Check Your Cyber Hygiene

Did you know that small businesses are more vulnerable to cyber-attacks?

With the growing trend of cyber-attacks, it’s not a matter of IF you will be attacked, it’s a matter of WHEN you will be attacked. Are you prepared for that?

One thing you always want to be aware of is your “cyber hygiene”. According to embroker.com, that refers to “regular habits and practices regarding technology use, like avoiding unprotected WiFi networks and implementing safeguards like a VPN or multi-factor authentication. Unfortunately, research shows that Americans’ cyber hygiene habits leave a lot to be desired.”   Here are some statistics they offer:

• Nearly 60% of organizations rely on human memory to manage passwords.
• 42% of organizations manage passwords using sticky notes.
• More than half (54%) of IT professionals do not require the use of two-factor authentication for access to company accounts.
• Just 37% of individuals use two-factor authentication for personal accounts.
• Less than half (45%) of Americans say they would change their password after a data breach.
• And just 34% say they change their passwords regularly.

It’s hard to believe, but we have become so comfortable with technology it has made us lazy. Because the threat is not coming from someone standing in front of us wearing a mask and holding a gun, we often forget how real the threat is and what is at stake.

Small Companies Make Easy Targets

It’s an easy mistake to think cyber attacks only happens to large companies. We all remember the Colonial Pipeline debacle, and more recently the payroll giant Kronos was attacked.

However, just because the small companies don’t make the news, they are often easy targets. Small businesses are less prepared, and most will have a very difficult time recovering.

According to strongdm.com,

• 82% of ransomware attacks in 2021 were against companies with fewer than 1,000 employees.  
• 37% of companies hit by ransomware had fewer than 100 employees.
• 87% of small businesses have customer data that could be compromised in an attack.
• 55% of people in the U.S. would be less likely to continue doing business with companies that are breached.
• 75% of SMBs could not continue operating if they were hit with ransomware.

Can your business afford to pay a huge ransom for your data? Can your business’ reputation withstand the news of a breach of information? What are you willing to lose by not making sure your business and its data is secure? 

B2 can offer multiple options to make sure you have done everything in your power to be sure what you have is safe.