Why Even The Smallest Companies Need To Think About Cybersecurity

Sadly, cyber threats have become a daily and constant problem for any type of business, even the small ones.

As recent studies show, more than 40% of small companies have been hacked, and their data was exposed. Usually, this happens due to the poor cybersecurity policies that put them at a high risk of data theft.

How can small businesses protect themselves? One of the easiest ways to do so is to use a VPN, known as a virtual private network. This virtual private network can encrypt all traffic and hide the actual corporate IP address of a device. Before you purchase a VPN, we suggest doing research on various VPN providers. One of the known premium providers is NordVPN. However, you may wonder, how much does NordVPN cost? We recommend looking at this NordVPN review, where you can find all the best deals and benefits of purchasing a VPN.

Creating a Cybersecurity strategy

An IT security strategy is a high-level plan for keeping safe company resources and reducing the risk of cyberattacks.

A cybersecurity plan for small companies should be comprehensive and adapted to minimize possible risks of getting hacked. Basically, it is a roadmap that your company’s key stakeholders must follow and take care of. Most cybersecurity plans should be created with a two to four-year vision; however, they must be frequently updated and revised.

Should every small business design its cybersecurity strategy?

Sure: A cybersecurity strategy can protect a small business from ever-changing web threats.

The four most common types of attacks are:

●      Phishing

●      Malware

●      Ransomware

●      Social engineering attacks

Phishing happens when a hacker acts with a fake identity and misuses someone to send personal information. This happens because the mentioned person downloads malware or visits an infected website, allowing a hacker to gain access to confidential information.

One of the most common phishing scams makes the use of emails to target these victims. A hacker sends an email that seems to be sent from a reliable source (a bank or government), asks to log in to a portal, and writes down the username and password.

Malware is an extensive term and is mainly referred to as a malicious software program that is intended to cause damage to computer software. Some examples of malware are Trojans, viruses, and worms. With these tools, a hacker is capable of stealing data, monitoring users’ activity, or hacking essential computer processes.

Ransomware allows a hacker to take over the victim’s device’s data and keep them in his possession until a ransom is paid. Most ransomware spreads through phishing emails.

Social engineering occurs when a hacker tricks a victim into stealing information or accessing the software. Hackers’ goal is to convince users to ignore standard security protocols.

Why are small businesses an ideal attack target for hackers?

Small businesses are an ideal attack target for hackers as, usually, they do not have huge budgets for maintaining a proper cybersecurity infrastructure. Also, small businesses often feel that they are not the primary target for hackers. Therefore, they do not think adequate resources to protect themselves should apply. This is the main reason why hackers will gladly take advantage of small companies.

Cybercriminals are clearly aware that even small businesses gather a lot of valuable information that can be sold to third parties. For example, a hacker can earn quite a lot of money by selling health records, social security numbers, bank account passwords, and other private and sensitive information.

On other occasions, cybercriminals are simply involved in taking over a company’s computers and turning them into an army of bots to launch significant DDoS attacks.

DDoS interrupts a particular service by generating vast quantities of artificial traffic. Hijacked bots help create this disruptive traffic.

Businesses today are all connected in one way or another – they share information about their clients, complete transactions, and manage supply chain processes. Because the bigger organizations are harder to break into, attackers often target small businesses to break into large enterprise systems.

One of the best ways to be safe from hackers is to use a VPN and other digital tools responsible for protecting your devices. Always make sure that you’re using a VPN or antivirus, and, most importantly, be aware of any suspicious links and emails. Don’t ever click on the links you’re not sure of.