Does Your Small Business Have a Cyber Security Plan?
Cyber security is composed of a variety of measures, processes, and technologies that work towards the protection of data and systems from cyber attacks. With business cyber attacks on the rise, companies can’t – and shouldn’t – ignore the threat of cyber security breaches. Ensuring that your data is secure is just as important, as keeping your hardware and products safe.
The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2017, carried out and published by the Ipsos MORI in partnership with the Institute for Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Portsmouth, presents findings on UK businesses and cyber security.
In the last 12 months, just under 46 percent of UK businesses have identified at least one cyber attack or breach. Small businesses are just as likely to be subjected to an intentional cyber attack as large companies. The difference, the study finds, is that smaller businesses tend to invest less on cyber security due to lower funds.
Investing in a Cyber Security Plan
A small business cyber security plan involves a well-rounded approach, however, some areas should be focused and highlighted above others. Preventing the risk of an attack is an important step to take, in which every member of your company needs to be aware of your cyber security policies. This involves downloads and software updates, areas which typically are affected by viruses.
In addition, knowing how to proceed in the event of an attack and restoring any lost data will require you to take action. Having a secure backup service will allow you to keep your data both safe and accessible – a factor which can prove vital should your devices be under ransomware control. Ransomware is a sophisticated software that can be encrypting ransomware, which blocks system files while hackers demand payment to provide you with a key to unlock your content, or locker ransomware which locks you out of your operating system and makes it impossible to access any data, the desktop, and files.
Your reaction to a cyber attack must also be planned, as any attack can compromise your clients’ trust and affect your business. Having a plan in place will allow you to react swiftly and effectively.
Alongside investing in physical security, you must invest in a cyber security plan. Businesses who invest in securing their data from any cyber attack could become more attractive to investors, as it showcases the importance given to clients’ information. Creating your cyber security plan can seem like a daunting task, but there are a few easy steps you can take to begin constructing an effective strategy:
- Software Updates. It may seem like your antivirus security system telling you to update to the latest version is a waste of money, but having an outdated antivirus can be a gateway for malware that allows hackers to access your network. Ensure you keep a record of any security software systems you use and when to update them.
- Have Backups. Your data should have a backup on a secure server, preferably separate from your business’s network. You need to know how often your data is backed up and who is responsible for guaranteeing that the backups are maintained up-to-date.
- Keep Old Data Secure. You may require an audit of your redundant IT assets to ensure they are disposed of properly. Alongside ensuring these assets are disposed of through an environmentally safe procedure, your digital data must also be disposed of correctly. In addition to any inadvertent disclosures of personal data, from your employees and clients, you may also have important data from your current network and systems that could be utilised for a potential cyber attack.
Does your business have a cyber security plan in place? Here at ICT Reverse, we know the importance of ensuring data is safe, which is why we work closely with Blancco to provide a high-quality data erasure service.
Get in touch with us on 01524 580900 to know more about our secure services and how we can help your business keep data safe.
