3

Quick

Cybersecurity

Checks

Every

Phoenix

Small

Business

Should

Do

Before

Lunch

Before the day gets away from you, take 20 to 30 minutes to run three quick cybersecurity checks. You don't need a large IT department or a computer science degree. These simple habits can help protect your business email, customer information, financial accounts, and everyday operations from common attacks.

Whether you run an insurance agency in Scottsdale, a construction company in Glendale, a church in Prescott, or a growing business in Phoenix, these are three of the highest-value checks you can complete before lunch.

Quick note: These checks are a helpful starting point, not a complete security program. If you find a serious problem, avoid guessing. Contact a trusted IT professional before making major changes.

Check #1: Confirm MFA and password health

Time needed: 5 to 10 minutes.

Your passwords are the keys to your business. Multi-factor authentication, or MFA, adds a second lock to the door.

Even if a hacker obtains someone's password, MFA can prevent them from signing in without a code, approval, security key, or another verification method. The Federal Trade Commission recommends using MFA to protect sensitive business information and important accounts.

Start with your most important accounts:

• Business email, such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
• Online banking and payment platforms
• Accounting software
• Customer relationship management systems
• Cloud file storage
• Administrator accounts for websites and business applications