It’s an integral part of 21st-century living. The internet has enabled constant access to information, worldwide communication, and entertainment. Yet as the internet grows, so does cybercrime. With cybercriminals finding smarter, more devious ways to target businesses, SMEs are having to step up their protection strategies.
Statistics show that businesses who fail to protect their systems will experience a form of cyber crime. The question isn’t how, or why, it’s when.
Furthermore, the loss extends beyond stolen information and monetary values. A security breach will affect the reputation of a company.
Risk Assessment Regimes
To protect against a breach, you must integrate an effective Risk Management Regime. This involves assessing the risks to your company and implementing supportive policies to protect them. The National Cyber Service Centre advises you to consider the following:
- Network security – Defend network perimeters by managing/blocking insecure web pages.
- Malware protection – Download a respected malware protection programme, covering emails and company information.
- Removable media controls – Limit the number of portable/removable media allowed. This means also limiting opportunities for information to fall into the wrong hands.
- Secure configuration – Apply patched to minimise known software vulnerabilities.
- Managing user privileges – Determine who can access which information, from where.
- Incident management – Agreed a strategy, and implement it if there is a breach. This should cover initial response and include a worst-case-scenario.
- Monitoring – Monitor all network activity to identify anything unusual or suspicious. The data gathered will also allow you to improve your Risk Management Regime.
- Home and mobile working – Create and implement a policy to guide mobile working.
Designing an efficient and reliable Risk Management Regime is the simplest part of the process. However, the 2017 Cyber Security Trends Report suggests that the three biggest challenges to cybersecurity faced by businesses are the lack of skilled employees, budget and awareness.
The report is clear that companies struggle to find employees with the right security skill sets. There is also often confusion as to whether cybersecurity comes under an IT departments domain, or is a management issue. Ultimately, staff rarely receive adequate training or experience, regardless of department.
It can be difficult to justify the cost of IT security policies to protect against cybercrime. Many smaller companies in particular think they are too small to fall prey. This is despite the rapid increase in cybersecurity-related incidents. Unfortunately, the value is only seen in the aftermath of a breach.
The simple solution: Managed IT
You can take care of your cyber security concerns with one seamless switch to a managed IT service. At EBM, a team of experienced experts can tailor a service to your specific needs and offer an efficient and confident service that protects your systems from all cyber threats.
Outsourcing all responsibility to the professionals not only ensures your business is receiving the best protection, it provides the peace of mind that the work has been done in its most economic means. If you would like further information regarding how a managed IT service can fit your needs, get in touch!