NAVIGATING tHe
THE TOP 10 IT PITFALLS OF SMB'S
ARE YOU SECURE?
Is your business protected from digital threats?
In today’s digital age, cyber threats are on the rise, small to mid-sized businesses are prime targets. A well executed cyber attack can cripple a small business and even open them up to litigation if protective measures aren’t taken.
46%
Of cyber attacks are on small businesses according to the 2022 Verizon DBI
87%
Increase in IoT cyber attacks in the year 2022
BE PROACTIVE NOT REACTIVE
Protect your business
Enter Smart Dolphins: your cybersecurity ally in the digital age. With a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by SMBs, we are committed to help fortify your business against cyber threats and improving its digital resilience.
EXPERTISE
We have the knowledge and tools to help you protect your information.
SOLUTIONS
Our tailored solutions are designed to meet the unique needs of small businesses.
THE TOP 10 PITFALLS
UNDERESTIMATING THE
The 2022 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report revealed that 46% of breaches involve small businesses. This statistic powerfully counters the common misconception that cybercriminals only target large corporations. In reality, SMBs are frequently targeted due to factors like limited cybersecurity resources. It’s a critical wake-up call for small business owners to recognize their vulnerability and take proactive steps in cybersecurity.
LAX CYBERSECURITY PRACTICES:
Many business owners don’t prioritize cybersecurity, thinking they are at a lower risk or that cybersecurity is an expense they can’t afford. However, most breaches are enabled by human error, meaning that improving cyber hygiene can significantly reduce your risk.
MORE CRITICAL THAN YOU THINK
Are your employees trained to recognize phishing attempts? Do they understand the importance of strong passwords? Regular employee training is crucial to mitigate the risk posed by human error.
WEAK PASSWORDS
Encourage your employees to use strong, unique passwords and implement multi-factor authentication wherever possible. This adds an extra layer of security that can make all the difference.
SOFTWARE UPDATES
Keeping your software and operating systems up to date is vital. Cybercriminals often exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software, and regular updates are your best defense.
NEGLECTING A
Don’t assume that data loss won’t happen to you. Regularly back up your company’s critical data and ensure that these backups can be successfully restored in case of an incident.
LACKING
Many small businesses assume they aren’t targets of digital attacks and as such don’t have proper protocols in place that could have protected them. Without clear and enforceable security policies, your employees may be left in the dark about how to handle sensitive data or respond to security incidents. Establish formal policies and communicate them clearly to all employees.
IGNORING
Assuming mobile devices are not at risk is another common pitfall. With more employees using mobile devices for work, mobile security is paramount. Implement mobile device management solutions to enforce security policies on all devices used for work-related activities.
FAILING TO
You might assume, like many, that you will know when you are compromised, which is often not the case. Install network monitoring tools or consider outsourcing network monitoring services to promptly identify and respond to potential threats.
THINKING MANAGED
Managed IT services are not just for large corporations; there are packages designed with SMB budgets in mind. A managed service provider can optimize your IT and keep your business safe from cyber threats.
SECURE YOUR DIGITAL FUTURE
Empower Your Business With Managed IT Services
STEP 1
Schedule an Assessment
Understanding is the first step to business empowerment. Our expert team conducts a comprehensive assessment to gauge your current technology status. We dive into your systems to identify areas of improvement.
STEP 2
Customize Your Protection Plan
Armed with insights from the assessment, we craft your IT roadmap that aligns with your business objectives and security requirements. Our approach is dynamic and adaptive, ensuring your IT strategy evolves with the changing business landscape.
STEP 3
Implement and Monitor
Deployment is just the beginning. Our dedicated team ensures seamless implementation of our modern technology and security measures, with minimal disruption. Post-implementation, we become an extension of your team, and as a Smart Dolphins client, you benefit from our continued vigilance through continuous monitoring and proactive threat detection.
BE PROACTIVE NOT REACTIVE
Ready to Secure Your Business?
We’d love to begin an assessment to show you what Managed IT can do for you.
LISTEN TO WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY
HANSBRAUN INVESTMENTS LTD.
A RECENT ANECDOTE
Foiling an email scam
A small business searched for a new IT service provider after experiencing a breach in their email system. Although they believed they had stopped the breach, they accepted a quick review of their email account to ensure their safety. What was discovered was a highly sophisticated attack that went beyond the usual methods.
What did the attacker do?
Accessed an employee’s mailbox responsible for handling payments and located emails containing attached invoices.
Created a fake domain name closely resembling the original company’s domain.
Set up a new email account using the fake domain, mimicking the employee’s email address.
Copied the email conversation from the original account, including invoices, and added it to a new email in the fake account.
Altered the entire email conversation to replace legitimate email addresses with fake ones, making the emails appear non-malicious.
Sent a convincing message to the company’s clients, claiming a change in payment method and providing new bank details for wire transfers.
HOW IT GOT CAUGHT
How did it end?
Want to know how the company caught the attacker? Read the rest of the case study by following the link below.