Your biggest security risk, how to ensure your systems are secure and the remote risk.

Here at Synergy IT, new clients often come to us after they’ve experienced a cyberattack. Suddenly, the need for cybersecurity is brought home to them, and they have a lot of questions. Rather than waiting until you’re in a similar situation, we’ve got the three top questions we hear – and the answers you need to know now.

What is the biggest IT security risk for small businesses?

While attacks fall into three main areas – scam messages, business email compromise and malware – we’d say there is another, even more important risk, because the biggest risk for SMBs is a lack of investment in IT security.

Many SMBs assume they’re not an attractive target for cybercriminals. The reality is that cyber criminals often see small businesses as easier targets.

Figures from the Australian Cyber Security Centre show small businesses are spending less than $500 a year on cybersecurity on average. But the average cost of per cybercrime report for small businesses is $39,000.

Is my IT setup secure?

With IT security, there is no 100 percent foolproof solution which can guarantee to stop an attack. Each step or process you have in place, however, is an additional preventative measure.

Here at Synergy IT, we take a layering approach, customised to the individual small business. DNS filtering, which filters your internet traffic and protects against things like malware and dodgy websites, is one layer, but beyond that are network, device and user security options.

Each layer helps reduce a potential cybersecurity threat, providing further resilience against current day cyberthreats and hacks. The layered approach also provides SMBs with the security that is right for them, because it’s not a case of one size fits all.

What risk do my remote users expose me to?

Covid may have resulted in more people working from home, but it’s not just the home environment where remote working takes place. Do your staff every travel for work? Hold meetings in a café? That home, café, airport, or any other place outside of your business network increases your cybersecurity risk if you don’t have the appropriate protections in place.

Your employees’ home networks typically have consumer grade devices without IT security built into them. Added to that is that they most likely are also using other devices, such as Xboxes, Playstations and smart home offerings including wireless speakers, which connect to the home network and can be vulnerable to attack.

Putting a business network into every home location clearly isn’t affordable, but there are solutions available.

Likewise, if your team is working beyond the home network there are simple solutions which can provide the security needed, no matter where they are.

And a bonus fourth question we often get from customers: Do I need cyber security insurance?

While cybersecurity insurance is recommended for any business, it comes at a premium and there are often requirements around a minimum level of cybersecurity a business must have.

The good news is, by increasing your security posture and adding layers of security to your business, you can often reduce cybersecurity premiums significantly.

If you’d like help to determine your current risk profile and security, and to hear how you can get enterprise grade security at a small business price, contact the team at Synergy today.