Is my business too small to get hacked?

The answer is a resounding NO. We’ve heard about the big brand companies that have experienced serious cyberattacks. However, just because your company name may not be big enough to make a news headline does not mean you aren’t at risk. In fact, if you believe that, you are making your company prey for hackers. Small businesses may actually be more of an attractive target for a cyberattack than larger companies. Here are a few reasons why.

• Many small businesses think they’re insignificant to a hacker and so don’t put much importance on cyber security. Their network protection is vulnerable because it is not being properly managed.
• Hackers believe many small businesses don’t have the budget or IT staff to put proper cybersecurity in place.
• Many small business owners don’t acknowledge the worth of their database. For instance, if you are a nonprofit with big donors, that information is very valuable to a hacker.

Small businesses have a lot to lose. Think about what kind of information is stored in your system: customer lists, possibly including credit card information, passwords, vendor information and much more.

The idea that small businesses aren’t a target is mistaken. Identity theft, ransomware and phishing continue to be real dangers to small businesses. Cyber protection is a real investment into the safety of your business and customers. It’s important to put the proper defenses in place.

ICC conducts a number of audits and tests, as well as put tactics in place, to significantly reduce the possibility of an attack, protect your data and most importantly – have the ability to restore it. At a minimum, a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy should include network security, e-mail security, security patches & updates, employee education, backups and quarterly cybersecurity reviews to boost your defenses against cybercriminals and lost data. If you are missing one piece of the pie, you may be exposed to cyberattacks and could be faced with significant business disruption and financial loss.

To learn how to upgrade your small business cyber protection plan, give us a call at (970) 821-8592 for Colorado and (307) 316-5665 for Wyoming.