5 Critical Security Controls Every Small Business Needs

Most cyberattacks target small businesses because they often lack basic security controls. In fact, 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, yet only 14% are prepared to defend themselves. The good news? Five essential protections can prevent 90% of common threats.

1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication is your first line of defense against account takeovers. Even if a password is compromised through phishing or a data breach, MFA requires a second form of verification—typically a code sent to a mobile device or generated by an authenticator app.

Why it matters: 99.9% of account compromise attacks can be blocked by using MFA, according to Microsoft research.

Where to implement:

Email accounts (especially admin accounts)
Cloud services (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace)
Remote access (VPN, RDP)
Financial systems and banking
Any system with sensitive data

2. Regular Backup and Recovery Testing

Ransomware attacks have increased 150% year-over-year, with attackers specifically targeting backup systems. Having backups isn't enough—you need tested, reliable recovery procedures.

Best practices:

Automated daily backups of critical systems and data
Offsite or cloud backup storage (3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 different media, 1 offsite)
Quarterly restore testing to verify backups work
Immutable backups that can't be encrypted by ransomware
Document recovery procedures and train your team

Manufacturing and aerospace companies should pay special attention to backing up CAD files, production data, quality records, and compliance documentation.

3. Email Security and Anti-Phishing Protection

Email remains the #1 attack vector for cybercriminals. Phishing emails trick employees into revealing credentials, downloading malware, or authorizing fraudulent payments.

Essential email protections:

Spam filtering and malware scanning
DMARC, SPF, and DKIM authentication to prevent email spoofing
Link protection that scans URLs before users click
Attachment sandboxing to detect malicious files
Warning banners for external emails

User training is equally important: Quarterly security awareness training helps employees recognize phishing attempts, suspicious links, and social engineering tactics.

4. Endpoint Protection and Patch Management

Every device that connects to your network—workstations, laptops, servers, even smartphones—is a potential entry point for attackers. Modern endpoint protection goes beyond traditional antivirus.

Key components:

Next-generation antivirus with behavioral detection
Endpoint detection and response (EDR)
Automatic security updates and patch management
Application whitelisting to block unauthorized software
Device encryption for laptops and mobile devices

Patch management is critical—many breaches exploit known vulnerabilities that have patches available but weren't applied. Automated patch management ensures systems stay current.

5. Network Segmentation and Firewall Configuration

Network segmentation limits the "blast radius" of a security breach by dividing your network into separate zones with controlled access between them.

For manufacturing operations, this means:

Separating production/shop floor networks from office systems
Isolating CAD/CAM workstations from general user networks
Creating secure enclaves for ITAR or CUI data
Guest WiFi completely separated from business networks
Properly configured firewalls controlling traffic between zones

This approach prevents malware from spreading across your entire network and protects sensitive production systems from office-based threats.

Implementation Roadmap

Don't try to implement everything at once. Here's a practical rollout sequence:

Month 1: Enable MFA on all critical accounts and email systems
Month 2: Verify and test backup systems
Month 3: Deploy email security and conduct phishing training
Month 4: Implement endpoint protection and patch management
Month 5-6: Design and implement network segmentation

Compliance Considerations

These five controls align with major compliance frameworks:

CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification): Required for defense contractors, particularly CMMC Level 2
ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations): Required controls for protecting controlled unclassified information
NIST 800-171: Federal standard for protecting CUI
ISO 27001: International information security standard

If you work with aerospace, defense, or government contracts, these controls aren't just best practices—they're increasingly required.

The Bottom Line

Cybersecurity doesn't have to be overwhelming or expensive. These five controls provide a strong security foundation that protects against the vast majority of attacks. Small and mid-sized manufacturers, aerospace suppliers, and professional services firms can implement these protections cost-effectively with the right IT partner.

The cost of prevention is far less than the cost of recovery from a breach—which averages $200,000 for small businesses and often includes lost revenue, regulatory fines, customer notification costs, and reputational damage.