Do small businesses need protection too?

It’s easy to assume that criminals are only interested in big businesses, but the statistics show that millions of attacks happen every day, and around four in ten small or micro businesses are affected each year.

By Kate Houlden, managing director, Like Computing

We imagine hackers as having malicious intentions for a single target, but most breaches are actually caused by untargeted attacks, which scan a vast amount of networks indiscriminately for vulnerabilities.

Attackers are constantly scanning opportunities to gain access to systems. Persistent attackers will not be put off by a single layer of protection; they’ll push on until they’ve found their entry point.

Basic measures such as installing anti-virus and warning your staff about password strength and fraudulent emails aren’t nearly enough to provide full security against the wave of threats out there.

The NHS was ground to a halt by untargeted ransomware that locked down their internal systems, simply by an employee clicking on an email.

If a national organisation can be breached so severely with such a small mistake, then anyone and everyone is at risk.So what’s the solution?

The easiest way to ensure your business’ security is to get expert advice from an experienced professional.

Make sure your IT support is in proportion to the size and complexity of your business. There is too much at stake, in terms of data loss, reputational damage and fines, to be cheap about your protection.When your IT is in safe hands, you can run your business without fear of cyber threats.