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5 Proactive Cybersecurity Steps Every Business Should Take

5 Proactive Cybersecurity Steps Every Business Should Take

22nd April 2025

Let’s face it — running a business is already a juggling act (with flaming swords some days. The last thing you need is to deal with a cyberbreach because your IT setup was a little too relaxed.

We’ve put together a few simple, proactive measures to keep your business safe from digital disasters.

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1. Lock it down twice: Network PLUS Device Firewall

Hopefully you’re already familiar with the term firewall. If not, picture it like the lock on your front door. No lock = with minimal effort, any random cyber-stranger can just waltz on in. Not ideal.

Broadly speaking, there are two main types of firewalls:

1. Network firewalls - often use physical hardware, that protect an entire network, including multiple devices and services (like having a guard at the office gate).

2. Device (or machine / host-based) firewall – this one is software-based and lives on your computer, protecting it individually.

Many businesses rely on their office network’s firewall, but here’s the catch: if a laptop is taken out of the office, it loses that layer of protection. That’s why enabling a software firewall at the machine (device) level is so important.

Did you know that the device firewall can also detect a threat on your computer and isolate it from the rest of the network to stop the spread from causing chaos? Basically, it isolates the device and shields the rest of your network—even when not on home turf.

2. Forget antivirus - it's all about EDR

Think of antivirus like a security guard. EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response), on the other hand, is like the cybersecurity version of James Bond—trained, sophisticated, and always watching for suspicious behaviour.

Good EDR software not only scans for threats but actively blocks unverified traffic. You can even lock it down by location, so if you only do business in Australia, your machine can effectively ghost the rest of the world. Cyber attacks from overseas are blocked before they even knock.

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3. Encrypt your devices

Picture this: you leave your laptop in a café, and someone decides it’s theirs now.

But if you’ve got BitLocker (for Windows) or FileVault (for Mac) switched on, your hard drive is encrypted. That means your data is scrambled into nonsense unless the right person (you!) unlocks it. Even if someone physically has the laptop, the data inside is still safe. That’s peace of mind right there. If you’re an NQIT customer, then this is enforced for greater peace of mind.

4. Use a password manager

If your current password system looks like:

A spreadsheet named “passwords_v4_final_FINAL.xlsx”
Post-its stuck to your monitor
That one guy who “just remembers everything”

…it’s time for an upgrade.

A password manager stores your passwords securely, generates strong ones, and can support Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of safety. Tools like 1Password, Hudu, or even built-in browser options (with MFA!) are a great place to start. NQIT includes a business grade password manager as part of our agreeements.

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5. Don't forget your email

Email is still the front door for most cyberattacks—phishing scams, dodgy attachments, you name it. Investing in email security tools (like spam filtering, impersonation protection, and safe link scanning) is a no-brainer.

Because let’s be honest, nobody needs another fake invoice from “Your Boss” asking you to urgently buy $800 in gift cards.

TL;DR - Your Action Checklist

Turn on software firewalls on every device
Use EDR software, not just antivirus
Encrypt hard drives with BitLocker/FileVault
Ditch dodgy password storage—use a password manager
Lock down your email with proper security tools

Need help getting any of these sorted? That’s where we come in. Our team at NQIT loves translating tech into plain English and making sure your business is digitally bulletproof.