Just because you’re a small business, doesn’t mean cybercriminals won’t target you. Here are the main risks small businesses face and what to do about them.
Small businesses increasingly targeted
As a small business you can have more to lose than larger organisations when it comes to a cyberattack. For example, one effective ransomware attack can put you out of business in a few hours and now that many cyberattacks are automated, smaller businesses are increasingly targeted.
The government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey states the “extent of cyber attack threats has not diminished”, that they are becoming more frequent and that 46% of all businesses in 2020 experienced a breach.
Start your cybersecurity journey
There are many cybersecurity measures small businesses can put in place to mitigate against a cyberattack, not least, adopting a ‘security mindset’. Even if you’re at the start of your cybersecurity journey, it’s important to start it because the risk of a breach is constantly increasing.
At Cultrix, we exist to protect and safeguard our clients’ businesses with all the latest IT security measures necessary to keep businesses operating safely online at all times.
Ways small businesses are vulnerable
Here are the main ways small businesses are vulnerable to critical cyberattacks and what to do to protect your systems and data.
Not keeping up to patch management
When new patches are released for applications and software they must be applied promptly since they contain the fixes to new bugs and vulnerabilities. Particularly when the patch is released the vulnerability is being exposed to cybercriminals who watch for the information contained within these, so it’s essential patches are applied without delay.
Businesses should implement a patch management programme to guard against the cyberattacks resulting from poor patch management and is an essential element of ISO 27001 accreditation and recommended by Cyber Essentials.
Vulnerable to phishing
Phishing attacks start with an email that looks like a genuine email but is in fact a malicious message designed to lure you in. Typically they may say you’ve won a prize or there’s a problem with an account you need to log in to, asking you to click on a link or enter personal details. This enables the sender to steal your information, namely usernames and passwords.
Although many malicious emails can be filtered out as spam, this doesn’t mean all of them will, which leaves you reliant on the ability of you and your staff to spot them. Staff training in how to spot a phishing email enables you and your staff to be aware of what to look for when it comes to an authentic email and one that compromises your security. MFA (Multi-factor authentication) will also help accounts stay safe, even if usernames and passwords are compromised.
Passwords that are too weak
Weak passwords are a huge security problem for businesses and organisations. Too often people use personal details such as names and birthdays for passwords, which can easily be obtained by cybercriminals scouring the internet. Passwords should be complex or obscure, preferably selected by a random password generator.
Simple words should always be avoided as they can be easily guessed by password-cracking software cybercriminals use. Research shows that long complex passwords are typically more secure.
MFA (Multi-factor authentication) helps to keep accounts secure by typically requiring another level of authentication, such as a code sent to a mobile phone, or secondary email account.
Ransomware
Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts your systems and disables you from using them. Typically, perpetrators will demand a ransom, usually in a bitcoin currency, for you to access your systems and data again, by which time your data has been compromised, your system breached and still with no guarantee the criminals will grant your re-access.
Preventative and backup measures are needed to protect against the threat of ransomware. A vulnerability report will pinpoint where your system is weak and reliable, secure backup will ensure you’re able to always get your most up-to-date systems data to ensure business continuity.
Malware
Malware comes in many forms, including ransomware mentioned above. Malware includes spyware, adware and viruses. These malicious forms of software can monitor your internet activity, replicate viruses on your devices and in your systems and gather your personal and business data for sale on the dark web.
Effective antimalware and antivirus are commended as well as regular scanning to check your systems for vulnerabilities. We can help you keep your systems and website clean and virus free, as well as sanitise your system in the event of a breach to ensure there are no malicious codes left behind.
Need help with your business’s cybersecurity?
You’re already in the right place, so just get in touch for expert cybersecurity assistance for your business to keep all aspects of your operation safe and functioning optimally.
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