Small businesses are the new BIG target for cyber criminals. Ransomware attacks, for example, hit businesses every 11 seconds in 2021. Therefore, if you want your business to grow and succeed, you must understand the realities of cybersecurity.
- 43% of all data breaches are targeted at small and medium sized businesses
- 66% of small businesses experienced a cyber-attack last year
- 47% of small businesses had a ransomware attack last year
- $170,404 – average ransomware payment
- $1.85 million - average total cost of recovery from a ransomware attack, up from $761,106 in 2020
The Reality of the Current Threat Landscape
Did you know that the cost of cybercrime downtime is typically higher than a ransom?
Almost every organization will encounter cybercrime at some point. It's not a question of IF, but rather WHEN it will happen. While that reality can be alarming, there’s no need to panic. There are proactive steps you can take to protect your business and achieve peace of mind. But first, let’s discuss what you need to be aware of.
Here are some of the most serious and prevalent cyberthreats facing business owners right now:
- Ransomware
Ransomware is malicious software that threatens to reveal sensitive data or prevent access to your files/systems until you pay a ransom payment within a set timeframe. Failure to pay on time can result in data leaks or irreversible data loss.
- Phishing/Business Email Compromise (BEC)
Phishing is a cybercrime that involves a hacker impersonating a legitimate person or organization mostly through emails or through other methods such as SMS. Malicious actors employ phishing to send links or attachments that can be used to extract login credentials or install malware.
Similarly, business email compromise (BEC) is a scam in which cybercriminals use compromised email accounts to trick victims into sending money or revealing sensitive information.
- Insider Threats
An insider threat arises from within a company. It could happen because of a current or former employee, vendor, or other business partner who has access to important corporate data and computer systems. Insider threats are hard to detect because they emerge from within and are not always intentional.
- Denial-of-Service/Distributed Denial-of-Service (DoS and DDoS)
These attacks are widespread and easy to carry out. When a DoS or DDoS attack occurs, hackers flood the targeted system with repeated data requests, forcing it to slow down, crash or shut down.
If you are still unsure whether you should be concerned about these sophisticated threats or not, the following statistics may help you make up your mind:
- It takes an average of 280 days to identify and contain a breach.2
- Malicious attacks with financial motivations were responsible for 52% of breaches.2
- Personal Identifiable Information (PII) is compromised in 80% of data breaches (PII).2
Implement These Measures to Secure Your Business
Now that you know what types of cyberthreats to look out for, let’s take a look at some measures you can put in place to protect your business against cybercrimes.
- Strict Password Policies/Management Tools
Strict password policies and the use of proper password management solutions can help improve your organization's overall password hygiene. It is, in a way, the first line of protection against cybercriminals.
- Strong Identity Controls - Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
To combat the current threat landscape, strong identity controls that go beyond traditional username-password authentication are required. Consider using Multifactor authentication, which includes features such as one-time passwords (OTPs) and security questions.
- Regular Risk Assessment
This process aids in the detection, estimation and prioritization of risks to an organization's people, assets and operations, and factors in applicable industry compliance requirements.
- 24x7 Continuous Risk Monitoring
Antivirus alone is not enough, especially legacy products like McAfee, Norton and Trend Micro which use static signatures to detect malware. Today’s threats require a combination of next generation technologies which utilize AI and machine learning PLUS real humans continuously monitoring for suspicious alerts to keep your business secure and running smoothly. Cyber risk insurance providers are beginning to require continuous risk monitoring be in place before they will write policies.
- Business Continuity Strategy
When disaster hits, a solid business continuity strategy ensures that mission-critical operations continue uninterrupted and that your critical data and systems remain accessible and recoverable.
Continual Security Awareness Training
Continuous security training empowers your employees to recognize complex cyberthreats and take appropriate action, resulting in a transformative security culture within your organization.
If you’re ready to strengthen your cybersecurity posture but aren’t sure where to start, don’t worry. We can help your company build a digital fortress of protection at a price point you can afford. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
