Securing Your Home Office: Smart Cyber Security Practices to Protect Your Business and Your Income

There has been a wave of home based businesses over the last couple of years. Some of these businesses were started by entrepreneurs who had grown tired of the rat race, while others were created to be simple side hustles.

No matter what their origin story, every one of these businesses presents a unique cyber security challenge for its owner. If you want to protect yourself and your enterprise you need to take online security seriously, and here are some best practices to get you started.

Audit Your Network Security

If there is even a single security flaw in your home Wi-Fi network your entire enterprise could be at risk. Before you buy your new laptop or set up your home office, you need to conduct an in depth audit of your existing network and its security.

Most modern routers are well equipped to protect networks from intruders, but that does not mean you can rest easy. Auditing the security of your network now and on a regular basis will give you the peace of mind needed to run your home based business with confidence.

There are plenty of great tools out there, from intrusion detection programs to apps that display a list of every device attached to your network. These security tools can help you keep your home Wi-Fi network, and by extension your home based business, safe from harm.

Invest in Dedicated Equipment for Your Business

It may be tempting to use your existing computer, smartphone or tablet for both fun and work, but that mixed use opens up a greater risk of security failure. If you miss something in your audit or a new threat emerges you do not want to put your business at risk.

With the prices of laptops and other computer equipment falling there is no reason not to invest in the right technology. If your needs are fairly basic you should be able to find a great laptop for far less than $1,000. You might even be able to deduct part of the purchase price when you do your taxes.

Set Up a Business Bank Account with 2-Factor Authentication

Separating your personal and business devices is important, but so is keeping your money separate. Setting up a business bank account is a solid practice, one that will make everything from accounting to tax filing easier.

Having a separate bank account for your business can also protect you from harm in the event of a cyber security breach. You can increase the security even more by only accessing your business bank account from your commercial devices and from setting up 2-factor security on the banking website.

Don't Ignore Physical Security

Cyber security is not just a defense against hackers, and you ignore physical security at your peril. Unless you live alone and have no employees, you need to secure every device in your home office, from the tiny smartphone in your pocket to the giant desktop in the corner.

Those physical security measures include setting timeouts on your screens, assigning powerful passwords and simply turning computers off when they are not in use. It also includes shredding any paper documents before you put your trash by the curb or fill up the recycling container.

Running your own home based business can be great for your wallet. With no rent to pay and little overhead most of the money you earn is cash you get to keep. Even so it is important to protect yourself and your enterprise from cybercrime, starting with the best practices outlined above.