Cyber Threats: What SMBs Face Today
The Alarmingly High Incidence of Cyber Attacks
According to a shocking new report, 87% of businesses witnessed at least two successful cyber attacks last year. In fact, data from the UK Government states that across all UK businesses, there were approximately 2.39 million instances of cyber crime and approximately 49,000 instances of fraud as a result of cyber crime in the last 12 months. Charities haven’t been spared either, with approximately 785,000 cyber crimes occurring over this period. With an average annual cost of approximately £15,300 per victim, it’s clear that no business can afford to be complacent.
Common Culprits: Malware and Ransomware
Malware, or malicious software, is like that uninvited guest who not only crashes your party but also makes off with the silverware. Ransomware ups the ante by locking away your precious data, demanding a hefty ransom to release it back to you. Either way, your operations could face significant downtime, not to mention the potential financial and reputational damage.
Why Are So Many Attacks Succeeding?
BYOD and Productivity Apps: A Double-Edged Sword
The rise of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies and the proliferation of productivity apps have created fertile ground for cybercriminals. Personal devices and unsanctioned apps can open up security gaps wide enough for even the most amateur hacker to waltz through.
More Devices, More Problems
With a virtual smorgasbord of devices now at our disposal, cybercriminals have a plethora of entry points to choose from. Ensuring that each and every one of these is fortified against attacks is akin to playing a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. It’s sensible to take stock of your current IT setup, how you track your devices, your use policy and whether internal or external IT resource is up to the task of taking proactive preventative measures.
Fortifying Your Digital Domain
Some Top Cyber Defence Strategies
Create Robust Passwords: Consider a password manager to generate and remember those pesky but necessary strong, unique passwords.
Stay Updated: Regularly update your operating system and applications to patch any security vulnerabilities.
Train Your Troops: Regular security awareness training sessions can transform your employees from the weakest link to the first line of defence.
Back It Up: Regular data backups ensure you can hit the ground running post-attack, minimizing disruption.
Employ Antivirus Muscle: A reliable, updated antivirus solution is your digital bouncer, keeping malware and other unsavoury characters at bay.
Remember, in the digital realm, an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure. While these steps might seem like a daunting addition to your already full plate, fear not! Clearsky IT is here to guide you through the process.
We’re not just here to fight your battles; we’re here to arm you with the knowledge and tools you need to prevent them in the first place. From our treasure trove of free resources to expert advice, get in touch with the team at Clearsky IT today.
