SPOTLIGHT
DON’T LET A HACKER ATTACK HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS FROM CYBER CRIME
Picture your business. What are the key factors to keeping it run- ning smoothly and successfully? For most people strong cashflow, a team of great people and a broad customer base will spring to mind.
But does the term ‘cyber security’ hold the same sense of impor- tance for you? If the answer is ‘no’ then you are not alone. Just 16%* of small business owners surveyed at the beginning of this year by Cyber Streetwise said that improving their cyber security was a top business resolution for 2015. But however uninteresting and unimportant the topic may initially sound, think back to those key factors to your firm’s success – a cyber attack can damage them all.
Data from the Government’s 2015 Information Breaches Survey shows that in the past year, 74% of small businesses had an information security breach. That’s up from 60% last year. The average cost of these attacks is not insignificant either – the worst of those breaches cost small businesses anything from £75,000 to £311,000. For most small businesses that’s a crippling amount of money – it could represent an entire year’s revenue. And the impact isn’t just financial. There’s the time you lose through having to fix your website and systems, the potential loss of customers, damage to your reputation and all the other potential consequenc- es of a hacker getting their hands on your data.
The good news is that protecting your business from hackers and viruses does not have to take a lot of time, work or money. Cyber Streetwise is encouraging small businesses across the UK to do three simple things which can help improve their online security: Use three random words to create a strong password: Hackers can use your email to gain access to all your personal and business ac- counts. Combine three random words to make a strong password and make it a lot trickier for hackers to find their way in.
Numbers and symbols can still be used if needed, however, using three random words is the key to creating a strong password. Your most important accounts are your email and online banking; you should also use separate passwords for your business and home accounts.
98 • SPOTLIGHT •
Install security software on all devices: Your computers, tablets and smartphones can easily become infected by small pieces of software known as viruses or malware. Installing internet security software like antivirus helps protect your devices from viruses and hackers. And don’t believe the myth that this only applies to PC users. Apple Macs and Linux computers need antivirus too.
Always download the latest software updates: They may appear at inconvenient times, but don’t ignore those little messages reminding you to download software updates. You may think they don’t make a difference, but software updates contain vital security upgrades which help protect your device from viruses and hackers.
Clicking on that little cross or ‘remind me later’ means you’re open- ing the door for hackers to come in and take whatever they please. And if you don’t think you have anything worth stealing, think again. Cyber criminals can profit from anything from your email contacts to your databases.
Following these three simple steps – and encouraging your staff to do the same – will make it much harder for cyber criminals, keeping your business more secure.
Cyber Essentials should also be on your ‘must do list’. It’s a Government-backed and industry-supported ‘standard’, which protects your business against the most common online threats. It sets out five controls which will significantly reduce your company’s vulnerability to cyber crime, and is suitable for organisations of all sizes and all sectors. Not only will your business be more secure as a result, you will be able to display a badge demonstrating you adhere to a government endorsed standard, giving you a distinct edge over competitors. Cyber Essentials certification is already mandatory for many Government contracts and many large firms are now looking to require the same of their suppliers. Shake off the voice that says “I’ll do it later” and follow those three simple steps now so you can focus on running your business – not res- cuing it. Check out
cyberstreetwise.com for more information on keeping your business cyber secure.
*OnePoll surveyed 1,000 SME and business decision makers in January 2015
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