
(Made for Small Business Owners)
Why this matters
Most downtime and data loss come from small, fixable things: missed updates, weak logins, and backups that don’t actually restore. This plan fixes the basics in 30 days without derailing your week.
Time needed
About 2 hours per week for 4 weeks. Owner or office manager can lead it. We can help or do it for you.
Quick wins (do these first)
- Turn on 2‑step sign‑in for email and key apps
- Test a restore for one file or folder
- Run updates on all computers
1) Week One
Accounts & Access (who can get in)
Goal: Stop easy break‑ins.
-
List who has access to email, finance, files, and admin tools.
-
Enforce 2‑step sign‑in (MFA) for email and remote access.
-
Turn off old/legacy sign‑in methods you don’t use.
-
Use a password manager or longer passphrases.
Outcome: You know who has access, and every login needs a code.
2) Week Two
Backups that Actually Work
Goal: Be sure you can get data back fast.
-
Follow 3‑2‑1 backups: 3 copies, 2 places, 1 off‑site.
-
Do a restore test for one file and one shared folder.
-
Set targets: how much data you can lose (RPO) and how long you can be down (RTO).
-
Make sure Microsoft 365/Google keeps deleted files long enough.
Outcome: You’ve proven recovery works — not just that backups ran.
3) Week Three
Devices & Wi‑Fi
Goal: Keep computers healthy and limit damage.
-
Turn on automatic updates for Windows/macOS and browsers.
-
Use modern threat protection (advanced antivirus/EDR).
-
Turn on disk encryption (BitLocker/FileVault).
-
Remove everyday admin rights.
-
Split Wi‑Fi into staff and guest networks.
Outcome: Fewer infections, and lost devices don’t leak data.
4) Week Four
Email & Vendors
Goal: Cut scams and lock down outside access.
-
Add an External label to outside email.
-
Block risky logins; require compliant devices for access.
-
Review vendor access (bookkeeper, web developer, software support); remove what you don’t need; rotate shared passwords.
-
Alert on suspicious inbox rules/forwarding.
Outcome: Less phishing risk, fewer surprise logins, cleaner vendor list.
10‑Point Scorecard
(check what is true today)
- Up‑to‑date list of devices and apps
- 2‑step sign‑in is on
- Old/legacy sign‑in is off
- 3‑2‑1 backups in place
- Restore test done this month
- Threat protection on all computers
- 90%+ devices updated on time
- Laptops encrypted
- “External” tag on outside email
- Vendor access reviewed
Helpful links
Next step:
Book a free 10‑minute IT health review:
businesscomputertechnicians.com/contact/
