By Muhammad Khaled, Regional Senior Solution Engineer Middle East, Acronis
Cyberattacks can cause several different types of losses to your business. Loss of access to vital customer information or critical financial data can be detrimental. Brand reputation can be impacted if customers lose faith.
Understandably, over the last year, cybersecurity has dropped in priority for many businesses. Yet, now is the time for a focus on cyber protection.
Security risks and breaches have always been a focus for small and medium-sized enterprises, but as we know from the Cyberthreats Report by Acronis, the intensity is increasing exponentially. However, many small- and mid-sized business owners say they lack the time or resources to tackle cybersecurity issues effectively.
“Knowledge is power,” as the adage says. Knowing where your business is vulnerable to a cybercriminal’s endeavors is the first step to cyber protection and mitigating risk. In an infographic, we recap the top 5 SMB vulnerabilities.
Cyber protection brands like Acronis are always monitoring for dangers to your data, deploying updates to handle newly-discovered vulnerabilities, and issuing alerts and recommendations to help you stay protected. Our global network of Acronis Cyber Protection Operations Centers (CPOCs) continues to work around the clock to proactively detect and defend against the latest cyber threats.
Last year cyberattacks rose by 400%. According to a 2021 report, 75% of personal IT users and 50% of IT professionals lost data last year — exposing the personal information of themselves, their businesses, and their clients to cybercriminals. At the same time, the vast majority of individuals and IT professionals reported that their passwords were strong and reliable and that they had protections in place to defend their data.
The survey which was also conducted locally with 200 respondents from the UAE (a mix of IT Managers and end-users) revealed some interesting insights:
Everyone in the world relies on data – from students attending classes on Zoom to MSPs managing the IT needs of dozens of different companies. But their experiences, concerns, and priorities when it comes to technology are uniquely their own.
Ultimately, achieving stronger password security or stronger security, in general, depends on users taking a new approach to their cyber protection which requires integrating cybersecurity, data protection, and protection management into a single platform.
Importance of a cyber protection awareness training program
If you have a risk management function in your organization, be it legal, IT, security, or compliance, consider implementing a cybersecurity awareness training program. A typical component of this is the regular distribution of harmless phishing emails to employees. Anyone who clicks on them receives follow-up emails showing missed phishing alerts and reminding them to be more vigilant. Other bulletin boards in the program include updates on the company’s IT security and compliance policies, tips on safer online browsing behaviors, and more. These can be of value to everyone, as almost everyone needs an occasional reminder of the dos and don’ts of basic security.
Finally, consider upgrading your traditional backup regimen to cyber protection – a combination of data protection and cybersecurity with anti-malware. This will provide you with a safety net against the most destructive and widespread types of malware that commonly use phishing as an attack vector, especially ransomware. If someone in your organization falls for a phishing scam, coronavirus-themed or not, these defensive measures can save you from days or weeks of costly data loss and downtime that threatens your business.
