Why Small Businesses Need Internet Security | Phonebooth Blog

Just because your business is small, don?t be?lulled into a false sense of security that your?business is safe from hackers.

In fact, studies show the opposite is true.

Size Doesn?t Matter

In the first half of 2010, 40% of all targeted?cyber?attacks were on small to medium companies with?less than 500 employees, according to logs kept?by Internet security company Symantec.cloud.?Hackers bank on SMBs having smaller budgets that?can?t afford elaborate security systems ? or?take a chance, and not have any security.

The consequences of not having something in?place can be costly, but that?s a gamble half of?this country?s small businesses seem willing to?take.

Only slightly more than half of small businesses?in the United States have a basic Internet?security plan. The cost of not having security in?place is very high ? cyber attacks cost small?businesses billions each year, U.S.?Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius?Genachowski said in a speech last fall.

?Small businesses that don?t take protective?measures are particularly vulnerable targets for cyber-criminals,? he said. ?With larger companies?increasing their protections, small businesses?are now the low hanging fruit for cyber criminals?? The cost of each individual cyber attack to?small and medium sized businesses averages about?$200,000.?

What Hackers Want

Cyber criminals are after personally identifiable?information ? such as a person?s name, contact information and Social security number ? more?than any other type of information, according to the?Verizon 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report.?The study examined 855 data?breaches from the United States,?Ireland, Holland, Great Britain and?Australia.

Of all those data breaches, 95% included?personal information.The kicker is the?report found 97% of the attacks were?avoidable with inexpensive fixes.

How To Safeguard Your Business

The Verizon report recommended?businesses delete all unnecessary online data to avoid the risk of it?being hacked and transmitted elsewhere.

Since, in this digital age, not being?online isn?t an option, the report also?recommended making Internet security a?priority and, at a?minimum, use a?firewall to block attacks and protect?your business? computers.

The FCC has a tool for your business to?use to get started on an Internet?security plan. Called the Small Biz?Cyber Planner, it walks you through?customizing a security plan.

?We know that hiring cyber security experts is costly,? Genachowski said in a statement announcing the planner.??This tool will be of particular?value for businesses that lack the?resources to hire a dedicated staff?member to?protect themselves from cyber-threats.?Even a business with one computer or one?credit card swiper can benefit from this?important guidance.?

The FCC also gave tips for your business?to use to implement Internet security?including?setting basic security practices for employees, using antivirus software, routinely making back-up copies of information and having individual accounts for each employee to better track a breach from within the company.

Do you have an Internet security protocol already in place at your business? Please share your ideas with us on how to keep a business? information safe.

Linda is an award-winning journalist with more than more than 20 years? experience as a reporter, editor and blogger.

Source: http://www.phonebooth.com/blog/2012/08/why-small-businesses-need-internet-security/

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