Small businesses are a big market for cyber attacks.

Hackers have realized that smaller businesses are easier targets for cyber attacks. According to the Verizon 2017 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), 61% of cyber attack victims are business with less than 1,000 employees.

So why are small business the target for these invasions? The answer is simple. Small businesses generally have weaker security. What weaknesses does your business have? Here are five of the most common:

1. Phishing still works. This year’s DBIR found that about 1 in 14 users were tricked into following a link or opening an attachment.
2. Weak passwords. Maybe it’s the amount of passwords we all have to remember or lack of creativty. Whatever it is, people are still failing to set strong enough passwords. Stats show 80% of hacking-related breaches leveraged either stolen passwords and/or weak or guessable passwords.
3. Old defenses aren’t working against new threats. Many companies are relaying on outdated cyber security defenses. You need a cyber security plan that keeps pace wit the ever-envolving hacker techniques.
4. Employees. Unfortunaly, many breaches are a result of employees or former employees who have access toinformation and use it to their benefit, which can often harm your business.
5. Physical theft. Whether deliberate or accidental, cyber security threats can start with hard copies or sensitive information landing in the wrong hands.

Though these statistics may be alarming, there are affordable solutions to insuring your business doesn’t become a victim to cyber attacks. DataVizion is now offering a new managed security service solution, VizionCare Secure. Our solution provides advanced threat intelligence and the same level of security as the largest companies in the world, all at a low monthly cost. 

To show businesses just how valuable it is, we offer a free 30-Day Security Health Assessment for your business. During that time, we will assess your security posture, risk profile and identify potential gaps.

You may think your small business is immune to a cyber attack, but in reality small businesses are becoming larger targets. Contact us today for more information or to enroll in the free assessment (402) 327-1880.

Cyber criminals are increasingly targeting private companies in hopes of easy access. Even basic oversights, such as leaving a laptop unattended or opening a spam email, could lead to a cyber attack and ultimately cause a financial loss for your company.

Having the right technology in place to prevent such attacks is a must. However, you should also provide basic training to employees, as they are a critical line of defense against cyber attacks. Here are five topics to cover.

1. Phishing and Spam

Hackers are coming up with increasingly clever scams using fake emails to try and gain access to your company’s network or employee information. Train your employees to spot these phishing attempts and to alert IT to any suspicious emails. You can even purchase phishing simulator training tools to test your employees’ awareness. The results will show what additional training and education may be needed.

2. Strong Passwords

Between work and personal use, it seems like we all have a million passwords to remember. To combat this, employees may be tempted to create an easy password used for multiple purposes. Train employees on the importance of using strong passwords and ways to secure where they store that information.

3. Reporting Problems

Employees may be hesitant to notify IT if they accidently clicked on something they shouldn't have. Or, they may not realize the risks involved with losing a flash drive with sensitive information. Take the time to educate employees and make sure they are comfortable reporting any, and all, security threats.

4. Public Wi-Fi

With the increase in workplace mobility comes an increase in usage of public Wi-Fi. While convenient, Wi-Fi in coffee shops, airports, hotels and elsewhere may not be secure. Educate employees on how to identify secure website and how to connect through a virtual private network (VPN).

5. Social Media

For starters, if you don’t have a social media policy in place, it’s time to implement one. Social media is ripe with hackers looking to elicit information from individuals. Just one click on a post that appears harmless could inadvertently spread malware. Educate employees on acceptable use of social media and have monitoring practices in place to minimize the risks.

It’s a good idea to continue to provide employees with ongoing training and information updates to keep IT security top of mind.

Do you have questions about your IT security? Give us a call to see how we can help.