What Cyber Security challenges do small businesses face?
When it comes to cyber threats for small businesses there is no company which is too small to be devastated. These challenges include protecting sensitive data against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. That’s why it is important to invest in robust security measures, train employees in cyber awareness, and establish in-depth response plans with a trusted Cyber Security company.
SME Protection from cyber-threats
When it comes to cyber threats for small businesses there is no company which is too small to be devastated. In fact, SMB’s are facing increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks from bad actors. As the magnitude and cost of these attacks continues to rise, small business computer security needs to be a top priority.
Small business cyber-attacks can not only cause huge damage to reputation, it can also result in loss of critical assets and costs to fix the damage caused. To put it plainly, if these threats to small businesses are not combatted effectively, your business could be at risk of going into administration.
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Whether you are a CISO, an IT Director or a business owner, Equilibrium has the expertise to help you shape and deliver your security strategy. We offer different bespoke services to suit your business needs.
What Cyber Security challenges do small businesses face?
- Budget constraints: Don't become the low hanging fruit for cyber criminals. Unfortunately many SME’s are not prioritising investment into cyber security which exposes them to malicious attacks.
- Employee theft: Bad actors inside a company are far more common than you think. You must be able to closely monitor activity on privileged accounts, once an employee leaves the business or you notice suspicious activity, access should be immediately revoked.
- Human error: Whether users are negligent, careless, or simply uninformed, if companies fail to offer comprehensive cyber security training they have a much higher risk of suffering this kind of breach.
- Lack of Cyber Security knowledge: Many small businesses lack the technical capability to independently secure their systems, therefore it is important to engage with security experts who can offer advice and consultancy tailored to your business requirements.
- Mobile use and BYOD: Many small businesses lack the technical capability to independently secure their systems, therefore it is important to engage with security experts who can offer advice and consultancy tailored to your business requirements.
- The biggest risk: being unprepared. It may sound cliché but if you fail to plan you are planning to fail. There are no short cuts you can take when it comes to cyber security. Being unprepared is the biggest cyber threat facing small businesses today.
What are some of the main steps a small business can take to become less prone to cyber-attacks?
- Having a Cyber Security plan - IT security policies for small businesses should incorporate: regular staff training, technology/security appliances for small businesses and an incident response plan.
- After a breach act fast - To reduce down time and damage you must know: who to contact, how to identify the threat and how it can be mitigated. We can work alongside SME's to help build a stringent incident response plan. This will help you understand the potential risks you face and the steps you should take to remediate vulnerabilities.
- Use safe passwords - SME's should encourage employees to create complex passwords. It is important that they are updated frequently and are not used for multiple accounts, it would be beneficial to implement a password manager and two factor authentication for each user. Advanced security controls - These can prevent and alert you if malicious software is attempting to enter your network.
- Layers of protection - Having an effective security strategy should always involve having multiple layers of security defences.
Get in touch to find out how Equilibrium can help protect your business
Small business cyber-attacks can not only cause huge damage to reputation, it can also result in loss of critical assets and costs to fix the damage caused.
We are able to tailor solutions for your business needs and create a peace of mind. If you would like to speak to a Cyber Security expert to find out how we can help you implement an effective Cyber Security strategy. You can call our office on 0121 663 0055.
Frequently Asked Questions
We could tell you that we are highly qualified experts, with over 20 years’ experience in the Cyber Security industry. Or that we have a proven track record of implementing effective Cyber Security strategies for NHS trusts, financial organisations, high-street retailers and SME’s.
But we want to show how we stand out from the crowd.
You’re probably more interested in how we can supercharge your security strategy and launch you above and beyond your Cyber Security goals.
Our team are the driving force of your security initiatives. By partnering with us, we don’t just protect your data. We stand with you in the fight against cyber-crime. Our experts are on-hand to help you stay ahead of the curve and build a Cyber Security culture which is part of your company’s fabric.
Should you choose a general IT provider to handle your security, or partner with a dedicated Cyber Security specialist? Whilst a general IT provider may well be the cheaper option, would you trust a dentist to conduct heart surgery, if they were offering the service for half the price?
When it comes to the security of your business, second-rate protection is simply not an option. By partnering with experienced security experts, you can rest assured that your security is in safe, experienced, and dependable hands, and have far less sleepless nights!
We’re not a jack of all trades like a general IT provider. We’re experts in our field and specialise specifically in Cyber Security. The core foundations of Equilibrium were built by technical experts with a background in network security. Which means we don’t simply resell a security product and let the fancy tech do the talking. We know our stuff and have the skillset and experience to prove it.
For us, communication is key to building strong security partnerships. We are told this is a fundamental part of why our customers choose us over our competitors. We pride ourselves on being good listeners, never leaving you in the dark and always taking time to understand the inner workings of your business.
Relax we’ve got this. As an extension of your team, we’re there to offer our extensive industry knowledge, provide innovative solutions and be the driving force of your security strategy.
We’re not a supplier who needs handholding. We’re the helping hand. We understand the importance of having a security partner you can trust to get the job done, on-time and in-budget.
We have an eye for the finer details. For us, it is all about dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s when it comes to the security of your brand.
By combining our technical expertise with our dedication to helping you achieve your Cyber Security goals, we help to leverage your security capability to new heights.