{"id":17808,"date":"2025-12-15T12:17:44","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T17:17:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/?p=17808"},"modified":"2026-04-01T16:09:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:09:30","slug":"year-end-cybersecurity-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/year-end-cybersecurity-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Year-End Tips for Starting 2026 with Better Cybersecurity"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"year-end<\/em><\/p>\n

As we head into 2026, are you doing all you can to improve your company’s cybersecurity? Our partner, OrbitalFire<\/a>, offers tips on where you should focus your cybersecurity efforts at year-end.<\/em><\/p>\n

Year-End Cybersecurity Tune-Up: 6 Ways to Start 2026 More Secure<\/h2>\n

When people hear \u201ccybersecurity,\u201d they often think of firewalls, passwords, and patching. But the truth is, most cyber incidents at smaller businesses don\u2019t start with a technical failure.<\/p>\n

Before you wrap up 2025, carve out a little time for a quick cybersecurity tune-up. These six practical actions focus on people, process, and planning: the areas that most often determine whether your business becomes a statistic or a success story.<\/p>\n

1. How Often Should You Train Employees on Cybersecurity?<\/h3>\n

Your employees are still your first (and often last) line of defense.<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s been more than six months since your last cybersecurity awareness session, it\u2019s time for a refresh. We believe that once- or twice-a-year training sessions are often too long to hold anyone\u2019s attention and don\u2019t move the needle in creating a \u2018Culture of Security\u2019. \u00a0Instead, ongoing, consistent\u00a0training sessions, such as monthly\u00a0Awareness Trainings<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Phishing Testing,<\/a><\/span>\u00a0are far more effective at keeping cybersecurity top of mind.<\/p>\n

Also, encourage employees to use that training and speak up when something \u201cfeels off.\u201d A culture where reporting is rewarded, not punished, is one of the best defenses a small business can build.<\/p>\n

Tip:<\/strong>\u00a0Add quick security reminders to regular meetings and make cybersecurity awareness part of performance reviews.<\/p>\n

For more on Creating a Culture of Security,\u00a0\u00a0READ: Why Cybersecurity Accountability for Small Businesses Starts with One Name<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

2. Why Should You Clean Up Digital Clutter?<\/h3>\n

Old accounts, shared logins, and forgotten cloud storage folders are goldmines for attackers.<\/p>\n

Take inventory of your digital sprawl: everything from Dropbox folders to SaaS tools that \u201csomeone signed up for once.\u201d Delete what you don\u2019t need and document what you do.<\/p>\n

Think of it like decluttering your shop floor or office: fewer things lying around means fewer opportunities for something to go wrong.<\/p>\n

3. How Can You Prevent Financial and Payment Fraud?<\/h3>\n

Fraudsters love the holidays because people are more distracted, and finance departments are their favorite targets.<\/p>\n

Double-check that payment approvals, vendor change requests, and wire transfers have proper verification steps. Make sure employees\u00a0never<\/em> act on an urgent payment request via email or text without first confirming it\u00a0<\/span>through another channel.<\/p>\n

Tip: <\/strong>Add a mandatory \u201cpause and verify\u201d rule for any financial transaction over a set threshold with no exceptions, even for the boss.<\/p>\n

For more on protecting against Financial Fraud,\u00a0WATCH: Stacking Cash: Best Practices for Securing Financial Transactions<\/a><\/p>\n

4. What Should an Incident Response Plan Include? Revisit Roles, Responsibilities, and Response Plans<\/h3>\n

If something goes wrong, who does what?<\/p>\n

Review your incident response plan (or start one if you don\u2019t have it). Make sure roles and contact information are up to date, especially for after-hours escalation. Plan a time to practice the plan with an Incident Response Tabletop<\/a>. Update vendor and insurance contacts and print a hard copy in case systems go offline.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t an IT exercise. It\u2019s about business continuity. When everyone knows their role, response times shrink, and losses stay small.<\/p>\n

5. How Does Cybersecurity Fit Into 2026 Business Planning?<\/h3>\n

Cybersecurity isn\u2019t separate from business strategy; it\u2019s part of it.<\/p>\n

As you plan budgets, staffing, and growth initiatives for 2026, include cybersecurity in your discussions from the outset. Whether you\u2019re expanding into new markets, adding vendors, or pursuing certifications like CMMC or SOC 2, your risk profile will change.<\/p>\n

Integrating cybersecurity planning now prevents painful (and expensive) surprises later.<\/p>\n

6. Should You Review Your IT Provider\u2019s Cybersecurity?<\/h3>\n

Your IT provider or managed service provider (MSP) keeps your systems running, but that doesn\u2019t always mean they\u2019re keeping you secure.<\/p>\n

Ask them:<\/p>\n