Never Too Small Why Even the Smallest Businesses are Cyber Crime Targets
It’s easy to think that as a small business you are not as much of a target for cube threats as large multi-national corporations, but the reality is that small and medium-sized businesses are just as much at risk as their larger counterparts. in fact, as much as 43% of phishing attacks target small businesses, according to Symantec?s 2016 Internet Security Threat Report, and over 70% of all cyber attacks are aimed at businesses with fewer than 100 staff, according to a Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon. Small businesses then have just as much need of business IT consulting services to help them manage their data and ensure the security of their computer operations.
cyber crime can have a significant impact on any business, and for small businesses the impact can be even more costly. As many as one in 40 small businesses will face a cyber crime attack, Symantec?s 2016 Internet Security Threat Report, and many small businesses are particularly vulnerable because they lack sufficient expertise in network security and data protection. As data protection legislation becomes more robust and mature, small businesses also face the consequences of not adequately securing the data of their customers and employees. It is little wonder then that almost 60% of companies are concerned about virtual attacks on their systems.
One way to improve the security and data protection of a small business is to outsource such functions to a business IT consulting company that specializes in network security and tech support and can offer advice of how best to secure your IT systems. Almost a third of all IT services are outsourced according to Deloitte?s 2016 Global Outsourcing Survey. Such business IT consulting firms can offer advice on how to ensure that the right people within your organisation have access to the right data and do not compromise its security, intentionally or accidentally. They can also offer insight into how best to manage the use of mobile devices by company employees. Mobile devices can be a significant security risk, especially if staff do not use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to connect to university systems when off-site.
Other potential problem areas might include the monitoring of networks for potential threats, the use of cloud systems and how that data is secured, the obtaining and storage of payment data through online stores, and employee ignorance or carelessness. Network security training for all staff can play a vital role in minimizing the threat of cyber breaches or attacks, since most malware attacks happen as a result of someone letting it onto the company network usually through lack of knowledge or careless behavior.
Ensuring that your computer systems and network are secure and getting the IT help you need to do it is a crucial comment of contemporary digital business success. Whether you are a large company or a micro enterprise, investing in he initial set up and maintenance of security systems can save you from radical consequences when a breach does happen.
