Tara Whitehead is the Security Engagement Manager at MYOB. Tara Whitehead is the Security Engagement Manager at MYOB.Source: Provided
If you run a business, you're no doubt well aware of the risks of cybersecurity attacks and data breaches. You may also tell yourself that cybercriminals are not interested in companies like yours, they only target large and high-profile companies with huge customer databases and bottomless bank accounts. yeah.
The bad news is that no business is safe.
In fact, many of the “bad actors” out there are targeting small and medium-sized businesses, hoping that they will become easy targets.
The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to protect your business's online presence and avoid becoming the weakest link in a chain of security failures that could impact your customers and suppliers. is.
It is important to act proactively and creatively to firmly seal these leaks.
Safety at any size
Recent findings from cyber watchdogs It has become clear that many small businesses mistakenly believe that they are insignificant and cannot attract attention.
However, this misconception leaves small businesses open to potential attack. Despite their size, these companies continue to be susceptible to specific threats and malicious actors that actively target poorly secured vulnerabilities.
Supply chain attacks can occur even when a company has no intrinsic value regarding its proprietary data or customer information. These attacks involve infiltrating large organizations such as clients and suppliers through indirect routes. Therefore, robust cybersecurity practices are essential for businesses of all sizes.
So instead of thinking your size will protect you from danger, think about how to proactively understand your online security.
big bad threat
Unfortunately, just like the big bad wolf, bad actors are trying to bring down your business house.
Creative security solutions mean putting yourself in the shoes of the bad guys and objectively looking at potential holes and leaks in your security measures.
A bad actor is someone who attempts to exploit your business in a way that can affect your systems, data, or customers. And surprisingly, they can intentionally or unintentionally cause harm.
They may want to access your account details for money laundering purposes, or they may be trying to scrape together small amounts of money to steal from you. For example, collecting a few cents from an account doesn't sound like a big deal, but doing it regularly for thousands of accounts can be very lucrative.
Once they get what they want, they can sell access to your information to other cyber attackers, lock you out of your system and demand a ransom.
It may also be harmless. Someone who feels too busy to send the document through a properly encrypted channel might share it via email. This can expose both your business and your clients to a data breach.
Be creative and proactive
So, we understand the risks, but how can we avoid them?
There are many things you can do right now to make your business more secure. This can be overwhelming, so prioritize your specific business needs and adopt the most important changes first. The road to a good security posture is a marathon, not a sprint. Review security frequently and make changes as needed.
An easy first step is to make sure you're using multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA requires more than just a password to access your account, making it more difficult for unauthorized users to gain access.
When dealing with sensitive documents, it's wise to consider secure alternatives to traditional email. Many companies now offer robust encryption platforms designed for secure document exchange. These solutions protect your data in transit and at rest. Or leverage cloud-based services. By carefully managing permissions, you can restrict document publication to only authorized individuals.
Simple proactive measures like educating employees on basic security are also important. For example, defining which documents should be sent securely rather than as email attachments, using multi-factor authentication to access data, and moving document storage to the cloud can Three important pieces of the security puzzle.
Also, to keep your system safe, always keep your software updated to ensure the latest known bugs are squashed.
Whatever you do, don't hope for the best, plan for the worst. We all like to believe that “it won't happen to me,” but in the world of cybersecurity, prevention is always better than cure.
Tara Whitehead is the Security Engagement Manager at MYOB.
