Developing a robust plan for incorporating cyber defense is just as valuable for small businesses as it is for corporations that employ more than 500 people. Protecting your data (and your customer’s information) from being stolen is universal. When people illegally access your data, there may be damage to your reputation as well as your financial position.
Imagine how differently people have come to view Facebook after people gained access to hundreds of millions of records belonging to the people who utilized the platform—or how they were seen in 2016 in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Our country has witnessed an exponential increase in technological growth over the last thirty years. These improvements have enabled businesses to streamline the way customers can pay for their services or products, and platforms such as the cloud make it easy for almost anyone to store valued data. By using it, you should also view it as an obligation to safeguard what you are holding.
What Is Cyber Defense?
Cyber crimes threaten your business. Imagine a small company with less than 12 employees who provide lawn care services. Portable credit card readers allow businesses like these to take payments outside the office—or this business may take payments through their website. Regardless, this small business has to protect the credit card numbers and personal information its clients provide.
Failing to do so not only results in a direct loss of revenue (the money being stolen), but may also present indirect challenges. For example, will a potential client opt for another company if they feel your business won’t protect them from cyber criminals?
What Cyber Defense Looks Like
For the company mentioned above, cyber defense may consist of protecting the network they are working on and ensuring each employee has been adequately trained. If your employees are unfamiliar with how to protect their passwords, recognize phishing scams, and guard against malware, you are at risk. Small businesses may have significant amounts of valuable data, but they may overlook cyber defense due to cost or have a misinformed view that it is not essential. That is why a hacker may actually seek out a smaller business.
Computers can form networks to allow them to communicate and exchange information. Not only can you apply appropriate firewalls, but there are ways to control who has access to your network. Because of how quickly hackers can adapt, it is paramount that someone inside of your organization (or a third party) continually monitors your network to ensure it has not been breached.
Cueto Law Group, P.L.
The Cueto Law Group, P.L., is proud to be board certified in international law, a distinction that the Florida Supreme Court awards to less than 1% of the practicing attorneys in this state. For more information about how we can help your business with cybersecurity by implementing the correct policies, conducting appropriate training, or which software you should use, contact the established attorneys at the Cueto Law Group, P.L., to set up your consultation.
