Cyber attacks are not only a big-company problem. Houston small businesses get hit with phishing, stolen passwords, and ransomware because attackers know many lack basic controls. The good news: a short list of practical steps blocks most incidents without a massive budget.
Start With Identity: MFA and Strong Access
Stolen passwords are still the top way criminals get in. Multi-factor authentication on Microsoft 365, VPN, and admin accounts stops most account takeover attempts cold. Pair MFA with a policy to disable accounts the same day someone leaves.
Shared passwords and admin rights for everyone are common in small offices. Limit admin access to people who truly need it and use separate admin accounts for IT changes.
Protect Endpoints and Email
Every PC and laptop needs modern endpoint protection, not free antivirus from five years ago. Email filtering catches phishing before users click. Both should be monitored, not install-and-forget.
Train staff briefly and often. One short phishing reminder each quarter beats a long annual lecture nobody remembers.
Backups You Can Actually Restore From
Backups fail when nobody tests restores. Houston businesses need automated backups for Microsoft 365 data, file servers, and critical apps, plus periodic restore tests. Offline or immutable copies protect against ransomware that encrypts live backups.
Hawkeye Core builds layered security and verified backups for Houston clients as part of managed IT or standalone security projects.