The Ultimate Guide to Business Broadband Security

Your Guide to Business Broadband Security

With cybercriminals becoming increasingly sophisticated and brazen, securing your broadband network is essential. The importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated for any business, especially when it comes to safeguarding your staff and customer’s personal data, sensitive business information, and the integrity of your business’s broadband network.

No matter the size of your business, protecting it from cyber threats and data breaches has never been more critical, with robust security measures no longer being optional but a necessity for maintaining business continuity and trust.

While the risks may be increasing, there are practical steps you can take to mitigate these threats and protect your business.

In this guide, we’ll help you understand the basics of business broadband security, explain the threats your business may face and look at effective strategies for managing your network and broadband security.

Jump to:

• What is business broadband security?

• Can businesses safely use residential broadband?

• What are the benefits of implementing strong business broadband?

• Tips to secure your business broadband

• How we can support your business

What is Business Broadband Security?

Business broadband security refers to measures specifically designed to protect systems and employee activity while connected to the internet network, web browsers, and apps, including social media platforms and websites. Key examples of broadband security include firewalls, encryption, virtual private networks (VPNs), and secure access protocols.

Findings from the 2024 Cyber Security Breaches Survey highlight the growing need for businesses to implement strong broadband security strategies. The survey revealed that cyber security breaches and attacks remain a genuine and widespread threat. In the past year alone, half of businesses (50%) and nearly a third of charities (32%) have reported experiencing a cyber security breach or attack. These figures are even more alarming for medium-sized businesses (70%), large enterprises (74%), and high-income charities (66%).

Common Threats to Business Broadband Security

• Malware and Ransomware attacks

  • Malware: Software that's designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorised access to computers.

  • Ransomware: A type of malicious software specifically designed to block computer access, effectively blackmailing the user until a sum of money is paid.

  Malware, and specifically ransomware, can have a hugely negative impact on business operations, as well as damaging client or customer trust and potential future fraud risks. It involves important business data, which can include personal and financial information and digital assets, essentially being controlled by someone else who tries to get the business to pay to get access back. In some cases, you can lose data and control for good, and those stealing your information can sell it on to fraudsters who can target you with even more illegal activity in the future.

  Following best practices with broadband security, along with taking steps to train and protect staff when it comes to phishing emails, device security and managing data safely, can help minimise the risk that your business will be subject to a malware or ransomware attack.

• Phishing Attacks

  • Phishing: Attackers often pretend to be a reputable/trusted source with an enticing request, luring the victim in and tricking them into taking an action that effectively leaks data. These kinds of attackers look to steal sensitive information, like usernames and/or passwords, credit card and bank account details or other important data which they can then use or sell.

  Phishing emails can be very convincing, and even those who consider themselves scam-savvy can sometimes fall for them, especially when in a rush or distracted by other things. Any email that contains a link could potentially be a phishing attempt, but other telltale signs can include:

  • The email is addressed to your email address or opens with a generic greeting rather than your actual name

  • The email sender (hover over the sender’s email with your mouse to check this) contains numbers, misspelt words or isn’t from the domain you’d expect

  • The email is demanding immediate action to prevent something bad from happening

  With strong cyber security protocols, such as firewalls, you can usually thwart the majority of phishing attempts, especially alongside staff awareness training for this type of issue.

• Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

  Man-in-the-middle attacks (MITM) are when a hacker gains access to messages or emails being sent between a user and an application - effectively eavesdropping and stealing important information.

  They can then impersonate one of the parties to get hold of personal information or financial data and can even potentially intercept financial transactions.

  A common way for MITM attackers to gain access is by setting up a free Wi-Fi hotspot in a public place that seems to be associated with a real building or business, when in fact this is just a front. This hotspot isn’t password protected, and as soon as someone connects to it, the hacker can see all of their online exchanges. This cyber security attack can target remote workers, or others who may often work from public spaces or buildings offering free Wi-Fi. In theory, an attacker could target a business in an office building or another space if their broadband and Wi-Fi security isn’t adequate.

Can Businesses Safely Use Residential Broadband?

Some businesses might be tempted to use residential broadband instead of business broadband, but our team of experts at BusinessComparison strongly recommend against this approach. When conducting essential business functions online, the stakes for security breaches are higher, and the technical requirements are more complex.

Here are several reasons why business broadband is usually the better choice:

1. Faster internet speeds and higher bandwidth: While residential broadband typically offers speeds of up to 100 Mbps, business broadband can provide download speeds of up to 1 Gbps or higher. These speeds allow your business to handle more data-intensive tasks, such as sharing large files or hosting group calls, with minimal effort.

2. Enhanced reliability: Business broadband is designed for greater reliability, often backed by service level agreements (SLAs) that guarantee uptime, minimum speeds, and rapid repair times. This level of reliability is crucial for industries like ecommerce, online banking, or any service that depends on constant Internet access.

3. Superior security: Business broadband typically includes more advanced security features, such as enhanced firewalls and antivirus protection, to shield your business from cyber threats. It also offers options like multiple static IP addresses and virtual private networks (VPNs), ensuring that remote workers can securely connect to your company network.

BusinessComparison can help you compare and bag the best business broadband deals for your business.

What are the Benefits of Implementing Strong Business Broadband Security?

It’s not enough to simply protect your business accounts with a strong, unpredictable Wi-Fi password. Implementing and maintaining a robust broadband security strategy will require some research into different providers, but it’s an investment that doesn’t have to be costly and pays off in numerous ways.

Here are four key benefits for businesses when you prioritise business broadband security:

1. Enhanced Data Protection

Effective security measures are absolutely crucial in safeguarding your business’s sensitive data. This approach includes everything from financial records to confidential customer information. A secure network can help protect your valuable data from breaches and unauthorised access, keeping your business safe from potential losses and legal consequences.

2. Regulatory Compliance

With laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), businesses are required to protect personal data. A strong broadband security setup helps your business stay compliant with these regulations, avoiding hefty fines and legal troubles while maintaining and growing a trusted reputation.

3. Business Continuity

Significant threats to your business broadband, like cyber-attacks, can seriously disrupt operations, leading to downtime that can cost you time, money, and even customers. By ensuring your broadband is secure, you reduce this risk and help your business maintain operations.

4. Customer Trust

Customers expect businesses to handle their personal information with care and rightly assume every business is GPRD compliant. By implementing strong security protocols, alongside the rest of your privacy and security policy, you can help ensure that your customer’s data is safe. You can even potentially use your robust security measures as a differentiating factor in your marketing to help build trust and loyalty. This approach is particularly crucial for businesses that handle sensitive customer information, like financial data.

Tips to Secure Your Business Broadband

Before diving into advanced security measures, it’s best to evaluate your current broadband plan and what it gives you. Take a look at our guide to spot the signs your business needs a broadband upgrade. Upgrading your plan might be necessary to support the security measures you wish to implement fully.

Here are some initial steps your business can take to bolster your broadband security:

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Strengthen your login processes by requiring a second form of verification, such as an app-generated code. 2FA adds an extra critical layer of protection beyond just passwords, which can be especially useful if staff members sometimes work remotely.

• Secure your hardware: Choose routers and modems with strong security features, and ensure you configure them correctly. This investment can prevent unauthorised access to your business network.

• Regular updates: Keep all network-related software, including router firmware, up-to-date to patch any vulnerabilities.

Advanced Measures for Business Broadband Security

For businesses with more complex needs, consider these advanced security measures:

• Virtual private networks (VPNs): VPNs protect data “in transit” and enable secure remote access, which is particularly useful for businesses with remote employees. Check out our guide to VPNs and learn how they can defend your data.

• Firewalls: Firewalls serve as a barrier between your internal network and external threats, filtering out potentially harmful traffic.

• Network configuration: Implement basic security practices like hiding your Service Set Identifier (SSID), enabling WPA3 encryption, and setting up separate guest networks to protect internal systems.

• Intrusion detection systems (IDS): IDS help monitor your network for suspicious activities and respond swiftly to potential threats, providing an additional layer of defence.

Complete Regular Security Audits and Updates

Once you’re happy with your business broadband security, the work doesn’t stop there. Ensure you conduct regular security audits - it’s essential to identify and address vulnerabilities before cyber-attacks can exploit them.

Updating your security measures in line with new, emerging threats and technological advancements is equally important. Regular training for employees on the latest security practices can also reduce the risk of human error leading to security breaches.

How We Can Support Your Business

Securing your business broadband is not just a technical necessity but a strategic decision that affects your business’s overall health. By implementing strong broadband security measures, you help to protect your business as a whole.

Take the time to assess your current broadband security and consider proactive steps to enhance it—your business’s future could depend on it.

Choosing the right business broadband partner is crucial, and we can help you navigate the options to find the perfect provider that best suits your unique security needs.

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