Cyber Hygiene: The 7-Minute Daily Checklist for Small Teams

In today’s digital-first world, cyber threats aren’t just a concern for large enterprises — small teams are increasingly in the crosshairs too. But here’s the good news: good cyber hygiene doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. In fact, just 7 minutes a day can make a big difference.

At Maple, we help SMEs across London stay secure with smart, simple IT practices. Here’s our 7-minute daily checklist that your team can start using today to stay protected and productive.

The 7-Minute Cyber Hygiene Checklist

1. Verify Email Authenticity (2 minutes)

Take a moment to hover over links and double-check sender details. Most cyber attacks start with phishing. Think before you click.

2. Lock It Down (1 minute)

Whether you’re stepping away for a minute or an hour — lock your screen. It’s simple, but crucial.

3. Check Device Updates (1 minute)

Quickly glance at your system notifications. Are there pending security updates? Don’t ignore them - updates often contain vital patches.

4. Back-Up Snapshot (1 minute)

Ensure your backup system ran as expected overnight. If you’re using automated cloud backup (and you should), verify the last successful sync.

5. Report Suspicious Activity (1 minute)

See something odd? Don’t ignore it. Encourage team members to flag and report suspicious behaviour immediately - better safe than sorry.

6. Password Practices (1 minute)

Are you still using weak or reused passwords? Strengthen your security by using our Password Generator, storing credentials in a trusted password manager and enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible.

Why It Matters

Small teams can’t afford downtime or data breaches. A few daily habits can make your business significantly more resilient to cyber threats. Think of it like brushing your teeth - not glamorous, but essential for long-term health.

At Maple, we work with businesses across London to build secure, agile IT environments. Need help with your cyber hygiene or want a full security audit? Let’s talk.

Contact us here: https://www.mapletech.co.uk/contact/