6 Ways You Put Your Business At Risk Of Cyberattacks
/Did you know that cybercrime has increased a whopping 600% since the pandemic? Furthermore, it is estimated that cybercrime will cost businesses $10.5 trillion annually by 2025.
Although you may think only large corporations are at risk, cyberattacks on small and medium-sized businesses are increasing in frequency each day. Even more worryingly, despite the fact that 43% of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses, only 14% are adequately protected.
Fortunately, it’s never too late to start protecting your business, with the first step being the identification of your current vulnerabilities.
1. Opening emails from unknown senders
Most employees receive hundreds of emails a day, yet many are not versed in protecting themselves from email scams. As a general rule, you should never open an email or an email attachment from someone you do not know, as this is highly likely to be a scam.
It is also a good idea to invest in regular security training for all your employees so that they are aware of the latest threats.
2. Having weak passwords
Somewhat unsurprisingly, over 80% of people use the same passwords for everything, from their work email account to their personal banking accounts. Although this may be more convenient, it does leave your business at more risk of cyberattacks.
To avoid this, make sure that:
· Your employees all have unique passwords that contain over 8 characters
· They use numbers and symbols
· They do not use any personal information such as nicknames or pet names
Alternatively, you could invest in password management software to take care of this for you.
3. Not carrying out regular audits
If you are not regularly evaluating your cybersecurity protocols by carrying out regular audits, then you leave your business more open to cyber threats. For example, if you have been considering IT vs OT and have made the decision to integrate these two systems, did you know that this can leave you more exposed to malware? Learn which one is the best to use as soon as you can.
4. Allowing unnecessary access
Do you allow everyone access to all your data regardless of their seniority? If yes, then you could be setting yourself up for an attack. Instead, set up tiered levels of access and only give permission to those that need it. It can be a good idea to enforce dual-signs offs for large payments as this can help to prevent fraud.
5. Not updating security software
A large number of cyberattacks occur because businesses have failed to update their antivirus software. If you currently leave this important task to your employees, then you might want to consider setting up your systems to update automatically. It is also crucial that you don’t allow any member of staff to opt-out of this policy.
6. Using unsecured mobile devices
Mobile malware is rising, with a 54% increase in new malware variants in 2018 and 98% of mobile malware being targeted at Android devices.
To protect your business from mobile malware, make sure each mobile device is password-protected, never conduct confidential transactions using public Wi-Fi and use endpoint security solutions to safely manage mobile devices remotely.
While you cannot prevent cyberattacks 100%, by making sure you take the necessary steps to safeguard your devices and train your employees, you are much more likely to keep your business safe from potential online threats.
