Leadership is an SMBs Best Cyber Defense

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Eight in 10 ransomware attacks target firms with fewer than 1,000 workers.

Aug 27, 2024

Managed IT Services

Recent research illustrates the rising wave of cybercrime against small to medium-size businesses (SMBs): Eight in 10 ransomware attacks target firms with fewer than 1,000 workers.

That’s why as a premier IT managed services provider (MSP), we encourage SMB leaders to incorporate these six National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) protocols into their risk management regimen: 

  1. Identify vulnerable systems.
  2. Monitor internal and external threats.
  3. Determine probability of incidents, estimate potential impact – tangible and intangible.
  4. Analyze controls in place, search for gaps.
  5. Calculate likelihood of incursions.
  6. Prioritize response and recovery planning.

Extend these principles into IT operations by establishing a bulwark of essential policies:

  • Acceptable Use Policy for all company devices.
  • Breach Response Policy with timelines and specific steps.
  • Disaster Recovery Policy that covers physical and digital incidents.
  • Password Protection Policy including multi factor authentication measures.

Perhaps the most important cybersecurity initiative SMB management can lead is budgeting. Effective cybersecure computing requires that security safeguards receive full funding annually, anticipating and adjusting for inevitable escalations in threat levels and the costs of coping with them.

Call us for additional IT management insights.


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