Emerging security threats could undermine more than just your bottomline. Here’s why your SMB needs superior protection

Cyberattacks are never far from the headlines, especially when cybercriminals target larger, high-profile corporations, household names with tens of millions of customers. However, if you own and run a small to medium-sized business, the threats from cyberattacks are no less severe. In fact, without due diligence and the proper protection in place, a well-aimed cyberattack has the potential to do catastrophic damage to any company. 

The problem is often exacerbated because SMBs don’t always have the processes and procedures that many larger companies do. Everyday necessities such as backup and mitigation processes might be less comprehensive than larger corporations or might not be there at all. This is why having a package that is tailored towards your own SMB is a crucial component in the ever-evolving battle against cybercriminals.

Such is the threat of cybercriminals for SMB that UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) released a cyber guidance for SMBs on how to use cloud and online services more securely. The microsite offers practical advice, written in jargon-free terms for decision makers at small and medium-sized organisations.

One reason that cyberattacks against SMBs are often successful is that many organisations with smaller IT budgets to play with can frequently take the cheaper option for protection against cyber threats. While there are numerous free cybersecurity tools available to the business community, it is often a false economy to go down this route. Frequently, gratis cybersecurity packages lack the up-to-date features needed to stay on top of constantly changing security threats. 

For a relatively small outlay, getting your SMB kitted out with a fully-featured package from BT can be a very wise move to make. In fact, once your SMB has fended off a few threats along the way, the initial cost will seem like a wise investment if it keeps your company from being harmed. SMBs don’t have to spend the earth to enjoy solid protection either, with BT offering quick, easy and affordable access to the same kind of tools used by the big boys. 

There’s a lot to keep safe too, even if you’re a relatively modest SMB. Choosing the right cybersecurity package lets your business take an ‘always-on’ approach to security protection, which in turn will help safeguard company data, protect employees and also customers too. With all of us accumulating more data than ever, having the right security protection and necessary procedures in place has never been more vital. 

What’s more, the diversity of threats is getting increasingly wider by the day. Hackers are constantly looking for new and ever more imaginative ways of gaining access to SMB data. There are all the obvious examples, such as malware, phishing and ransomware attacks, which can frequently be handled by a competent email security system. However, if you’ve got a company with lots of employees and thousands of email messages coming in and going out of your business every day, even the most diligent worker can still be caught out. 

That’s why it’s vital to spend a little more on a cybersecurity system that is flexible, adaptable and able to keep up with the latest threats dynamically. After all, there’s no point in using a free security service if it’s not able to pick up on the latest threats. And, with the speed that cybercriminals and hackers work at, the list of threats changes not just by the day, but by the hour. 

SMBs need to be on the lookout for the likes of viruses and malware, phishing and ransomware attacks, but IT departments also need to keep a watchful eye out for insider threats and human error too. Mistakes made by employees that be costly, which is why having superior protection will help prevent against a whole range of potential threats. Having the best protection package is one thing, but SMBs can also take stpes to ensure they follow a range of best practices for minimising cybersecurity threats. 

The first thing for any SMB to do is to carry out a security assessment, which will allow a business owner to check for any potential vulnerabilities and decide on the best steps forward. There are lots of areas that need to be focused on, from working process, employee habits, the type of software the SMB uses and also any procedures that are carried out within a company that could compromise security. 

It’s also crucial that company employees, from top to bottom, are aware of the whole range of cybersecurity threats that are out there. Employees should also have access to regular training updates, which can help to raise awareness of new and upcoming threats that might be different or variations on the theme of something already seen within the business. 

Employees working remotely should also be given access to a reputable virtual private network, or VPN, which can be incredibly useful for helping maintain privacy. This is especially so if employees are working on the move, perhaps in areas where there could be the possibility of being hacked is more possible. Public wireless networks in unknown locations can be perilous places to access company networks from, so a VPN can help reduce the threat. 

SMBs also need to have the best and latest antivirus software package they can afford, which is something BT specialises in alongside its other preventative cybersecurity tools. However, it’s also vital to have a company focus that makes keeping this up to date as priority. Again, delegating this important task to a managed service provider like BT means that much of this can be done seamlessly which helps mitigate any security risk. 

On top of that, SMB’s need to look at securing their networks, ensuring passwords are as strong as they can be and changed on a regular basis. Multi-factor authentication should also be used to reduce cybersecurity threats. On top of that, BT has a range of options for backing up company data to the cloud, ensuring that information is safely stored out of harm’s way as soon as possible. 

Finally, a next-generation firewall can help business owners monitor, detect and minimise emerging threats while also ensuring that a company network and those who access it are as well protected as possible.

• Whatever your business, BT’s here to provide unmatched reliability, dedicated support, and robust cyber security. We’ve got your back. To find out more, click here.

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