As 2025 winds down, many are focused on holiday plans, creating an opportunity for criminals to exploit distractions. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are particularly vulnerable during this busy season. That’s why now is the time to be extra vigilant with your cybersecurity. Take the following steps to proactively protect your business in 2026.
1. Review access and permissions
User accounts can pile up easily, especially when someone leaves or changes roles and their access lingers. These forgotten accounts become perfect entry points for attackers. To prevent this, regularly review who has access to your systems and remove any outdated accounts. You should also limit admin privileges to only those who absolutely need them. Think of it like collecting stray keys and locking doors that should no longer be open.
2. Update systems and applications
Outdated systems can slow down operations and leave organizations exposed to risks, making it critical to establish a routine update process. Keeping systems and applications up to date is essential for maintaining security, performance, and functionality. Regular updates ensure that software is equipped with the latest features, bug fixes, and patches to address vulnerabilities that could be exploited by cyberthreats.
3. Strengthen your authentication habits
To reduce the risk of unauthorized access, all user accounts must be protected by strong, unique passwords. A key characteristic of a strong password is its length, as longer passwords are significantly more difficult to crack.
However, relying on passwords alone is insufficient for robust system protection. To further enhance security, encourage your staff to use password managers. These tools generate and store strong, unique passwords for different accounts, eliminating the need for users to remember them.
In addition to strong passwords, implementing multifactor authentication (MFA) is crucial. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide additional information, such as a code sent to their phone, in order to access their accounts. While MFA is a relatively simple upgrade to implement, it offers one of the most substantial returns on investment for improving your overall security posture.
4. Test your backups
While backup systems may seem like background utilities that operate seamlessly, their true value is only realized when a critical incident occurs. To avoid discovering a failure at the worst possible moment, it is imperative to proactively verify that your backups are functioning correctly and are fully restorable. It’s also a good idea to have at least one backup copy in a secure, off-site location or a cloud environment to keep data safe from localized disasters.
5. Upgrade your endpoint protection
An endpoint is any phone, laptop, desktop, or any other device that’s connected to your network. With the advent of remote and hybrid work, these endpoints play an even more crucial role in your cybersecurity, because all of them are potential entry points for cyberthreats.
The best way to secure these endpoints is install the right defenses. Anti-malware software should be a staple on all devices, and it should be constantly updated to detect and protect against new threats.
You should also install endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, which monitor for suspicious activity and trigger an immediate response if a threat is detected. EDR can also help with incident response, providing valuable information to help contain and remediate attacks.
In addition, consider implementing endpoint management solutions that allow you to remotely manage and secure all your endpoints from a central location. This can include pushing out security updates, enforcing password policies, and monitoring user activity on devices.
6. Update your cybersecurity policies
Policies rarely age well. As businesses adopt new apps, add staff, or shift to remote work, old guidelines stop reflecting what actually happens day to day. Review your rules for devices, passwords, data handling, and remote access. Make adjustments where necessary and rewrite confusing sections.
7. Train employees with practical guidance
Security training is essential because human error is a leading cause of data breaches. This training shouldn’t be a one-time, annual event. Instead, it should involve continuous repetition and regular reminders to instill good habits. These sessions don’t always have to be long or technical, but they should provide practical guidance on how to handle sensitive information, recognize phishing attempts, and safely work in remote locations.
8. Study 2025’s security events
Look back at phishing attempts, suspicious alerts, or any near misses of the last year. Are there discernible patterns? These reveal weaknesses in your cyber defense. Study these patterns and learn from them to improve your defenses, not to find fault in your staff.
9. Determine your 2026 cybersecurity priorities
With the immediate issues fixed, updated, and tested, the focus must shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive strategic planning. It’s essential to consider how your business can effectively defend against constantly evolving cyberthreats. This requires assessing whether your current IT team is equipped to anticipate and counter future challenges, or if their resources are primarily consumed by managing day-to-day incidents.
If you want to elevate your cybersecurity in 2026, you need Spectrumwise security experts. We provide advanced defenses, strategies, support, and training to protect your IT from a wide range of threats. Want help in keeping your business protected this 2026? Contact us today.