There was a significant increase in the number of organisations utilising cyber security in 2018. This was particularly the case with larger, more established businesses. However, much more needs to be done in 2019, especially for SMEs looking to grow. Many business owners remain reluctant to invest the necessary money in cyber security, especially those with a more restricted budget. However, you can have the greatest product or service on the market, but it will count for very little if there are doubts about your security. Customers must have a sufficient level of confidence to purchase from a company, so providing this is of paramount importance.
Alter your mindset
Despite a growing number of attacks over recent months, small businesses and start-ups are still often taking the view that their size means they won’t be of interest to hackers or cyber criminals. This is quite simply not the case. Far from it. Numerous attacks have been aimed at smaller organisations, with the threat no less than for any large business. The only difference is that a successful breach can be much tougher to recover from for a SME, with the impact potentially catastrophic. A change in mindset is imperative.
Prioritise the risk
Numerous potential risks are posed within any business. Most decisions made come with an economic risk, while the danger of facing any form of legal action must be negated as much as possible. Furthermore, reputational risk must be considered at all times, for agreements made at any level of the business. However, one risk often not prioritised is cyber security. This should not be the case, as a cyber attack can have an impact upon every one of the risks mentioned previously.
Establish a plan
Having a clear, detailed plan for dealing with a potential cyber attack is a crucial part of any businesses’ disaster recovery plan. In the event of a breach, you must be able to respond quickly and effectively to minimise the damage caused. To ensure the highest quality action is taken, all members of staff should be aware of what must be done. Therefore, comprehensive training should be provided. This will not only ensure they know how to react to an attack, but what they can do to prevent it from happening in the first place.
