For thousands of years, humans have fought to protect what they've built -- from ancient forts to modern firewalls. But time marches on, and what was good enough a few years ago, is quickly becoming outdated.
Big or small, businesses face external threats from every direction. One tiny flaw in your defenses can leave you exposed to a wide range of cyberattacks. That's why it’s paramount for SMBs to strengthen their cybersecurity systems and ensure the safety of their network devices, and most importantly, data.
With cybercrime estimated to cost a jaw-dropping $6 billion annually by 2021, the time to act is now. And the best defense starts with awareness.
Raising awareness
The first step when improving your cybersecurity posture is to acknowledge the problem: that most businesses are far from safe. In a survey of 1,015 businesses from the National Security Alliance and Symantec, 77% believed believed their company was safe from cyber threats with an astonishing 83% lacking any kind of cybersecurity plan whatsoever. Combine that with the wealth of digital assets that an SMB possesses when compared to an individual customer -- it’s every cyber criminal's dream come true.
Security issues
Aside from self-propagating programs like the WannaCry ransomware, hackers have many different types of attack methods, each with different goals. Some attacks attempt to steal important information, while others attempt to shut down an entire company's operations. Here are some of the prevalent attacks and flaws cybercriminals exploit to target your small business:
- Phishing: Hackers use believable yet fraudulent emails to collect unsuspecting victims’ sensitive information, like login credentials and credit-card numbers. In fact, many experts believe these are the most prevalent attacks against SMBs.
- Disgruntled/negligent employees: Disgruntled employees can take advantage of their login credentials to install malware or distribute sensitive data inappropriately. Numerous breaches can also be attributed to the lack of training for well-meaning and dedicated staff.
- Outdated security: By failing to patch the latest software, conduct regular system backups, implement an adequate firewall, or transfer infected files, you are basically holding the door open for cyberattacks to pillage and plunder your business’s vital data.
- Password attacks: Businesses that lack a secure password policy are susceptible to brute force methods where passwords are automatically generated or guessed based on the knowledge acquired from social engineering techniques.
What about cybersecurity solutions?
Before you can really dig into which IT solutions are best for protecting your network and data, abandon the notion of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Each business has unique needs that call for different IT resources. As such, the best place to start is with a vulnerability assessment, which helps you understand your system's security flaws and the steps needed to eliminate them.
Antivirus software might be able to fend off most types of malware, but you should also consider implementing firewalls and intrusion prevention systems to block unauthorized user access for an extra layer of protection. Data backup solutions are also essential -- especially when you’re faced with a data breach or natural disaster -- because they allow you to recover saved data from an offsite location.
Top-notch encryption software for your email solution and data storage is another way to protect sensitive data such as customer information and financial statements. Regardless of which strategies you choose, requiring two forms of identification for employee logins and password management is always a good choice.
Create mobile device policies
Today, mobile devices are like miniature computers that allow you to work from anywhere and access whatever files or applications you need at a moment’s notice. That’s wonderful for productivity, but mobile devices create significant security and management challenges.
Let’s say you have 20 employees. How do you know for sure that their devices have adequate protection against cyber threats? And if they don’t, how are you going to address that? Our team’s solution has safeguarded our clients for years. Implement a mobile device policy that requires users to password-protect their devices, encrypt their data, and install security apps such as Norton Mobile Security or Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus. This helps prevent cybercriminals from stealing information while the phone is on public networks.
Cybercriminals can and will do everything in their power to infiltrate your network. You can’t afford to lose everything because of a weak password or outdated security patches. Reliable security solutions are key toward achieving success and sustaining corporate longevity. Contact us at Founders Technology and let us defend you against cybercriminals and take your business to the next level.