Cybersecurity 101: How to Defend Your SME Against Online Threats

Posted on May 27, 2021

Topics: Network Security

Cybersecurity 101: How to Defend Your SME Against Online Threats

When you think of the term cyber attack, you probably imagine a hacker sitting at their laptop taking down a huge corporation. While that may be the case in Hollywood movies, cybercrime in the real world is opportunistic. 

That means the majority of cybercriminals actually target small and medium-sized businesses due to their weaker security systems.

In fact, some 38 percent of data breaches involve small businesses, but a staggering 44 percent of small organizations have no cyber defenses in place to protect themselves. This is a dangerous approach to business in 2021.

Cybersecurity is an overwhelming topic, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an important one for your Ontario-based SME.

To help your small or medium-sized business protect its data, OT Group and end-to-end cybersecurity software developer Field Effect (which develops the Covalence cybersecurity platform for SMEs), have co-created a resource to help.

The eBook, entitled Cybersecurity 101: Your guide to getting the basics right, takes an in-depth look at everything your business needs to know about cybersecurity - from why you are a target for cybercriminals to the threats facing your business and how to protect against them.

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Cybersecurity 101: Your guide to getting the basics right covers everything your business needs to create a cybersecurity strategy that protects your business now and in the future. The ebook covers:

Understanding your company’s vulnerabilities

As your company grows, your hardware, software and network infrastructure also changes. That means your organization has an ever-evolving list of vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can use to target your business.

These are typically known as threat surfaces, parts of your IT network where criminals can identify security gaps and gain access to your network. Understanding these vulnerabilities, which could be any endpoint on your network, is the key first step in building an effective cybersecurity plan.

Know the cyber threats that your company is facing

Once you know your threat surfaces, it’s time to learn more about the different methods that cybercriminals use to gain access to your network. The most common cyber attacks typically involve ransomware, phishing, email compromise and internal threats such as weak passwords.

Start building your cybersecurity strategy

Now you know the cyber threats that your business is facing, getting started with your cybersecurity strategy is as easy as implementing a few basic cybersecurity key practices to limit your exposure. This sets a foundation that you can build on to protect your data and operations for the long term.

Cybersecurity best practices should include, but are not limited to:

  • Update software regularly.
  • Invest in employee cybersecurity training.
  • Know your network inside out to find your vulnerabilities.
  • Practice good password hygiene.
  • Use secure WiFi networks.
  • Regularly backup company data.
  • Use security services, such as antivirus software and a firewall. 

Monitor your network and detect threats with a cybersecurity solution

To truly protect your organization from the threat of cybercrime it’s crucial that you invest in a solution that monitors your network and provides your company with the ability to detect  vulnerabilities and malicious activity. 

A monitoring solution, like Field Effect’s Covalence cybersecurity solution for SMEs, should provide monitoring and detection across your entire network (including systems, software and devices), be easy to use and should provide actionable information that you can use to improve your company’s security. 

Businesses like yours are facing very real cybersecurity threats, but by implementing industry best practices and investing in a cybersecurity solution that monitors your business, you’ll be in a great position to protect your network and focus on business growth. 

For more information on any of these points please read our cybersecurity ebook, or alternatively contact OT Group today. Our team of experts would love to answer any questions that you may have.

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Your Small Business is a Target for Cybercrime - We're Here to Help!

All businesses deserve powerful, cost effective, and easy-to-use cyber security to protect their operations from cyber threats. 

We created this eBook as a primer to help you understand the cyber threats that are targeting your business and how to proactively defend against them.

Download Free Guide

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