While many SMEs, especially newer ones, have started to
conduct regular digital risk assessments, many of the SMEs have to catch up.
Cybersecurity is no longer just a buzzword, it has become a
reality for Small and Medium Businesses. When cyberattacks came to the fore as
a recognized threat to businesses, the first port of call was propping up the
cyber defense systems of large and well-known companies. But now the threat has
penetrated the smallest players, as their importance in the economic value
chain grows and they become part of the digital economy.
One of the main challenges for many SMEs is recognizing
that the IT and systems department must evolve more than just hardware repair.
The budget constraints of SMEs are their weak point, and hackers know it.
Hackers are based on the theory that SMEs don't spend a lot on their
cybersecurity. While tools such as antivirus or a basic
firewall can offer some degree of security, SMBs must customize security
controls and continually reevaluate them. For example, what worked for an SME a
year ago may no longer even be the minimum requirement given the scale of
growth.
As the digital landscape changes for these SMEs, so does
the landscape of cyber insecurity. A fake news link made to sound authentic
enough is enough for malware to install itself on the user's device to collect
data and other important information.
Cybersecurity
and Teleworking
Teleworking has come to settle. No one questions that much
of the work can be done from home. But this also creates new security risks.
Many of the employees choose to work on personal laptops or smartphones that
don't offer the necessary high-quality data encryption. At the beginning of the
pandemic, we talked about this and held a webinar in which we explained the
risks of not having good security practices in teleworking.
IT
Security for SMEs in 2021
For SMEs, the first step towards better cybersecurity is
awareness. Take a collaborative approach with your employees and treat IT risks
as part of corporate risk management. Here are 5 steps SMBs can take to protect
themselves from cybercrime.
1
Good Backup Process
This is one of the best ways to protect your business data
against ransomware. With a good backup process, you can restore all of your
files after the infection is removed. For added security, store your backups
properly to make sure attackers can't access or delete them.
2
Secure Password Policy
Make sure everyone in the company understands the
importance of a strong password. Each password must contain symbols, uppercase
and lowercase letters. It is generally best to set the minimum password length
to at least eight characters, as long passwords are more difficult to crack
than shorter ones.
These passwords must also be set to be changed
periodically. A good password can last 6 months or more. Don't encourage your
team to change them more frequently than six months, because they can end in
"Password1", "Password2".
3
Increase Awareness Of Suspicious Activities
Information Security education is of vital importance among
employees, knowing terms such as phishing and knowing what they consist of will
allow them to recognize and eliminate anything that seems suspicious to them.
4
Make Sure Remote Access Is Secure
Remote access to work computers from home can leave
companies open to attack. These should be behind a secure VPN firewall to
increase protection. A VPN firewall helps prevent data sharing without
filtering instructions, and monitors inbound and outbound website traffic
silently.
5
Invest In A Good Quality Antivirus Program
Most of the antivirus products on
the market now have multiple functions to protect your devices. This means that
the product offers multiple means of protection against viruses, malware,
ransomware, Trojans, and other threats.
New threats are created all the time, and old forms of
malware often resurface or are reused in new ways. Make sure to update your antivirus program
regularly.
With proper planning and training for the above practices,
SMBs can protect their businesses and employees with the tools necessary to
defend most threats.
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