You Lock Your Doors at Night. Are You Locking Your Business Online?
Cybersecurity doesn't have to be complicated. It's just a different kind of lock.
Every night before you leave work, you probably do some version of the same routine:
- Lock the front door
- Make sure the back door is secure
- Set the alarm
- Check that the safe is closed
- Turn off the lights
It's automatic. You don't think about it. It's just what responsible business owners do.
But here's a question: What's your routine for locking up your business online?
Physical Security vs. Digital Security
When it comes to physical security, most business owners get it instinctively.
You wouldn't leave your front door wide open overnight. You wouldn't give copies of your keys to strangers. You wouldn't write your alarm code on a sticky note in the window.
These things are obvious because we understand physical threats. We can picture someone walking through an unlocked door.
Digital threats don't feel as real because we can't see them. There's no broken window, no forced lock. But the consequences are just as serious—sometimes more so.
A burglar might steal your cash register. A hacker can steal your entire customer database, your financial records, and your business reputation.
Making the Abstract Concrete
Let me translate some digital security concepts into physical terms:
A weak password is like a flimsy lock. If your password is "password123" or your dog's name, that's the equivalent of a lock you can open with a credit card.
Using the same password everywhere is like having one key for your home, business, car, and safe. If someone gets that key, they get everything.
No multi-factor authentication is like having a door that opens with just a key, no deadbolt. Adding a second factor (like a code from your phone) is like adding a deadbolt—even if someone has the key, they still can't get in.
An untrained employee is like a door that's left unlocked. They might let the wrong person in without meaning to.
No backup is like having no insurance. When disaster strikes, you have nothing to fall back on.
The Basics Are Really Basic
Here's the good news: digital security basics aren't that different from physical security basics.
Lock things up. Use strong, unique passwords. Use a password manager so you don't have to remember them all.
Add extra locks where it matters. Enable multi-factor authentication on important accounts—especially email, banking, and anything financial.
Don't give strangers the keys. Be careful about who has access to what. When employees leave, make sure their access is revoked.
Make copies of important things. Back up your data. Store backups somewhere separate from your main systems.
Teach everyone the routine. Train your team on basic security practices. Just like you'd show a new employee how to lock up at night, show them how to be secure online.
The Training Gap
You wouldn't hire someone and just assume they know how to set your alarm system. You'd show them. You'd walk through the process. You'd make sure they understood.
Digital security deserves the same attention. But most businesses just assume employees will figure it out.
They won't. Not because they're incompetent, but because they've never been taught.
When you train your team on security basics, you're essentially teaching them where the locks are and how to use them. It's not complicated—it just needs to happen.
Start With the Essentials
If you're not sure where to begin, start here:
- Password audit. Make sure everyone uses strong, unique passwords. Consider a business password manager.
- Enable multi-factor authentication. Start with email and financial accounts. Then expand from there.
- Train your team. Teach them to recognize suspicious emails and verify unusual requests.
- Check your backups. Are they happening? Are they stored safely? Can you actually restore from them?
- Review access. Who has access to what? Remove access for anyone who doesn't need it.
These aren't expensive initiatives. They don't require a dedicated IT team. They're just good habits—like locking the door.
A Different Way to Think About It
Next time you lock up your business at night, take a moment to think about your digital locks too.
- Are your passwords strong?
- Is multi-factor authentication enabled?
- Does your team know what to watch for?
- Are your backups current?
If you can't answer "yes" to all of these, that's okay. Just means you have some work to do.
The good news is that unlike physical security improvements—which can cost thousands—most digital security basics are free or cheap. They just require attention.
The Lock Nobody Sees
The thing about digital security is that when it's working, nothing happens. There's no visible lock, no alarm keypad, no sign saying "protected by."
But that invisibility can be a trap. It makes security feel optional when it's actually essential.
The businesses that stay safe aren't the ones with the fanciest security technology. They're the ones that do the basics consistently.
Lock your digital doors. Train your team to do the same. It's not complicated—but it is important.
We make digital security simple
PrymoSec helps you lock up your business online. Our training teaches your team the digital equivalent of good physical security practices—in plain language they'll actually understand.
No jargon. No complicated technology. Just practical training that makes your business safer.