This is what happens when you don’t pay attention!!

I'm glad I caught your attention...Fair enough this was my Halloween outfit but imagine something just as scary, a catastrophic cyber attack to your businesses’ brain?

Here’s 3 reasons why you should be paying attention to your cyber security…. Everyday the average number of attacks on SME’s rises, are you prepared?

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1. ?Cyber crime is much more than just an aggravation!

Unfortunately some business leaders think that simply backing up data is their cyber security ticked off…. This is not the case and those with this belief could be in for a nasty shock.??

Cyber criminals are thieves!?They rob banks, they steal personal data and sell it on the dark web, they commit fraud, file fake tax returns and commit insurance fraud. They aren’t just there to create an aggravation, they’re there to get paid!

Sadly the stats from The National Cyber Security Alliance found that 60 percent of small businesses attacked will go under within six months.

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2. Get the right insurance, without it you can be put out of business!

We understand that margins are tight and running a business is becoming more and more expensive, but it’s important to invest in cyber insurance….I wonder how long it will be until it’s compulsory, just like car insurance?

Cyber insurance policies cover a large number of damages caused by an attack. These include:

·??????Fines and penalties

·??????Loss resulting from identity theft

·??????Notification costs

·??????Credit monitoring

It’s definitely worth a line item in your budget.

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3. Your mobile devices are ripe for the picking!

It’s great to be able to use your own mobile phone or tablet at work, but many businesses fail to provide the same level of security that they have on company owned laptops or computers. These devices not only contain valuable data, they can be the gateway to company owned systems.

There are multiple security holes when it comes to mobiles; phones are stolen, lost, employees or family members could open up a phishing email which allows malware to infect the company systems.

If you're not focusing on security, then you're not doing things like:

·??????Educating your employees about cyber/data security

·??????Establishing stringent password requirements

·??????Avoiding free Wi-Fi (most lack good security, so spend a bit more on your data plan)

·??????Installing anti-virus protection

It really doesn’t have to cost the earth for your business to be cyber resilient and aware, it just takes the right tools and the right policies to avoid a massive headache!!