What is worse, most times, compared to these large firms which have huge resources, SMBs most often require help to keep in phase with the cybercriminals’ advancing tactics. A report by Cybersecurity Ventures states that new cyberattacks are being committed against SMBs now at an increased pace of once every 39 seconds. This rise in the number of threats emphasizes the critical need for strong security measures specially designed to meet the challenges faced by smaller organizations.
Common Cyberthreats
SMBs are exposed to a number of common threats that encompass phishing attacks, ransomware, malware, and data breaches.
Phishing involves tricking employees into releasing confidential information or downloading malicious software via fraudulent emails or messages. Of the incessant cases of phishing, the Anti-Phishing Working Group has chronicled a 30% rise in the cases witnessed over the last one year.
The more menacing one is ransomware, a kind of malware that locks up the data of a victim and makes the owner pay to be issued with the key to decrypt it. Recent statistics highlight that ransomware attacks have increased by 50% each year for the small and medium-sized businesses.
The threats of malware and viruses are also persistent, usually through some innocuous file or website. Moreover, data breaches can occur due to a loophole in the systems or employee ignorance, causing both financial and reputational losses.
Growth of the Threat Landscape
The cyber threat landscape is growing at an intense pace; new and sophisticated threats have started emerging frequently. For example, attackers are using more and more artificial intelligence in order to make their attacks effective and be harder to identify and mitigate. The rise of AI-driven cyber threats attests, as reported by organizations like the World Economic Forum, goes on with the emerging concern about the role of AI in amplifying cyber risks.
Other threats arise in the form of targeted attacks, those driven by breaches of personal data, or insider threats. Recent incidents, such as the one in which the FBI reportedly hit small businesses, illustrate how cybercriminals are honing their strategy in order to exploit specific SMB vulnerabilities.
Best Practices for SMBs
In order to adequately prepare for the worst that cyber threats can bring, the proactive process that an SMB implements should be founded on a number of best practices.
Regular staff training stays at the top of this list so that employees can recognize and respond to phishing attempts, among other things that fall under the guise of social engineering. According to the SANS Institute, an organization can suffer from 60% fewer successful phishing attacks if it implements continuous security training programs.
As important as software and systems upkeep is, old software can easily be exploited by attackers to use known vulnerabilities. Strong password policies must be employed in protecting access to sensitive information. NIST suggests that strong passwords and multifactor authentication can improve security.
Why PureWL is so important for SMB Security?
PureWL offers VPN solutions developed exclusively to allow SMBs to tailor the security features based on their unique needs. This is very important because an SMB business may not be able to accommodate a one-size-fits-all strategy due to their low budget. This is where our professional support team directs and helps the customers to enable response management for business.
Conclusion
Cyber attacks are getting sophisticated, and with each passing day, it has become an imperative need to be equipped with a top-class security strategy. What PureWL offers are scalable VPN solutions designed according to the specific requirements of SMBs. SMBs looking to bolster their security can consider PureWL as their trusted partner. With both the most advanced technology and expert guidance, SMBs can further navigate the landscape of cyber threats, which are constantly changing.