Too Small for IT Security? Data Says Think Again! Attacks on SMB Rise
Is Your Organization at Risk? If You Run Your Business Without Strategic IT Security, the Answer is…
For many small business owners IT security planning can seem like a luxury, but a lack of proactive security can actively hamper growth, even among the smallest of businesses.At its worst, not having the right defenses in place can sink your business operations as your entire enterprise is brought to a standstill by a malicious attack.
Many small- and medium-business owners know that IT security is something they should care about, but they have no idea how to manage it. One study by the National Cyber Security Alliance found that a whopping 59 percent of small business owners have no plan in place to prevent data breaches.
Even industries that revolve around preparing for the worst can be affected. IT help desk services can often be the first the line of defense for insurance companies, financial services firms, and healthcare providers in San Francisco, Oakland, or elsewhere throughout the greater Bay Area.
In fact, insurance companies are one example where a lack of network support services might have an outsized impact. Insurance companies regularly deal with highly sensitive data, including names, Social Security numbers, birthdays and addresses. Having the right IT support is essential.
What’s at Stake
The cost of data breaches can be enormous for small business owners. Research from Atlanta-based payment technology firm First Data shows that as many as 90 percent of data breaches can be traced back to small businesses, and the average cost of a breach to small businesses can be as high as $50,000 or more.
Not only would the cost of a malicious cyber attack or data breach be devastating for most small businesses, but the these costs and don’t even begin to account for the cost associated with the loss of trust from your customers.
Working with the right IT support firm to address the security, continuity and disaster recovery needs of your business are all critical to successfully maintaining and protecting your organization.
What Companies Can Do
Experts say that, at the very least, small businesses can enact the following controls:
- Secure all your business data. Security experts at Kroll say businesses should only keep the data they need.
- Stay current with security patches and updates. This can be more difficult than it seems, especially for busy small businesses.
- Require the strongest possible passwords.
- Establish an Internet usage document and make employees sign it.
- Limit access to your network outside of private workspaces.
- Consider a professional IT security audit.
Looking Inward
No one wants to think about a worst-case scenario, but threats to business data aren’t likely to go away any time soon. Unfortunately, employees are often at unwittingly at the center of them. Data from TrendMicro found that nearly 60 percent of employees surveyed “very frequently or frequently stored sensitive data on their laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.”
This may mean that more sophisticated IT support is needed to prevent a worst-case scenario in the era of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). Rather than relying on stop-gap measures, an ounce of prevention may secure your business now and in the future.
If you are looking to get started in addressing your IT security concerns or looking to implement a strategic business technology plan for your organization, look no further and contact Bay Computing to get your complimentary onsite assessment started today.
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