Most small businesses in Ghana do not get hacked by a movie-style genius. They lose money because a staff member reused a password, a laptop left a taxi, or an invoice WhatsApp looked genuine enough to pay.
You do not need a security department to close the obvious holes. You need a short list of habits, a few tools, and someone who will check that they still work next month.
The five controls that stop most incidents
- Unique passwords and two-factor login on email, banking, MoMo business accounts and your management system. A password manager is cheaper than one fraudulent transfer.
- Verified payments. Confirm new bank or MoMo details by phone using a number you already have, never the number in the email.
- Backups you have restored once. A backup that has never been tested is a hope, not a plan. Keep one copy off-site or in the cloud.
- Updates. Windows, phones and routers get patches for a reason. Turn automatic updates on for staff devices you issue.
- Least access. The intern who prints receipts does not need the admin password for the POS or the school fees module.
What to do when a laptop is lost
Assume the device will be opened. Change the email and system passwords from another machine, revoke the session, and restore the last backup onto a replacement. If the laptop had customer or patient files, record what was on it. Steinotek can image a replacement machine and get the user back on the same software the same day in Accra.
Phones are part of the office
Owners approve payments from their personal phones. Put a screen lock on every work phone, turn off preview of OTPs on the lock screen, and keep a written list of who can approve transfers above an agreed amount.
How we help
We supply genuine devices, set them up with current software, and support the school, hotel, hospital and POS systems that hold your records. If you want a practical review of your current setup, write to support@steinotek.com or call +233 24 332 8080 during business hours.