Cyberattacks: Is Your Business Vulnerable?

Is your business vulnerable to cyber threats and attacks? Do you know what to do if you fall victim to a cyberattack? According to a study by the Ponemon Institute , most small and medium size businesses do not. Actually, nearly half of the companies do not know how to protect their data, finances, employees or customers from a cyberattack.

Spear-phishing and ransomware attacks are the two most common cyberattacks used against small businesses. A spear-phishing attack is an email-spoofing technique which attempts to gain unauthorized access to important information. A ransomware attack blocks access to a computer or smartphone until you pay a ransom to the attackers so they will release the item. But there are many other ways that criminals try to harm your business, employees and customers.

Why Me?
There are many reasons that small businesses are the targets of cyberattacks. For one thing, small businesses usually do not have high tech security defenses in place making it easier to hack. Sometimes it may be difficult to detect when an attack occurs. When a small business is attacked, it is often very difficult to recover computer-based data that has been lost. Because of this fact, most small business owners will end up paying the ransom to get the data back.

Your business also has useful information that could be desirable for a hacker. It could be personal details about you (the owner) or your employees that could lead to identity theft. Your financial information could be used for fraud. Also, your small business may have information about a larger business. Because larger businesses usually have better cyber security in place, you may be the key an attacker needs to get access to the bigger fish.

What Can I do?
There are many things you can do to protect your business from cyberattacks. You can install a cyber security program that contains antivirus and ransomware defense software. There will be some upfront costs, but it could save you in the long run. All your data should be backed up on a regular basis. If your business contains sensitive data, then it should be in a secure location that is offsite and offline. If your business contains less sensitive data, but still important data to run your business, then some external hard drives may be all you need.

Educating your team members can also prevent cyberattacks. Let your team know the dangers of downloading email attachments and clicking on unknown links. Make sure all your computers and devices are using strong passwords and change the passwords every three months.

Small businesses like yours are becoming increasingly attractive targets for cyber criminals. In fact, 43% of all cyber attacks target small businesses, and this number is on the rise. The damage caused by these attacks can be catastrophic, with many small businesses never recovering from the financial and reputational harm.

It's time to take action and secure your business!

Don't wait until it's too late. Here's what you can do right now to protect your business:

1. Educate Yourself and Your Team: Learn about the most common types of cyber attacks, such as phishing, ransomware, and DDoS attacks. Share this information with your employees and encourage them to be vigilant.
2. Implement Security Measures: Invest in robust security software, regularly update all software and operating systems, and use strong, unique passwords for all accounts. Enable multi-factor authentication where possible.
3. Backup Your Data: Regularly backup all critical data to a secure, offsite location to ensure your business can recover quickly in the event of a cyber attack.
4. Develop a Cybersecurity Plan: Create a comprehensive plan that outlines how your business will prevent, detect, and respond to cyber attacks. Include training programs for employees and regularly review and update the plan.
5. Seek Professional Assistance: If you're unsure where to start or need expert guidance, consider partnering with a cybersecurity expert to assess your business's vulnerabilities and implement appropriate security measures.

In Summary...
No business wants to fall victim to a cyberattack. So please try some of these tips and protect your business, employees and customers. If you need help with your website for your business, Tommy House Studios is here for you. THS offers services in website design, social media management, SEO and more. We are dedicated to you, the customer, with a 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee. Let Tommy House Studios help your small business with our online marketing services in Montgomery, AL and around the country. You can contact us to discuss your specific needs and to receive a free quote. Call us at 877-246-1315 or email at info@tommyhouse.com and let us help your business.