Cyberattacks no longer target only banks and large corporations. Lebanese SMEs, clinics, schools and online stores are hit by phishing, ransomware and hacked websites every day. At the same time, customers expect their personal data to be protected. Here are practical steps every Lebanese business should take.
1. Know your legal obligations
Lebanon’s Law No. 81 of 2018 on electronic transactions and personal data sets rules for collecting and processing personal data. Businesses that handle customer, patient or employee data should understand what they collect, why, and how it is protected. Consult a legal advisor for your specific obligations.
2. Secure your software
- Keep websites, CMS plugins and servers updated.
- Use HTTPS everywhere.
- Follow secure coding practices and test for common vulnerabilities.
- Encrypt sensitive data in storage and in transit.
3. Control access
Give each employee only the access they need, use strong unique passwords with a password manager, enable two-factor authentication, and remove access immediately when staff leave.
4. Back up everything
Follow the 3-2-1 rule: three copies of your data, on two different media, with one copy offsite or in the cloud. Test restoring backups regularly. Backups are your best defense against ransomware.
5. Train your team
Most attacks start with a phishing email or WhatsApp message. Regular, short training sessions are one of the most cost-effective protections.
6. Monitor and respond
Log important events, monitor for unusual activity, and have a simple incident response plan so everyone knows what to do if something goes wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Are small businesses really targeted?
Yes. Small businesses are frequent targets because they often have weaker defenses.
Is the cloud safer than local servers?
Reputable cloud providers usually offer stronger physical security, redundancy and backups than a server in an office, especially in Lebanon where power and hardware failures are common.
Software Senior builds secure systems for healthcare, insurance, forensics and government. Contact us.
Talk to Software Senior
Software Senior is a Beirut-based software development, AI and IoT company with more than 15 years of experience serving government, healthcare, insurance and enterprise clients. Contact us for a free consultation, call +961 3 014416 or email [email protected]. You can also read our FAQ.
