The rate of cybercrime increased by 600% during the pandemic, with the cost of cybercrime damages in 2021 set to be a colossal $6 trillion worldwide.
Furthermore, nearly half of all small businesses experienced a cyber attack in the past 12 months.
Despite these shocking statistics, an estimated 56% of businesses do not have a cyber incident response plan.
What does this mean for your business?
In a nutshell, you need to be more vigilant than ever before when it comes to cyber-attacks, and you need to know the best practices to protect your business from the latest online threats.
From managing software updates to developing a business continuity plan to utilizing managed IT services, keep reading to discover how you can keep your business safe from cybercriminals in 2022 and beyond.
Manage software updates
Do you always update your software systems when requested? If not, then you could be putting your business at risk of a cyber-attack.
Although easy to forget or put off until another day, updating your software systems is crucial if you want to keep your systems safe.
To manage your software updates more efficiently, start by prioritizing patch management and making it a routine part of your system maintenance.
Know your inventory
Although this may be a no-brainer, you will be surprised at just how many businesses are not aware of exactly how many digital assets they have to protect.
If you are currently unsure about the amount of digital data that you have in your systems, now is the time to conduct a network scan to see what you have going on in your ecosystem.
Remember, it is never too late to turn your online security around and start protecting your data.
Hire an IT support company
If you do not have the time or resources to handle your data protection in-house, then you might want to think about looking into external IT Solutions. Cii Technology Solutions offers a fully managed IT services, which include cyber security and network security as well as many other vital IT services.
For those that are worried about the cost of hiring a third party, managed IT services can work out more affordable than hiring expert IT professionals in-house. Plus, you can find monthly subscription packages to suit all budgets.
Develop a business continuity plan (BCP)
Do you have a plan in place for what you would do if the worst did happen? If not, then you are putting your business in a very vulnerable position. While it may feel easier to simply cross your fingers and hope you do not become the target of a cyber-attack, the reality is you just might.
Therefore, you need to make sure you have a business continuity plan in place, which should include a full plan for data restoration.
You may also want to practice real-life cyber attack stimulations so that your employees are prepared and know what to expect during and in the aftermath of an attack.
