Navigating the Cyber Threat Landscape: Essential Insights for SMEs

SME’s have become increasingly more likely to be targeted by scammers and hackers. The reasoning is simple: businesses collect and store a wide range of consumer data, especially important personal data.

If COVID-19 has taught us nothing else, it has certainly shown the depths of human immorality in the number of new scams surfacing throughout the pandemic.

So, what are the main concerns?

• Hacking via remote working has become one of our biggest vulnerabilities. Workers don’t consider cybersecurity as business owners and managers do. Considerations such as firewalls, access management, malware protection, etc., just aren’t at the same front-of-mind positioning.
• The Internet, of all things, also creates an endless realm of possibilities for our not-so-friendly hackers. Hackers can troll through the websites our workers are on and use these to track back into our systems. To be clear, it isn’t just a case of banning sites such as shopping sites or social media (which’ve recently had a few hacking issues). Workers researching the future of your industry are just as at risk as those surfing Gumtree for a brilliant deal!

Banning social media also has unwanted consequences. How many businesses rely on social networks for brand awareness or even sales?

We even use these networks for recruiting nowadays, so removing them from circulation is the equivalent of telling a boilermaker they’re not allowed to use a flame.

• Ransomware and phishing are also on the rise. IBM reported that ransomware constituted over 25% of total cyber-attacks.
• Hackers have over doubled ransomware cases throughout the pandemic. Let that just sink in for a minute!

The Government Cyber Security Assessment Tool can be found at: https://business.gov.au/online/cyber-security/protect-your-business-from-cyber-threats

The surge in cyber threats against SMEs necessitates a proactive and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity.

Businesses must prioritise safeguarding their digital infrastructure and data against the evolving tactics of cybercriminals.

Implementing strict security protocols, educating employees about the risks, and leveraging tools like the Government Cyber Security Assessment Tool are crucial steps in building a resilient defence against cyber threats.

In the digital age, vigilance and preparedness are key to protecting the integrity and trustworthiness of business operations.