Find out how to protect your interior design business online – it’s a 7-minute read and could save you a lot of future headaches!
Cyber threats are on the rise, and even small businesses and solo entrepreneurs are vulnerable.
Here’s a straightforward guide to help you protect your digital presence: from 2FA and smarter passwords to backups, scams, and cyber insurance.
Why do you need to protect your interior design business online?
According to the cyber security breaches survey, conducted by the UK government, 74% of large businesses said they were targeted with cyber attacks last year.
Whist it’s unlikely that a small solo interior designer is going to be targetted in a ransomware attack – your business can still be seriously impacted if you don’t protect your digital footprint.
“At least half of micro businesses – companies with fewer than nine employees – in the UK are victims of cyber-attacks every year, according to the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE).” [This was 2019 – so things are only going to have gotten worse since then.]
A large proportion of our modern lives, and our business, is conducted on line. We all face the risk of our social media accounts getting hacked, blog or website being compromised, or credit card being cloned. It’s smart to make ourselves as safe as possible.
Tips for protecting your interior design business online
From 2FA, protecting your blog, scams, cyber insurance to why your password might not be as secure as you think.
2 Factor authnetication (2FA)
Should you use it. Yes, yes, yes. Where it’s available, turn it on. As Which? says “This is a great way of protecting your accounts, as it stops hackers who might have got your password via a data breach or phishing scam from logging in.”
What is it?
Exactly as it sounds. It’s a security method that requires two forms of identification.
- The first factor is typically a password.
- The second factor can be a text code sent to your smartphone, biometrics (such as fingerprint, face, or retina), or another form of verification.
Top tips:
- If you can, use an app like Microsoft authenticator, Lastpass authenticator or Google authenticator (others are available) as your second factor rather than a text (SMS check). This is because your sim card can be compromised – making a text potentially less secure.
- Unauthorised Sim swaps are up by 1,055% according to a May 2025 report in Which?. Sim swapping involves criminals hijacking your mobile number, which allows them to hack into online accounts and intercept text messages from your bank.
- In addition, if you change your mobile number, update accounts where you’re using 2FA. Over time, your old phone number will be recycled and someone else will get it. If you haven’t updated your accounts, then you risk the owner of your old number being able to access them.
How Passwords protect your business online
This is basic, but it’s something we get really lazy about. Honestly, if you do nothing else this is one of the simplest ways you can protect yourself and your interior design business online.
Only use a password once i.e. don’t use the same password across multiple services/sites.
Try xkpasswd to generate secure, memorable passwords for you.
Your password may NOT be as strong as you think
The following cartoon demonstrates how through 20 years of effort we’ve successfully trained everyone to use passwords which are hard for humans to remember, but easy for computers to guess.
If you do struggle to remember passwords, use a password manager app like KeePass or bitwarden (others are available).
Whilst a password manager will help you keep track, the most important thing is to make the password strong in the first place.
Back-Ups to protect your business online
It’s crucial to back-up your data. This helps if your device is stolen, lost, damaged or targeted by malware.
A back-up means your data will remain safe and retrievable, even if the device itself is no longer usable.
Whether you’re on Windows or a MAC most people back up to the cloud. If you’re unsure how to create a back-up check out this article on Which?
Don’t forget to back up important files on other devices too (like your phone). See how here.
Top Tips:
- Test your back up every now and then to make sure it actually works.
- To be super safe add in an occasional back-up to an external USB or hard drive (on top of your regular cloud back-ups).
Protecting your blog or newsletter
Don’t assume that your blog is safe (wherever you write it). I’d suggest writing your blog in Word or similar so that your content is saved (as part of your back-ups). If your blog is every compromised – you’ll have all the content ready to go. An arduous task to re-populate but at least you won’t be starting from scrtach.
Read this article from LinkedIn on protecting your blog from cyber attacks.
Cyber Insurance
Whilst most of the tips in this article cover how to protect your interior design business online, cyber insurance is there should the worse happen. Also known as cyber liability insurance, it’s a type of insurance that covers financial losses resulting from cyber incidents such as ransomware attacks, data breaches, and other cybersecurity events.
According to the ABI:
“Businesses of all sizes can suffer cyber-attacks and data breaches, so it is more important than ever to look at your cyber security and take steps to manage the cyber risks that you and your business face.”
Scams
Staying abreast of legitimate scams (from holidays villas that don’t exist, impersonation emails, to copycat websites) is a good line of defense. You can sign up here to the Which? Scam Alert Service.
I like it, because it keeps possible digital threats front of mind. And there’s a scam sharer tool too – so you can make Which? aware of phishing emails, fake texts, cold calls and other types of fraud.
Top Tip:
Spam emails often lead to scams – here’s how to block junk before it even appears in your inbox!
By following these tips you can protect your interior design business online. Staying safe online might not be the most glamorous part of running your own business, but it’s an essential one.
Also not sexy (but equally important)? Managing your finances – read my tips and tricks for managing your finances as an interior designer.
A few ways I can help, depending on what you need right now:
I’m Lisa Honiball, Business Coach & Mentor. I provide calm business guidance to established Interior Designers.
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