Many small business owners believe they’re too small to be targeted by cybercriminals. This misconception is both dangerous and costly.
Recent data shows that 32% of UK businesses faced cyber attacks last year, with an average cost of nearly £3,000 for small businesses. Some 60% of small businesses actually fail and go bankrupt within six months of an attack.
So, what do you need to know as a small business owner when it comes to cyber security? And what measures do you need to take to avoid becoming one of these statistics?
Read on as we answer these questions, helping you protect your business operations for the short and long term.
Essential Protection Measures for Small Businesses
First, what technical measures can small businesses protect themselves in this increasingly hostile digital environment?
Antivirus Protection for Businesses: Your First Line of Defence
While consumer-grade antivirus software – or even the antivirus that comes with the operating system, like Windows Defender – might suffice for personal use, businesses require a more comprehensive solution.
Modern antivirus protection for businesses goes beyond simply detecting known viruses. It offers a suite of features designed to combat a wide range of threats:
- Real-time threat detection and prevention
- Firewall protection to monitor network traffic
- Email scanning to catch phishing attempts
- Endpoint protection for all devices connected to your network
When selecting small business antivirus, look for solutions that offer cloud-based management. This simplifies deployment across all devices and ensures that protection is always up to date.
Email Security
Email remains one of the primary vectors for cyber attacks. A robust email security strategy should include:
- Advanced spam filtering to reduce the volume of potentially malicious emails
- Anti-phishing tools that can identify and block sophisticated impersonation attempts
- Email encryption for sensitive communications
- Regular staff training on recognising and reporting suspicious emails
Your employees are both your greatest asset and vulnerality for cyber security, as many attacks are triggered by employee mistakes (e.g. downloading an infected file; clicking a malicious link).
On the upside, regular training can turn employees into a powerful line of defence.
Consider Cyber Essentials Certification
As your business grows, you might need to demonstrate robust cybersecurity to clients, partners, and stakeholders. This is where Cyber Essentials certification comes in.
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed scheme that helps organisations protect themselves against common cyber attacks. Obtaining Cyber Essentials certification offers several key benefits:
- It provides a clear picture of your organisation’s cyber security level
- It demonstrates to clients and partners that you take data protection seriously
- It can be a differentiator when bidding for contracts, especially in the public sector
- It offers a pathway to more advanced security measures
For businesses looking to go a step further, there’s Cyber Essentials Plus certification.
This involves hands-on technical verification of your systems, providing an even higher level of assurance.
It’s perfect for businesses looking to solidify their security while demonstrating credibility to customers and business partners.
How Hive Communications Can Help
As a Cyber Essentials Plus certified company, Hive Communications has the expertise to guide you through certification at either level. Our services include:
- Assessing your current cyber security posture against the latest requirements
- Implementing necessary technical controls
- Conducting sample testing to prepare you for the official assessment
- Providing ongoing support to maintain your certification year after year
Our goal is to help you get certified, enhance your overall security, and protect you from the thousands of attacks targeting small businesses annually.
By pursuing Cyber Essentials certification with us at Hive Communications, you’re not just defending against threats but building trust with customers and stakeholders.
Don’t wait for an attack to take action. Contact us at Hive Communications today to learn how we can protect your business for years to come.
