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Cybercriminals keep getting smarter, and it’s not only governments and big businesses that are at risk. With hackers and other malicious actors constantly probing for weaknesses and taking advantage of them when they find them, even the smallest business has to prioritise cybersecurity.
The old tools for detecting the activities of cybercriminals aren’t enough anymore. A growing number of businesses are implementing an advanced ATT&CK framework to help them stay ahead of the curve. But what’s at risk? Let’s explore the reasons why you should stay on top of cybersecurity – regardless of the size of your business.
1. As Businesses go Online, Criminals do Too
There’s no denying that cybercrime is on the rise. Criminals can attack businesses remotely, often managing to hide their identities. The strong chance of not getting caught in the act, or at all, makes cybercrime low-risk and profitable. Often, criminals will be interested in stealing information – yours or your customers’, either using it to commit more crimes themselves, or selling the information to other cybercriminals.
By law, you’re responsible for protecting your customers’ information. As a business owner or manager, you should be asking yourself whether you’re doing enough to achieve this. Your business’s survival could be at stake.
2. Our Helpful Tech as a Window for Hackers
For businesses, developments in technology are a boon. They can work more efficiently, automate processes and cut costs, but they could be leaving the virtual “door” open to criminals if they aren’t adequately protected. IoT devices, for example, are constantly connected and share data that boosts efficiency, but without proper security measures, they could present the chink in your armor that hackers are looking for.
3. How Safe is the Cloud?
With the right security measures in place, it’s possible to benefit from all the advantages of cloud services to further your business. But with many businesses being unaware of the basics of cybersecurity, bad actors can start tinkering, not only with your data, but also with automated business processes. Sometimes, their activities amount to pure vandalism with no reasonable motive other than the desire to cause as much mischief as possible. At others, there’s a clear profit motive on their part. Either way, no business can overlook cybersecurity as a way of keeping their businesses safe.
4. Ransomware is Evolving
Back in the day, ransomware like “wannacry” was a scary enough threat, but it’s getting worse than ever. Virtual systems, the cloud, IoT and more are being affected by ransomware. If your business’s systems are taken over by ransomware, cybercriminals will try to extort money from you in exchange for restoring your software. While they’re at it, they can also steal data, holding it to ransom too.
5. Circumventing Traditional Security Measures
Securing computers used to be a simple matter of keeping your firewall robust and your anti-virus software up to date. But there’s no one-size-fits all solution these days, and computers are only one part of your IT systems that hackers may target.
Protecting your information and systems requires specialist assistance that identifies the specific risks your business faces, and protects every possible access point that criminals might use. Your security will require frequent revisions and updates, so partnering with a firm that specializes in this area is a necessity rather than a luxury.
