BBB: Keeping Your Business Safe Online

When huge organizations like Apple or Amazon are breached, it makes national news.  But what happens when small and medium size businesses (SMBs) are hit by cybercrime? They rarely get mentioned in the news, but that does not mean that they are immune to these exploits.  In a study done by Verizon Communications’ forensic analyst unit, it was estimated that nearly 72 percent of data breaches were at companies with less than 100 employees and anticipate that the trend of targeting SMBs will only increase.  SMBs will continue to attract the interest of cybercriminals because they are typically easy targets. They lack the expertise, time and budget for adequate protection. It’s not a matter of who they’re targeting but what they’re targeting … your money and your personal information!

So, what should we do with this information?  “Be prepared is the simple advice,” stated Jim Hegarty, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa. “As the term ‘cyber security’ continues to become used more in everyday conversations, everyone should be building their awareness, knowledge and importance of this growing industry. Cyber security is not only about adding layers of security technology but is also about understanding and managing your cyber security risks.”

The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), the nation’s leading nonprofit public-private partnership promoting the safe and secure use of the Internet and digital privacy, recommends that a business needs a comprehensive cybersecurity plan to focus on:

Prevention: Solutions, policies and procedures need to be identified to reduce the risk of attacks.

Resolution: In the event of a computer security breach, plans and procedures need to be in place to determine the resources that will be used to remedy a threat.

Restitution: Companies need to be prepared to address the repercussions of a security threat with their employees and customers to ensure that any loss of trust or business is minimal and short-lived.

For more information, visit bbb.org and staysafeonline.org.

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