Let’s face it: the world has moved to the digital forefront, and so have businesses. Nowadays, enterprises rely heavily on technology to operate efficiently, which is why cybersecurity concerns have skyrocketed tenfold. As technology is evolving, so is the risk of data breaches. Although businesses of all sizes are prone to data breaches and cybersecurity loopholes, small businesses are particularly more vulnerable due to their limited resources and expertise in cybersecurity. Wondering about the impact of data breaches on small businesses and the significance of cyber security for businesses? We are here with a guide encompassing prevention measures and recovery strategies to mitigate the aftermath.
Financial Consequences
As per the reports of the National Cyber Security Alliance, 60% of small companies that are hacked, go out of business within six months of a cyber attack. The direct costs of a data breach include investigation expenses, legal fees and regulatory fines, and the indirect financial impact is way more severe. For small businesses, resources are finite, and a financial blow like a data breach can shatter them from the core because SMEs often lack the financial cushion necessary to absorb the cost associated with data breaches.
Reputational Damage
In addition to financial consequences, data breaches also lead to loss of customer trust and confidence, which can be devastating for small businesses. Companies take years to build their industry reputation after their inception, and a data breach can tarnish the reputation small businesses build over years of hard work. In a nutshell, cyber security for businesses is imperative to stop data breaches because they can lead to customer defection and negative publicity.
Prevention Strategies
The loss of sensitive data from organisational databases can lead to identity theft, fraud and other malicious activities, which calls for the need for prevention strategies. Small businesses need to proactively address cybersecurity vulnerabilities to mitigate the risk of data breaches. From using secure data storage solutions, such as encrypted cloud storage and implementing secure transmission protocols (e.g., SSL/TLS) following compliance with the Cyber Security Essentials Plus certification, there’s a lot small businesses can do to make prevention a top priority.
The Cyber Security Essentials Plus certification equips small businesses with essential skills and knowledge to improve their cybersecurity posture. This certification covers key areas such as network security, threat detection, incident response, and compliance, and by getting certified small businesses demonstrate their commitment to protecting sensitive data and mitigating cyber threats effectively.
Conclusion
The UK Government mandates all organisations to implement minimum cybersecurity controls through the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). If your company wants to improve its reach within the UK’s public sector the Cyber Security Essentials Plus certification is compulsory. SMEs might struggle to meet these standards, which is why our professionals at iSoft are here to guide you every step of the way. From anti-virus protection to security training, vulnerability scanning, phishing simulators, threat dashboards and asset trackers, our services for Cyber Security Essentials Plus also extend to providing free cyber insurance for UK companies. Need more information, or want a quote for our services? Contact us today!