With advancement in technology, the need for robust security of the digital space has only increased. Cybersecurity is an integral part of the digital revolution in businesses of all scales and sizes, and yet, small and medium-sized businesses continue to be at a high risk of an unprecedented attack. In fact, a study conducted by Small Business Trends concluded that SMBs were targets of approximately 43% of worldwide cybersecurity attacks. This can be attributed to the fact that though SMBs tend to have more resources than an individual, they do not incorporate as efficient security measures as do bigger corporations.
Furthermore, a study conducted by Unbrokerage conclusively proved that 60% of small businesses will no longer be a going concern within six months of facing a cyber attack. So as a small business owner, safety is a desert oasis, a mirage disguising nearly the double likelihood of falling prey to cybercrime.
However, there are certain steps you can take to protect your business from such threats – have a look!
How Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Can Enhance Their Cyber Security
- Understand Emerging ThreatsTo begin with, one must first gather knowledge of the threat. Over the years, cyber attackers have schemingly devised a number of tactics to access sensitive information, private to businesses.
Hacking:
Hacking, or losing access to an unauthorized entity, is the most common form of cyber attacks that are a threat to SMBs. Hacking allows the hacker to view and manipulate data on the system, thus allowing the hacker to leak such information for monetary benefits.
- Phishing: In phishing, the attacker gains access to sensitive personal information when a user shares it on a fraudulent website that is made to appear legitimate. This includes your passwords and banking information.
- Malware: Malicious software (or malware) is a program developed to access secure information and to share it with the attacker from your system. Although, it does not harm the hardware, it can do a lot of damage in terms of the data that it attacks.
- Keylogging: Keylogging identifies the keystrokes that a user makes on their systems. It takes screenshots of your systems, possibly giving the hacker access to the sensitive information on one’s system.
- Educating The EmployeesOnce you have an understanding of how your system can be attacked, it is time to take measures against it. The first step is to educate your employees. Train them to identify high-risk online activity and warning signs of malicious cyberattacks, and to prevent such mishaps.
Make sure that their devices, whether provided by the company or whether they carry their own, are secure. Most importantly, have a strict password policy in place, and make sure to change your password frequently.
- Keep Your Systems Up To DateWhile internal threats make up for a large portion of cyber-attacks in the world, the threat to your systems from the outside is equally concerning. Your hardware, software, and security systems need to stay up-to-date at all times. This includes installing a firewall for internet connections, regularly updating antivirus software, downloading new updates, and securing the workplace wifi. However, the best way to bring everything under a security umbrella is to consult a system integration expert and tie all your solutions together.
- Have A Security Strategy
The most proactive way of securing your business is to put a thorough strategy in place. With the use of cloud computing and system integration, you can secure a wide majority of your systems and sensitive information. So that in case there is a breach despite all the measures; you can respond appropriately to it.
