It’s one thing to have cybersecurity — it’s another thing, however, to have modern, effective cybersecurity that can withstand any kind of breach or cyberattack.
The best way to ensure you are reaping the cybersecurity benefits your software has to offer is by doing regular security checkups. A robust checkup includes making sure your employees are adequately trained, that your sensitive data is properly stored and that you have a plan in place to get you up and running should a breach occur.
Of course, you don’t want a breach to occur in the first place — IBM found the global average of a data breach is just shy of $4 million. And performing regular checks of the efficacy of your cybersecurity is a great first step toward stopping disaster.
There are many positives to doing regular tech checks of your cybersecurity such as:
Educating employees — It is imperative to ensure your employees can identify and sidestep attempts at phishing, ransomware and other attacks hackers have up their sleeves, especially since more than 90% of breaches occur because of human error. Your MSP should be able to provide your staff with ample training, whether it’s videos, posters or phishing simulations that won’t just educate your employees but will also make them your company’s strongest line of defense against a possible attack.
Keeping within budget — Effective cybersecurity isn’t always cheap, but it is far less expensive than the financial wallop packed by a breach or an attack. According to Small Business Trends, the average cost of breach to a small business is more than $25,000. TechChannel reports that one hour of downtime caused by a breach costs a business more than $300,000. Those are resources that should be devoted to running your business and growing your company — not mitigating the effects of a potentially disastrous breach. Worse yet, TechRepublic also found that small- and medium-sized companies that fall prey to an attack or breach shut down for good within six months of the incident. Check your tech and you can better protect yourself from becoming a statistic.
Maintaining good standing — As an entrepreneur, you’re not just building a business — you’re building a brand your customers can lean on and trust. Falling victim to a breach will erode that trust. Whether you’re in finance or the medical industry, clients are going to hesitate trusting you with their sensitive data if you can’t keep your own data secure. Security.org found that one in four Americans stop doing business with a company once it has been hacked. Imagine a quarter of your clientele up and leaving, taking their business — and their money — to a competitor while giving your company negative reviews to anyone who asks. Internally, being a company renowned for weak security and the high frequency at which it’s attacked will put a dent in company morale while driving away talented employees and negatively impacting your ability to hire new ones.
Cybersecurity isn’t necessarily a set-it-and-forget-it part of your business. It needs to be updated, maintained and above all, checked. Your cybersecurity benefits will go a long way toward the success and sustainability of your business — if you handle it the right way. If you have any questions or need assistance with putting together your security checklist, please reach out to our team.
Secure Network Services in Central Florida has security services and solutions that help you keep up with and stay protected against the latest threats. Trust our expert team to provide services that are scalable, cost-efficient and customizable so they fit the specific needs of your industry and budget. Let us protect your business like it’s our business. Reach out to us today and we can assist you in creating an effective checklist that ensures your security has everything it needs to safeguard your network.
Put your money and focus where they belong — toward the growth of your business.