Is your business Cyber Secure?
The days of thinking that cyber-attacks don’t occur very often and that they only happen to larger businesses that operate in the public sector are gone. The government reported that approximately 30% of businesses had a cyber security breach in 2019, top that with the spike of cybercrime, largely due to remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s never been more important to prepare your business for such an instance.
What are the common threats and why does it matter if my business gets attacked?
Financial loss, data breaches, reputational damage and overall business downtime are just some of the risks that a cyber attack can have on your business. For example, a malware attack can create a virus on your computer systems bringing your business to a halt until you can get the damage rectified. A phishing attack can result in important, often financial data being stolen which can result in financial losses to your business. It really makes good business sense to ensure that your business is as protected as it can be from Cyber attackers.
What can I do to protect my business against a Cyber-attack?
There are various steps and procedures that you can put in place to ensure your business is equipped to deal with such an attack. One of the key things you can do is to undertake a Cyber Essentials Assessment. It is a government backed assessment that allows you to check if your business has the right processes and technical controls in place to mitigate against a possible cyber-attack. The assessment is done through completion of a simple self-assessment questionnaire that assesses your business against five basic security controls which is then verified by a qualified assessor to ensure you satisfy all the requirements. You benefit not only from the protection that Cyber Essentials gives your business but also you show new and existing customers and suppliers that you are trustworthy and reputable company to do business with.
At AdEPT we have recently become Cyber Essentials Plus certified which is the highest level of certification offered under the Cyber Essentials scheme. Cyber Essentials Plus offers the same approach as the Cyber Essentials Assessment but with a more rigorous, robust technical audit of your IT system by a Cyber Security Expert to ensure that all five of the basic security controls have been implemented effectively. Vulnerability tests are carried out on your IT systems to ensure that you have implemented the correct controls to ensure your business is protected against basic hacking and phishing attacks.
Whist we hope that your business is never affected by a cyber security breach, undertaking a Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus assessment will give you peace of mind that you have mitigated as much as you can against the threat of such an attack.
If this article has been helpful and motivates you to start thinking about securing your business against Cyber-attacks and you need any further information on cyber security or how to undertake a cyber essentials assessment for your business, please speak with one of our IT Advisors today.
