Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Why is cyber security important for SMEs?

Being the owner of a SME can often leave you with a lot of things to be managed. And if your enterprise is benefiting from utilizing the advantages of the world wide net, then you would also be facing a consequent threat to through online scamsters and cyber hackers.

Targeting smaller companies

Cyber attackers are now expanding into a new segment moving further from large IT enterprises to the more gullible Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which are often found to be less conversant with the nuances of cyber crime. What’s more worrying is that these companies are targeted on a regular basis. A lack of information about such crimes and reduced proficiency are one of the major reasons for these crimes occurring in large numbers.
 
How to tackle cyber crimes
A lack of cyber knowledge is the biggest flaw suffered by the enterprises which are often duped by basic phishing attacks. Imparting information is necessary especially among staff. Another crucial step which could help you is to recruit trained staff which has the technical knowledge to handle similar situations. A lack of awareness is the key factor and hence, employees need to be regularly updated about such occurrences and asked to maintain safety against such threats.
SMEs have to understand this threat clearly and believe that their company could also be threatened by such an event. Many agencies believe because they are a very small enterprise, they are not under threat – a notion, falsified by the rise in cyber attacks over the years.

Another important factor could be the adoption of various technologies which are self-sufficient in tackling a cyber threat. Equipping your systems against viruses, spyware and other malicious codes is the most important step as the cyber attacks rely on the chinks in the system. You also need to take backup copies of the important business data from time-to-time to be protected in case of a severe attack to the system.

The office systems need to be secured and unauthorized persons should not be allowed to operate the systems. Presently, most of the offices operate a Wi-Fi network which needs to be secured so that illegal hacking cannot be executed on the systems. Each employee needs to be given their own separate accounts and care should be taken that they do not access data or information from your main frame systems.

Strengthen network security
Another key fact is to focus on network security courses. They are another important step in training SMEs about defensive systems to maintain security under such circumstances of an attack. Such courses inform oneself about the standard behaviour of a cyber attacker and also train them in the latest & best methods in defending the effects of such an attack. You should necessarily conduct an assessment of your present security status against such attacks and understand the fields in which they require an upgrade. Even though the systems may prove to be a bit on the higher side while setting up, their presence is an assurance on the long run.

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