Small and medium enterprises are easy target for hackers. Most small businesses don’t have a dedicated IT department and the majority don’t have proper cyber security measures in place to protect their data. Also there is the feeling amongst SME’s that they are too small for cyber criminals to attack when there are bigger businesses out there, and so investing in cyber security is not a priority.

Protecting Your Business From Cyber Crime

The reality is that cyber crime is one of the biggest risks to businesses of all sizes. Attacks can lead to large financial losses, damage brands and may even result in legal action been taken against your business by a third party. These consequences could result in business closures, so therefore it is important for SME’s to become more proactive about this issue.

One of the main threats is from ransomware attacks that locks devices, before demanding a ransom from the victim to unlock them. Ransomware usually comes in email attachment that users unknowingly activate by opening attachments.

Those who pay the ransom are often more vulnerable to future attacks as their willingness to pay is communicated to other hacking groups. Other common forms of attack are spam, spyware, phishing emails, and data breaches. They all enable fraudsters to get hold of confidential and sensitive information such as bank details.

In today’s increasingly digital world, SME’s need continuous real time protection that is both affordable and user friendly. The best solution is a blend of proper education and effective use of existing technology.

There are many things that can be done for little or no money to reduce the chances of cyber attacks, here are some of them:

1. Proper preparation is key, this can be done by having a comprehensive cyber security plan that outlines employee roles and procedures in the event of an attack. These plans can then be updated and rehearsed periodically.

2. All staff should be given the appropriate training to raise their awareness of the issue’s at hand. They should be informed about the appropriate use of their technological devices and company data on a regular basis. By ensuring staff are vigilant against things such as malicious email attachments, they will be less likely to fall victim to cyber crimes.

3. All data should be backed up regularly on external drives as well as in the cloud.

    

4. All devices should have robust, up to date anti-malware and anti-virus software to help block and notify users of potential attacks before they happen.

    

5. All software should be updated when new updates are released as they contain vital security fixes that help to keep devices safe.

    

6. Passwords should be changed regularly, and generated using a password generator to make them stronger.

    

7. Access to sensitive data should be strictly controlled, with user privileges limited to a select few.

    

8. All paper documents should be properly disposed of by using a shredder. So that no information can be obtained from office waste.

    

9. Businesses should also consider taking out some form of cyber insurance cover, to protect themselves against any financial or legal fall outs from hacking attacks.

    

10. Using virtual private networks (VPNs) can provide protection against data collection by outsiders, by creating a secure encrypted connection between your technology devices and the internet.

The threat of cyber crime is on the rise, and attacks are becoming more and more sophisticated. Small and medium sized businesses need to pay more attention to their cyber security as they are the most vulnerable. While it is not possible to be a 100% protected against malicious attacks, prevention seems better than cure.