Prepare for the unknown in 2017. Be proactive.

Cyber security is a big priority for businesses in 2017. If you run a business, it is time to be proactive in how you protect your business data!

In 2015, 74% of small organisations experienced a security breach, up from 60% just a year before. To put things into perspective, the average cost of these attacks ranged from ￡75,000 and ￡311,000. 

Not every business is facing immediate cyber threats, but we all have to remain proactive in protecting our businesses to make sure we stay amongst the unaffected. After all, those that fail to prepare get hit the hardest.

We are ALL responsible for minimising weaknesses in our infrastructures so that we can focus on our business priorities such as productivity and growth. 

So, what can you do to protect your business?

Unexpected disasters such as cyber-attacks happen when you neglect the management of risks against your business. If, like many others, you aren't sure where to start when it comes to protecting your systems, I would recommend looking at our Cyber Security Demystified Whitepaper. You will gain insight from some of the finest minds in the world of cyber-crime and learn about cloud solutions that will keep security at the heart of your business and reduce levels of risk. 

*Ponemon Institute 2015, Cost of Cyber Crime Study 

Next Steps...

With the right solution and technology partner on board you can keep complete control of your critical data whilst being able to safely share sensitive information both inside and outside of your organisation. 

Being vigilant is very important when protecting your business from cyber threats but you also need to make sure that you remain highly functional and agile at the same time. Microsoft's enterprise technology solutions allows you to do both. Built on Azure, Office 365, and the Enterprise Mobility Suite these solutions are designed to work with your existing platforms and they offer protection against cyber risks in addition to helping you serve your customers better than ever. 

How ACS can help 

Our in-house team of Microsoft Cloud Security specialists can help protect your business from cyber crime and they know what it takes to mitigate risk as well as how to make your teams more productive. 

To get started you can book a FREE Small Business IT Security Consultation with the team here, or if you would prefer you can talk to one of the team first on 01604 704 014. 

And again, why not read our Cyber Security Demystified Whitepaper. I guarantee you will learn something of value to you and your business. 

This is a big topic this year for all of us running businesses so if you aren't sure where to start and would like to some initial advice, I would be happy to help. You can tweet me at @jont1 or give me a call on 01604 704 000.