The Good, the Bad and the Risky: Current State of IT Security for SMBs
Technology has revolutionized business. However, along with all the advantages and benefits technology affords us, it comes with a few risks and vulnerabilities that some businesses are still struggling to come to terms with. For example, storing records electronically makes them easier to organize and locate when they’re needed. It also makes them vulnerable to hacker and cyber-attacks. Still, most SMBs are working toward mitigating risks as opposed to abandoning the use of technology in their business operations – and a current assessment of the situation does show improvement over past years.
The following seven statistics examine the current state of IT security for SMBs, as well as why these numbers should be of importance to you and your business.
- Only 36 percent of organizations report being fully aware of employee activity on their network.
From terminated employees with continued access to your network to current employees spending the day on social media instead of working and even to Internet of Things devices connecting without knowledge or permission of a company, there are all types of unauthorized access that a business network has to be aware of. This study is saying that only 1/3 of companies have an idea of what is happening on their network. When it comes to network access, what you don’t know can hurt you – and cost your company money! - The percentage of businesses that that have at least some control over employee activity on their network grew from 62 percent in 2016 to 85 percent in 2017.
This statistic is one of the few significant positive changes that is highlighted in this business IT risk report. SMBs are finally starting to recognize the importance of access control when it comes to IT security. The truth is, many major security breaches are caused by human error (some of it intentional) from employees who access a network or parts of a network outside of their job with malicious intent. - 65 percent of respondents admitted to having security incidents in 2016; the most common reasons cited were malware and human errors.
SMBs are being targeted regularly by cyber criminals. Many of these respondents have failed to take the proper network security measures, despite a security incident. Historically, many SMBs are involved in a full-scale cyber-attack and experience loss before they fully enact and enforce network security. - 48 percent of organizations that have to comply with any cyber security standard still struggle to ensure continuous compliance and provide complete evidence of it to auditors.
Certain industries require SMBs to comply with cyber security standards and regulations, regardless of their size and network security experience. Moving forward, it will be more and more common for the entries requiring compliance to request proof of compliance, including policy implementation and compliance audits. For SMBs who can’t meet these compliances, it is recommended that they contact a third party, like Catalyst Technology Group for guidance. - 79 percent of respondents say that detecting and mitigating human errors, both malicious or accidental is critical for reducing IT risks.
The secret is out. Sometimes, humans make mistakes. Other times, they are just up to no-good. For example, malware may ravage a network as a result of an employee that accidently clicks on an attachment in their email. SMBs have started to acknowledge the element of risk generated on a regular base by humans. Businesses next need to take measures to mitigate the human threat with proper training of best practices, ensuring they take situationally-appropriate network security measures, and regularly update these measures to keep up with threats and risks.
These are just five of the many items that Netwrix Risk Report can tell SMBs about all of the threats that they are facing every day. For those of you who don’t have time to read IT risk reports, a partnership with Catalyst Technology Group will go a long way toward making your network and data safe – against all types of threats, including the human element.
Remote Management and Monitoring is Ideal for SMBs
When you experience troubles with your technology, you don’t have time to just sit around and wait for the problem to resolve itself. You need someone by your side to assist with the problem. Yet, many small businesses don’t have the luxury of an in-house IT department that can help its employees resolve problems quickly and efficiently. How can you avoid this common issue and keep downtime to a minimum in the process?
The clear solution to this issue is working with an outsourced IT provider that offers a remote management and monitoring solution. By remote management and maintenance, or RMM for short, we are talking about the ability to remotely access your systems and resolve problems in real time without sending a technician on site. This is a great solution that allows your organization the opportunity to completely cut out the waiting period, and instead get the problem resolved so that your employees can get back to work.
We’ll discuss some of the great ways that your organization can benefit from remote monitoring and management.
You Don’t Have to Wait for Help
Most issues that your team will encounter with its business technology can be solved without an on-site visit. This means that you get your support in a more efficient and less time-consuming manner, allowing you to get right back to work without experiencing crippling downtime. All the technician needs to do is remote into your computer and address the problem in that way. Of course, not all problems can be resolved without an on-site visit, so some more hands-on tasks will still require the journey to your office. Yet, you’ll be able to rest assured that your organization won’t have to put up with an unnecessary waiting time for assistance.
Your Systems Are Maintained Properly
If you don’t have an internal IT department to keep watch over your systems, an outsourced IT provider can provide this valuable service with our RMM tools. We can monitor your systems for any concerning activity, including unexpected hardware failures or the telltale signs of problematic occurrences. By preventing issues from evolving into major problems, you can take preventative measures in a timely manner and limit the damage done by downtime. Plus, we can administer patches and security updates remotely as well, all so you can stay focused on what matters most–running your business.
Your Budget Will Thank You
Why hire an entire internal IT department if you don’t need to? By outsourcing to an IT provider, you pay only a monthly fee for any services rendered, rather than an entire salary for the services of an in-house technician. You can then invest the funds saved into various other more profitable endeavors, eliminating any unnecessary costs within your organization.
Does a remote monitoring and management service sound like a perfect fit for your business model? If so, reach out to us at (317) 705-0333. We’ll work with you to ensure that you get the amount of service you need.