Technology has become ubiquitous in modern business, helping companies to work faster and more efficiently. Unfortunately, as technology evolves, the risk of cyber-attack increases.
Almost half of all data breaches last year were targeted at small businesses, indicating a level of vulnerability that exceeds the financial industry, public sector, healthcare, and large enterprise.
Learn three common factors that make small businesses more vulnerable.
1: Proven Points of Entry
Just like opportunistic criminals in the real world, cybercriminals will evaluate targets to identify a point of entry. In many cases, a malicious party could gain access to your network weeks or months before they cause any damage. They will identify a point of entry, exploit it, and then wait for an opportunity to carry out their crime.
The most common points of entry are mobile networks, local wireless networks, cloud environments, and IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
As a business owner, you need to ensure that all externally facing systems are secured. The cloud is a significant area of risk because many people have a misconception that remote software and storage is automatically more secure than local assets. While the cloud can provide additional security, your environments will need to be configured to ensure that unauthorized access is unfeasible to a point where it’s a guaranteed deterrent.
2: Phishing Emails
Surprisingly, email remains one of the most common ways for software and hackers to gain access to business networks and data. Phishing emails are commonly used to gain user credentials. Infected email attachments can contain viruses and malware.
Email security should be a key area of focus in your IT strategy. Staff training is essential.
3: Vulnerable Technologies
Your business might be using the latest technology, but are your systems well maintained and up to date? Malicious software and hackers can take advantage of businesses that don’t have functional IT departments.
- Outdated antivirus and spyware definitions create vulnerability.
- Unpatched operating systems can be exploited.
- Incorrectly configured firewalls create risk.
- Unsecured networks, software, and servers are a liability.
The more technology you use, the more likely it is that there’s a vulnerable link in the chain that can be exploited by automated software or a tenacious hacker. If you don’t have resources in house, you can leverage the expertise of a managed IT service to eliminate vulnerabilities.
Do You Have the Support You Need to Secure Your Business?
You need to identify and address vulnerabilities to stay protected from data theft, identity theft, operational interruptions, and financial loss.
If you don’t have the expertise to manage your IT security, investing in a managed IT service will be the best way to keep your business and data safe.