Your small business was doing pretty well, until wham! A hacker got into your system and hijacked all of your data with a note for ransomware. Now, what do you do?
SMBs are major targets for hackers and are at tremendous risk from cyberattacks. Many businesses close altogether after a major cyberattack. Take these proactive steps to reduce your cybersecurity risks.
The Cybersecurity Threat for Small Businesses
Criminals are looking for easy ways to make money. And cyberattacks are actually quite a lucrative business, often bringing in more money than the sale of illegal drugs.
Even though your business might not be as large as a Fortune 500 company, you still have money that can be given to a ransomware attacker. Or the data that your database holds could be sold to the highest bidder.
Furthermore, small to medium sized businesses (SMBs) are often ideal targets for hackers because their cybersecurity systems just aren’t as robust as those of larger companies with deeper pockets.
If you are running an SMB, you need to take proactive steps now to secure your business. Otherwise, a massive cyberattack could shut you down, not just temporarily, but permanently.
Here are some steps to take.
6 Steps SMBs Can Take to Improve Cybersecurity
If you’re wondering how to prevent cyberattacks, you might want to get help from consultants who can support your efforts. A Managed Technology Services providers such as CDS Office Technologies has the expertise to help you get on the right track. In the meantime, here are some starting points.
1. Take an inventory of your IT systems.
A thorough inventory of all your computers, networks, and your printer fleet (which is also very important) can be critical in identifying where are the gaps might be when it comes to cybersecurity.
2. Plug any obvious cybersecurity holes.
Some of the most obvious and easy ways for a hacker to get into a system is through outdated software, including your web browsers. Keeping software up to date can potentially be challenging if you have individuals in your office who are trying to manage their own software themselves. This is where it can help to have a Managed Technology Services provider on your side.
3. Secure your printer fleet.
Printers are actually a major cybersecurity risk, especially if they’re older and their network access is open. It’s an easy way for a cyber attacker to get into your network and potentially destroy something. In the least, they might use your printers to print out stuff that you don’t want just to take up your business time and money.
4. Back up all of your important data and systems.
One of the most critical aspects of your cybersecurity strategy should be to have regular backups of everything. That way, if a ransomware attacker gets ahold of your system and you have an offsite cloud storage data backup, you won’t be at their mercy. You need to have plans for securing your data, securing access to that data, and what to do if something goes wrong.
5. Train your team to be aware of potential cybersecurity threats.
One of the weakest links when it comes to cybersecurity is people. All it takes is one staff member to click on a phishing link in an e-mail, and all hell can break loose in your office. This is why it is incredibly important to train your team on how to recognize and avoid cyberthreats.
Of course, people are always fallible, so in addition to this, make sure that you have the systems in place to stop problems such as phishing. This might include having a good firewall and/or using a high powered spam software to remove these threats from your team’s inboxes.
6. Leverage Managed Technology Services (MTS)
Many small-to-medium sized businesses only have one or two tech people on staff. They are often overwhelmed and keeping up with all of the cybersecurity issues of your business may be next to impossible.
In addition, if one of your team members leaves, you could be left in the lurch and not have any cyber protection whatsoever. This is why it is a really good idea to work with a third-party Managed Technology Services provider who can fill in the gaps for your onsite team and also provide 24/7 support technical expertise, strategy, and maintenance of your software.
Need Cybersecurity Help for Your Small Business?
The reality is, most small businesses simply do not have the staff to handle the robust needs of today’s increasingly challenging cybersecurity risks. This is why smart SMB leaders take advantage of Managed Technology Services.
A Managed Technology Services provider such as CDS Office Technologies can help secure your systems, monitor your network for potential intrusions, and perform remediation if the worst happens. Our certified technology experts are highly knowledgeable in all areas of cybersecurity and can add to any knowledge that your in-house resources have. This means you will have a team of people working for you 24/7.
CDS Office Technologies is a leading provider of Managed Technology Services offering proactive cybersecurity support to keep SMBs up and running. Our dedicated tech team helps small businesses, large businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. If you would like reliable cybersecurity support for your small or medium business, please contact us for a consultation.
