Interesting read — Small businesses struggle the most with Cyber Security

We came across this interesting article by Arnold le Febre from the Dutch knowledge platform, ChannelConnect.

"Only 9% of companies in the Netherlands are well-prepared for future cyber attacks, while 77% expect to be attacked in the next two years. Smaller companies are the most vulnerable. This is evident from the Cybersecurity Readiness Index, a worldwide survey conducted by Cisco."

Jan Heijdra, Cisco Netherlands Security Specialist, believes that "Small businesses may not see themselves as an obvious target for cyber-attacks, but in the global economy many of the smaller businesses are important partners or a crucial part of the supply chain for larger companies or the public sector. sector. This could allow cybercriminals to disrupt or access critical systems through subcontractors."

To mitigate this risk, Jan urges small businesses to:

1. Do what is possible and do it now

Even if you don't have the financial strength to make big, far-reaching changes, there are always some measures that can be taken immediately.

For example, it is important to think now about the possibilities in terms of data recovery after a cyber attack. It is also advisable to test regularly: simulate an attack to train employees so they know exactly what to do in case of a real attack.

In addition, this is a good way to discover any vulnerabilities before a cybercriminal does.

2. Create a culture where Cyber Security is central

The vast majority of cyberattacks target people, not infrastructure, so it's important for employees to know they are the first line of defense against cyber threats.

In addition, organizations must create a culture that encourages employees to report a risky situation as soon as possible, such as accidentally clicking on a potentially malicious link.

3. See the advantages of small scale

Larger companies struggle to keep up with the Cyber Security race too. Changes there are often more complex and take longer, especially because they have to take into account the existing infrastructure.

In a small organization it's easier to be agile, flexible, and think outside the box. It's also easier to build the so-called “cybersecurity culture”, create activities around it, involve all employees, and make cybersecurity a common goal.

Talking about things like CEO fraud gets more response when employees are close to management.

Read the full article in Dutch.

Is your business prepared against Cyber Crime?

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