Top 10 Reasons Why SMBs are Vulnerable to Malware Attacks

Not all businesses are taking the proper steps to ensure that they’re fully protected from malware attacks. Here are the top ten reasons why SMBs are still vulnerable:

1. Not Investing Enough in IT Security: the question shouldn’t be “if” an attack will occur, the question should be “when.” In a 2017 study conducted by Ponemon Institute, malware attacks increased from 55% in 2016 to 61%. Not only that but the quantity of data stolen doubled to 9,350 records of information.
2. Human Error: employees can make mistakes by clicking the wrong link or opening the wrong email that can open the entire business up to an attack. Having a managed security service provider can eliminate or reduce this problem.
3. 3. Not Staying Up-to-Date: cyber threats are evolving all the time, which can be more than a small- or medium-business owner can handle on their own.
4. Ineffective Security Protocols: strong passwords, file restrictions, and dual-authentication on all systems can be daunting for business owners, especially those who are just starting or unaware of the risks.
5. Too Expensive: running a business alone can be costly; investing money into keeping the website safe is an even more expensive task that not everyone includes in the budget.
6. No Network Visibility: if a company doesn’t know who is accessing the network throughout the day, then it can be difficult to keep your data safe.
7. Bad Backup Systems: having a backup system for data ensures that if the worst does happen, a business won’t close its doors forever. Keeping reserves of the most important files will ensure that after an attack, the business will keep running.
8. Multiple Communication Streams: employees using multiple devices to communicate or check their emails open many doors that the wrong person can exploit for their benefit.
9. Failing to Meet Compliance Requirements: endpoint security is required for all businesses, as well as the understanding of the requirements involved. However, according to a 2017 Ponemon study, 77% of the successful attacks on small business used “fileless” techniques, meaning that these requirements are not being met.
10. Cyber Criminals Don’t Care: it doesn’t matter if a business is on the Forbes’ list of top firms to work for, cybercriminals only care about taking the data and moving on.

Investing in a managed service provider is one of the best ways to guard against these attacks. It allows small business owners to focus more time on keeping the business profiting instead of worrying about the next malware attack.