Cybersecurity has become a growing concern in the business world and for society in general. Cyber-attacks represent a real threat that can jeopardize data security, reputation and generate significant economic losses. With increasing digitization, SMEs and freelancers have become more vulnerable to these attacks, so it is essential that they are prepared and have adequate cybersecurity measures in place.

The Cybersecurity Balance 2022 of the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) managed more than 118,000 incidents, representing an increase of 8.8% compared to the previous year. Several reasons, such as increased digitization and certain geopolitical conflicts have contributed to this increase in cybercrime.

Cybersecurity awareness is crucial for all companies, regardless of size. It is important to train employees on the most common risks and establish clear cybersecurity policies. Sharing information with other agencies and disseminating risks with real cases also help to raise awareness of the consequences of a lack of security.

The most common threats faced by SMEs and freelancers include ransomware, phishing and malware. INCIBE provides free guides to prevent and act on these attacks. It is essential that businesses are familiar with these threats and take the necessary steps to protect themselves.

Data protection is a fundamental aspect of cybersecurity. Companies must preserve corporate, customer, supplier and employee information. Some recommended measures include using unique and strong passwords, implementing multi-factor authentication, using firewalls, keeping software up to date and avoiding connections to public Wi-Fi.

It is necessary to develop a cybersecurity plan, establish an incident response, implement security policies and measures, train employees and perform regular backups. In addition, to minimize the digital footprint, it is suggested to avoid uploading compromising images, raise awareness among employees and use browsers with functionalities.

Also, it is important to have cybersecurity tools such as antivirus, firewalls and VPNs, and some free or low-cost options that can be used by SMEs and freelancers are mentioned.

To sum up, SMEs and freelancers need to be prepared to deal with cybersecurity threats. Awareness, understanding common threats, data protection and implementing appropriate security measures are key to minimizing risks. Cybersecurity must be a priority for all companies, as attacks can have serious consequences both in terms of security and economic.