Today, the risk of cyber-attacks poses a serious threat to any business, regardless of its size. Research shows that 75 percent of SMEs feel that the number of cyber attacks has increased over the past three years. Saying that cyber-attacks are caused by constantly occurring and extensive security gaps, Komtera Technology Sales Director Gürsel Tursun lists 7 precautions to be taken against the cybersecurity risks faced by SMEs.

Cybersecurity experts work day and night on cyberattacks from all over the world. On the other hand, small and medium-sized enterprises struggle to find internal security technology resources and fill the human resources gap to manage the threat of attacks in the face of cyber-attacks with a growing and critical domain. So much so that 75 of the SMBs surveyed by Forrester believe that cyber attacks have increased in the past 3 years. Komtera Technology Sales Director Gürsel Tursun argues that SMEs’ internal security vulnerabilities enable most cyber-attacks and states that SMEs have 7 critical risks arising from the lack of cybersecurity and that they need to address these shortcomings.

SMBs must be protected end-to-end

SMBs are lacking in developing effective end-to-end cybersecurity strategies. The severity of cyber attacks, especially by hackers who are aware of them, is increasing. Gürsel Tursun argues that SMEs, which have become the most popular target of cyber-attacks, should be aware of the potential risks that cyber-attacks pose, stressing that it is very important to take precautionary measures against 7 potential cyber-risks for SMEs.

1. The lack of network security needs to be corrected. Access points and internet interfaces to the IT network are not secured in SMBs. As the Internet is the place where many corporate cybersecurity threats lurk, SMBs also face serious threats when they fail to adequately protect their IT networks and Internet interfaces. Therefore, SMBs need to have security solutions that are properly configured and regularly maintained, such as firewalls and proxy servers.

2. Updates should not be neglected. The fact that the operating systems, applications, virus scanners and firewalls that SMEs use on their devices are not up-to-date poses a serious risk. Missing updates also make the job of hackers easier. Therefore, operating systems and servers must be equipped with up-to-date virus scanner versions to recognize malware signatures.

3. Regular backups should be made. A data loss can cause both material and moral damage to an SME. It should not be forgotten that data is part of the considerable working capital of companies and must also be protected against leaks. Therefore, regular backups keep data safe and protect SMBs from data loss.4. Avoid using a wireless network (WLAN). The fact that wireless networks owned by SMBs do not meet current security standards acts as an open gateway for cyber criminals. Wireless network access points must be equipped with the latest security standards to prevent malware from entering the IT systems of SMBs via wireless networks and cyber-attacks from hackers.

5. Employees should be trained in cybersecurity. Employees must be familiar with attack methods, such as social engineering or phishing, and be able to deal with these attacks with a sense of risk. That is why it is important to regularly train SME employees about possible cyber risks and the importance of cyber security.

6. A disaster recovery plan must be established. Continuing business operations is also jeopardized in the event of IT failure if the SME does not have a disaster plan. A recovery plan identifies all necessary actions to be taken in an emergency to ensure IT is operational again. With a sound recovery plan, SMBs can quickly resume their day-to-day operations after an IT failure and minimize losses.

7. Define the lack of IT security responsibilities. In the absence of clearly defined responsibilities for cybersecurity in SMBs, IT security cannot be guaranteed in the medium and long term. Responsible people must identify these shortcomings and find solutions to the weaknesses. As SMEs do not have clear responsibilities for IT security, they should be able to get this support as professional support from consultants who provide expert information and security solutions.

Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency