Why Is Cybersecurity An Important Investment?
Have you ever wondered whether you’re paying too much for cybersecurity services and solutions? Cybersecurity is crucially important — and you should understand why.
When everything is going well, the last thing you want to do is think about what will happen when something goes wrong.
If you’ve been lucky enough to avoid a cybercrime event so far, that doesn’t mean you should expect that to be the case forever. It’s not necessary to dwell on the potential for a security disaster though — what’s important about this is that you know to cover your bases.
No need to assume the worst – just plan for it, so you know you’re protected.
As that old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Do what you need to do to “prevent” now, so you don’t have to pay for the “cure” later. To start, that means understanding the threats you currently face.
Check out our latest video to learn more:
The Reality Of Cybersecurity & Cybercrime
There are two primary reasons why you need to start taking your business’ cybersecurity seriously:
- The Threat Is Real – It’s estimated that the global cybercrime industry will cause up to $6 trillion in damages in just a few years. Today, the average phishing attack costs businesses $1.6 million, and the average ransomware payout is $116,000.
- You’re A Target: It doesn’t matter whether you’re a big target for cybercriminals like Capital One, or a small organization – 43% of all breaches involved small businesses in 2019.
What Is Cybercrime And Who Are Cybercriminals?
By definition, a cybercrime is, “an intended illegal act involving the use of computers or other technologies.” Cybercriminals employ a range of methodologies to penetrate their targets’ systems, from phishing to CEO fraud to adware.
Cybercriminals operate all around the globe, trying to steal personal information for sale on the Dark Web, or extort significant amounts of money directly from those whose data and systems they compromise. Additionally, unsuspecting employees and unaware personal users can also pose a threat to their own data security by accidentally clicking the wrong link or downloading an unsafe app.
All of the methods employed by hackers involve infecting a user’s or business’ network with dangerous malware. A poorly trained employee can be a key part of this process, clicking a link in a phishing email, or downloading disguised malware off the Internet.
How Do You Know If You Are Secure?
Cybersecurity can be a complicated and scary subject that’s often ignored because of those same reasons. Most business owners cannot confidently claim that their business is secure.
Can you? Some of the questions you should be asking yourself include:
- Are my computers, servers, laptops and mobile devices secure?
- Is my network equipment secure? (Including Firewall, ISP modem, switches, and WiFi Access Points)
- Do I have appropriate Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware software installed on your systems?
- Are my desktops and servers maintained with regular patches and updates?
- Are my business’ passwords strong enough to prevent cybercriminals from figuring them out?
- Are my cloud-based assets secure?
- Are my employees informed about Security Threats and how to protect your clients’ data?
Why Is Your Cybersecurity IT Budget So Important?
With IT shifting from just another piece of equipment in the office to the core of operations and a key aspect of how you defend your business, you should designate it as a central part of your budget.
This also means that you must assess and clearly define how IT aligns with your business objectives to decide what you’ll need for the coming year(s). Proper IT budgeting will help you lay a foundation for success for the future.
Using the right IT solutions can help you:
- Increase your operational effectiveness
- Ensure optimal productivity from your employees
- Overcome operational challenges
- And, most importantly, stay protected
Need Expert Cybersecurity Guidance?
Don’t let your cybersecurity suffer, and don’t assume you have to handle it all on your own — Parkway Tech can help you assess your cybersecurity and develop a plan to bring it up to par.
You can start improving your cybersecurity in three simple steps:
- Book a meeting with the Parkway Tech team at a time that works for you.
- Let us assess your cybersecurity and address any vulnerabilities.
- Get back to focusing on your work, instead of worrying about your cybersecurity.
