When a cyberattack occurs, it can leave your business picking up the pieces for months to come, and some companies never fully recover following a breach. 

In 2020 alone, there were around 790,000 instances of cybercrime in the United States, which is 300,000 more than the previous year. In total, these attacks cost losses of $4 million. With such a rapid increase in cybercrime and the increasing threat of attacks, you must take the relevant steps to prevent your business from being a target. Today, The National Cybersecurity Alliance details everything you need to know. 

Small to Mid-Sized Businesses Are Easy Targets

You may think you don't need to be concerned about the threat of cyberattacks on your small business. Who wants to hack such a small company anyway? Well, the harsh reality is cyber attackers know small and medium-sized companies don't take so much care when it comes to their cybersecurity. Therefore, they become easy targets. 

It's reported that a whopping 43% of U.S. cyberattacks in 2018 targeted small businesses. This staggering statistic proves just how important cybersecurity is for even the smallest companies.

You Need a Pre-Planned Disaster Response

Once you truly understand the threat cyberattacks pose to your business, the first step to take is to plan a disaster response. Also known as a disaster recovery plan, this process enables companies to respond to cyber breaches as quickly as possible and redirect resources into restoring any lost data.

Here are the steps to take when developing an effective disaster response:

• Consider which stakeholders may be impacted.

• Conduct a business impact analysis to prioritize the most important systems.

• Perform a disaster recovery plan test run.

• Review the efficacy of the test run, and make improvements.

• Review the plan regularly to ensure procedures are still comprehensive and effective.

When you have an effective disaster response plan in place, benefits include:

• Minimal recovery time

• Improved security

• Reduction of damage caused by cyber threats

Monitoring Your Security Is Essential

The big problem with cyberattacks is that they seem to come completely out of the blue. While this may be the case for some attacks, prior to an attack, there are usually signs of hackers attempting to access your server. 

Using network monitoring software can help identify where hackers are focusing their efforts and prevent them from making a successful attack. However, remember that network monitoring software needs to be regularly updated as out-of-date software leaves you vulnerable to threats. 

Protect Your Business Today

When you've worked so hard to build your business, the thought of a cyberattack thwarting all your hard work is devastating. That's why it's so important to incorporate cybersecurity software into your business.

The National Cybersecurity Alliance is a non-profit organization on a mission to create a more secure, interconnected world. If you have any questions, let us know!

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