Industry data tells us that SMBs (small-medium businesses) are the most heavily targeted sectors in the security market. 70% of attacks that happened in recent times were against SMBs. While big firms and enterprises may have the resources to improve their security posture. SMBs generally lack budgetary constraints, making it challenging to keep up with the security market.
Firstly SMBs should identify what their cyber security risks are. Often they don’t understand what data they hold or what their clients require of their data protection. They don’t even know what they’re exposing themselves to as an organization from a cyber security perspective.
1. Cyber Essentials
Cyber essential will help you or your organization against the most common cyber attacks. Cyber attack comes in many shapes and sizes, but they are often basic and carried out by relatively unskilled individuals.
Regardless of the size of your business and no matter what it does, cyber essentials can help you keep your devices and data safe. With cyber essentials, you can reassure your customers that you are securing your business against cyber attacks.
You will also be able to attract new business as they will be confident that you have appropriate and up-to-date cyber security measures in place.
2. Training Employees
Your employees are the first line of defense. They should know basic security practices, appropriate internet usage guidelines, and cyber policies.
Most breaches are due to ill-trained employees. Staff vigilance is essential in the prevention of cyber attacks. You can train your staff and equip them with the necessary awareness and skills to protect your business from cyber-attacks. Have a skilled team member that recognizes cyber security well.
Encourage employees to be vigilant of cyber threats such as phishing emails and social engineering. Nearly 60 percent of businesses experiencing cyber attacks found that their staff reported the most disruptive attacks before their software picked them up.
Cyber security awareness gives employees a sense of responsibility and an opportunity to learn from their peers and create a sense of fellowship among employees.
3. Data Privacy and Third Party
Data privacy and SCRM (Supply Chain Risk Management) have become distinct disciplines. Often it is something most small businesses are not focused on as they lump together data privacy and regulations.
The reality is they intermingle, but they are also distinctly different. We can’t possibly secure all the data and meet all the regulatory compliance requirements we have at local, regional, federal, and even international levels. We can’t do it until we extend our thought process about managing and providing data privacy in our supply chain. We give access to that data to external third parties, vendors, and suppliers.
If we don’t understand the exact nature of those relationships, we will not know who can access our data. We will not know where that data is being used under what conditions were not exercising due diligence and acting with due care.
Conclusion
It’s incumbent for all SMBs owners or IT security professionals working to secure data in small businesses to understand the full scope of the operational landscape or threat environment.
Rogue Logics provides in-depth security services for the assessment and protection of your application, data, and infrastructure against potential threats on-prem or in the cloud. Want a consultation with the professionals at Rogue Logics? Contact us and get a free quote.