news is many large enterprises are more locked down than they were five or six years ago, it's clear SMBs need some help.

An August report by Untangle examining the current state and trends of IT security for more than 300 SMBs bears that out. Among the findings: While 80% of SMBs ranked IT security as a top business priority, 52% admitted they didn't have an in-house IT security professional on staff, and another 29% said they spend $1,000 or less annually on IT security.

They've also become targets for hackers, according to Heather Paunet, Untangle's vice president for product management. "For SMBs, if they do get attacked, it could cripple their business," she says.

In honor of NCSAM, we asked industry leaders how SMBs can more effectively protect themselves from cyberattacks. You'll find that many of their tips involve standard cyber hygiene and apply across the board to companies of all sizes.