When it comes to cyberattacks, SMEs are amongst the most vulnerable. Would-be cybercriminals see them as potentially easy targets. This is because they do not have access to the in-house cybersecurity resources of bigger companies, which could help them protect their company again cyberattacks and data breaches. 

Recruiting specialists may be unrealistic for SMEs, but this doesn’t mean that there are not steps that they can take. Let’s look at some of the things that can be done to protect your online data and privacy as a SME. 

Top cybersecurity threats for SMEs

Phishing

Phishing is one of the most common attacks, or breaches, that you might encounter, with around 84% of businesses recording a phishing incident. They are also one of the most convincing attacks. They usually occur as a result of a link in an email or a messages. This link is designed to extract personal information, such as passwords of bank details. 

To help prevent the chances of one of your employees falling for a phishing scam make sure you offer training to help them identify phishing attempts. You can also implement robust email security features and a strong password policy, including multi-factor authentication. It is also a good idea to give employees a way of reporting any suspicious activity. That way, others can be alerted. 

Ransomware

A Ransomware cybercriminal will lock your data by encrypting files. They your business will receive a ransom demand to release it. To help prevent this from happening, ensure that you use a robust anti-virus software. You should also segment your network and ensure regular backups of your data. 

Data breaches

A data breach is when there is unauthorised access to your confidential information. This can lead to data loss or disclosure. SMEs are a particular target, so it is often easier to assume there will be a breach at some point. Data breaches can result in financial loss, damage to reputation, legal action, and a loss in the trust of customers. There is also the potential that problems such as cashflow as a result of being breached could put a company out of business. This is more likely to happen with a SME where there is less cash. It is important to ensure you have a good firewall installed to help prevent the chances of this happening. 

Other measures to consider

In addition to firewalls, anti-virus software and regular employee training there are a number of other measures that you may want to consider. Get some free online training to ensure that your online data and privacy are protected. 

Regular software updates

Regular software updates can help to prevent many known weaknesses from being exploited. Software updates usually offer a range of new security features, and also security patches that can help to fix any existing flaws that hackers may already be aware of. When a SME regularly updates software, they have the potential to stay ahead of cybercriminals and reduce their risk of breaches, and cybersecurity threats. They may not be able to guard against every risk that your company may face but they will go a long way towards reducing those risks.