Technology has integrated itself with many aspects of our daily lives. As technology continues to evolve, crime will always be there to evolve with it. Cybercriminals constantly seek new ways to infiltrate businesses, run scams, and steal our personal information. The holiday season does not prevent these criminals. Cybercriminals can increasingly automate attacks this time of the year.
Small businesses are arguably easier targets than large corporations for a cyberattack as they may not have proper cyber defenses, plans, or training. That being said, even companies with a nearly endless budget can still be susceptible to a cyberattack. In a recent Netwrix Research Lab Study, 68% of the large and small-sized organizations who participated had a cybersecurity incident in the last 12 months. 43% of those data breaches involved small businesses (Rinaldi, 2023). Cybersecurity is not all about budget; even a little defense can go a long way.
One of the more alarming threats we face in Cybersecurity is phishing attacks. These attacks are becoming one of the more sophisticated and widespread ways cybercriminals use to penetrate small business systems. The attacker sends an email impersonating a known or “trusted” source, causing the recipient to click a malicious link, download malicious files, steal credentials, or provide access to sensitive information.
A cyberattack can have devastating outcomes for the organization that falls victim to the attack. These items can include but are not limited to, loss of income, reputation issues, regulatory fines and penalties, and possible civil suits and fines. However, there is hope that a small business or organization can thwart or contain a cyberattack with proper planning and some defenses in place.
A risk assessment by a trained professional will help identify flaws in the business and provide ways to mitigate them. These solutions can range from adding defense equipment, software, implementing policies and procedures, staff training, and more. There is no “one size fits all” approach to cybersecurity. Cybersecurity insurance is also available; however, most companies will require paperwork to be filled out that provides information on the current cyber infrastructure.
While technology and the perils of the cyber world are here to stay, it is not impossible to protect ourselves, our families, and our businesses from exploitation. The first step is evaluating the current landscape of the business and bringing in a trusted professional for a risk mitigation evaluation. The biggest mistake a business can make is ignoring cybersecurity risks.
Jeff Andros is a Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Digital Forensics and Information Technology expert. Visit Cybermack Consultants for more information.
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