{"id":174184,"date":"2023-05-10T13:34:08","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T12:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/?p=174184"},"modified":"2023-05-10T14:38:05","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T13:38:05","slug":"small-business-guide-cyber-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/small-business-guide-cyber-security","title":{"rendered":"Small Business Guide To Cyber Security"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When hearing about cyber attacks in the news, SMEs can often be lulled into a false sense of security, because usually it\u2019s large organisation breaches that make headlines. However, this is not a true representation of the facts on the frontline. SMEs are in most cases more vulnerable to cyber attacks than larger organisations.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A recent survey conducted by the British Insurance Brokers\u2019 Association (BIBA) found\u00a0<\/span>96% of all cyber-attacks are directed at SMEs<\/span><\/a>. This demonstrates that SMEs are not immune to cyber attacks and could be at imminent risk of one. It\u2019s important that SME leaders consider the financial and reputational risks of not being cyber secure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understandably, SMEs often lack the resource and time to invest in robust cyber security measures and end-user training, which is something bad actors are all too aware of. With just <\/span>28% of small and 52% of medium businesses having invested in cyber security awareness training in the last 12 months<\/span><\/a>, it\u2019s a topic that needs addressing, fast.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cyber security can feel like an overwhelming problem to address because it\u2019s an ever-moving target, threats evolve and change in line with technology. It\u2019s not a one and done scenario, it\u2019s a continuous improvement cycle to stay one step ahead. Overall, it can be a resource intensive task which keeps your employees and leadership teams away from focusing on what matters most.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, there are basic boxes to be ticked that will guide you on your journey to becoming cyber secure. Here are our top tips for better cycber security for small businesses:<\/span><\/p>\n

Place your Protection<\/b><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s key SMEs start with the basics. Think firewalls, malware protection and encryption. All with the same purpose to protect data, systems, and people in your organisation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what is a firewall?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Network firewalls safeguard your business. They add a layer to your onion of protection against attacks and bad actors. Essentially, they prevent traffic on your networks and employees\u2019 devices from sources that do not meet the security protocols you have implemented.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You should be implementing a firewall with a:<\/span><\/p>\n