By Aditya Kari
Security Specialist
Small businesses are the backbone of West Haven. From family-owned restaurants and neighborhood dental practices to local retailers and service providers, these businesses help our community thrive. As technology becomes increasingly central to everyday operations, protecting customer information has become an important part of running a successful business.
On July 1, updates to the Connecticut Data Privacy Act (CTDPA) took effect, expanding certain privacy protections for Connecticut residents and introducing additional requirements for businesses that fall within the law’s scope. While not every small business is covered by the CTDPA, every business that collects customer information should understand how it stores, protects, and manages that data.
Cybercriminals continue to target organizations of all sizes. Many small businesses rely on email, websites, online scheduling, digital payment systems, and cloud-based software to serve their customers. A security incident involving these systems can interrupt business operations, damage customer confidence, and create significant financial and operational challenges.
The good news is that improving cybersecurity does not always require a large budget. Many effective safeguards are straightforward to implement and can significantly reduce everyday risks.
Separate your business and guest Wi-Fi. Customer Wi-Fi should be isolated from the network used by business computers, payment systems, and other critical devices. Keeping these networks separate helps reduce the risk that an insecure or compromised device could access sensitive business systems.
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Passwords alone are no longer enough to protect important accounts. Adding MFA—such as a verification code from an authentication app or a security key—provides an additional layer of protection and can prevent many common account-compromise attempts.
Review your website and privacy practices. If your business collects customer information through contact forms, online orders, appointment scheduling, or marketing tools, make sure your privacy policy clearly explains what information is collected, how it is used, and how customers can contact you with questions. Regularly reviewing the software and services connected to your website also helps reduce security risks.
Cybersecurity is not only about technology—it is about protecting the trust that customers place in local businesses every day. By taking practical steps to strengthen security and understand applicable privacy requirements, West Haven businesses can better protect their customers, reduce cyber risk, and continue serving the community with confidence.
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Aditya Kari holds a master’s degree in Cybersecurity & Networks from the University of New Haven and is the founder of Kavach Cyber Solutions LLC, a West Haven-based cybersecurity consulting firm that helps small businesses improve their security posture through practical, affordable cybersecurity assessments and guidance.