Hackers don’t care how big or small your business is. All they care about is access. In fact, small to mid-sized businesses are attractive targets for cybercriminals because SMBs are less likely to have robust security measures and dedicated IT teams to protect them, making them easy prey. On the other hand, since large corporations have the resources to defend themselves by investing in things like cybersecurity training, Dark Web scanning and phishing testing, they don’t have to accept the risks of ransomware attacks or other breaches that can bring down their entire enterprise.  

SMB’s don’t have to accept those risks either. They have affordable access to the same protections that larger organizations source. So why are they still so vulnerable? 

It may be because they ironically believe that their smaller size makes them less likely to be victimized. A recent report from Switchfast Technologies found that 51% of SMB leaders are convinced their business is not a target for cybercriminals and 35% of employees share their dangerously misinformed belief. In addition, too often the decision-makers are relying on the erroneous notion that their network is safe because it was initially set up by an IT professional. This false security is, in fact, what makes them likely targets. 

As a result, even if SMBs have firewall protection and other measures in place, the lax cybersecurity culture in the office manifests a dangerous environment in which staff inadvertently create opportunities for malicious criminals to enter and attack. In fact, many of the most damaging breaches are caused by improper practices among the staff who do things like connect to their company’s server on public Wi-fi, or open a malicious email attachment that appears to come from a legitimate source. No matter who installed your system or what protections that system includes, your staff is your weakest link when it comes to cybersecurity. 

Here are a few ways you can protect your small to mid-sized business:

1. Security Awareness Training: In their report, Switchfast found that 21% of organizations fail to provide their employees with any cybersecurity training. Most employees don’t even know that they are on the front lines of these attacks every time they use a company device or connect to the company network. Your staff can’t defend your organization without an understanding of the role they play in that defense. Staff needs to understand basic security measures, be kept up-to-date on current threats, and know how to respond in a breach or suspected breach situation.  In addition, employees should understand the dangers associated with poor cyber hygiene. Switchfast revealed that 22% of SMB leaders and 19% of employees share their passwords with their co-workers or assistants. Password sharing, password reuse, and weak passwords can lead to tragedy when they are ultimately compromised and sold on the dark web.
2. Phishing Tests: Switchfast reported that 91% of cyberattacks originate with a phishing email. This statistic is alarming! Companies must train their employees on how to spot a phishing attempt before they fall for one. Phishing tests contain links to track which employees fell for the scam, allowing management to see who needs additional training.
3. Prepare for an Attack: It’s often said that cyberattacks are a matter of “when” and not “if.” Businesses must be prepared. A comprehensive business recovery and continuity plan that is in place before the breach is often the difference between a business surviving an attack or not. Such a plan also includes backup procedures to guarantee data is recoverable if the network is compromised.

SMB leaders need to acknowledge that their organization is in fact, at risk of a cyberattack. Understanding the dangers your organization faces is the first step in protecting it. Give us a call and let’s talk about how we can work with your staff to help them transition from being your network’s greatest liability to becoming its greatest defenders… before it’s too late.