Cybersecurity companies learn how to better protect small businesses

Businesses need to prepare for, handle data breaches

SAN ANTONIO – Cybersecurity companies from around the nation learned Tuesday in San Antonio how to better protect small businesses from electronic attacks.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President Ann Beauchesne said hackers can cause huge problems for small businesses that rely on electronic transactions.

"If her customers are using credit cards and that data is stolen, she won't have customers in the future," Beauchesne said. "If you go to a restaurant and your credit card data is stolen, that's going to kind of taint your vision of how that employer is protecting your data. You're not going to want to go back to where your credit data is stolen."

The cybersecurity conference also gave insight into the tech underworld. Department of Homeland Security officials said that attacks against big corporations make headlines, but criminals see local guys as easy targets.

"Well, think about it. If the bad guy's going around to car doors trying to break in, the ones that are locked, he's going to go on to the next one," Beauchesne said.

Business owners were strongly urged to have someone who handles security and preparedness and also someone to control network access. Strong passwords and keeping them secret are another key. A plan on how to handle a data breach is also a good idea.

"If you're connected to a modem in any shape or fashion at your business, [you] probably have data on customers that is vital and critical to your business," said John Garza, of Jungle Disk, an online-backup service in San Antonio.