As a small to medium business (SMB) in Albuquerque or Santa Fe, do you feel that IT security is not your highest priority? That your business is too small to be a victim of cyber crime?
This is understandable. Before I looked deeper into the risks of cybersecurity, I felt that way too. However, this is a real threat to you and the future of your business.
The Identity Theft Resource Center, a non profit that supports victims of identity crime, conducted and released their annual 2023 Business Impact Report (BIR). They gathered information on 551 small business owners to see how they have been affected by cyber attacks.
Their results? “Nearly three-quarters (73%) of US small business owners reported a cyber-attack last year, with employee and customer data most likely to be targeted in data breaches” (ITRC). That is a large percentage! However, 50% of these businesses said they “implemented new security tools, taken steps to prevent future breaches, and provided new training for their staff“, to prevent future attacks.
If you were to review your business’ best practices, how would you answer these questions?
- Is your business’s cybersecurity compromised?
- Is your staff trained to understand, identify, and avoid cyber threats?
- What can you do when a cybersecurity threat engulfs your crucial business data?
If you answered “I don’t know”, the very first thing to do is call your IT Security team or contact one as soon as possible. You can use their expertise to prevent threats in the future. There are a great group of reputable IT Support companies in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe area that can do this for you.
The Role of the IT Security Team Before and After the Cybersecurity Threat
You can reduce and eliminate the risk of cybersecurity threats by focusing on prevention rather than cure.
An IT Security team can help you deal with cybersecurity threats successfully. Here is how they do so:
Backup the data
Regular data backups are crucial for minimizing data loss, especially during cybersecurity threats. Your IT Security team ensures daily monitoring and backup of your business system data.
In situations like ransomware attacks, a backup helps. It provides a reliable route to restore lost data through a comprehensive recovery plan. This not only speeds up recovery but also lessens the impact of threats.
Without a proper backup, recovering lost data becomes challenging for both the business and the IT Security team.
Mitigate the risks
Having an IT Security team is equivalent to having rock-solid IT support. They conduct a thorough cybersecurity assessment that helps them identify the risks and vulnerabilities related to cybersecurity.
Their risk assessment plan involves ensuring the data backup is up-to-date, the software systems are updated, strong passwords are used, vendors are accessed to eliminate insider threats, and gaps are filled in if they find any loopholes in the security system.
Provide employees Security Awareness training
Security awareness training among business employees is reported to reduce around 80% of phishing attacks. Safety begins at home and holds true for businesses dealing with cybersecurity issues.
The IT Security team ensures business employees are aware of the cybersecurity concerns. Such training should involve the active participation of senior management as well. Cybersecurity employee training ensures that cybersecurity policies and procedures are duly followed. It also ensures the employees:
- Know the importance of frequent password changes,
- Are familiar with the use of multi-factor authentication
- Have the ability to identify any suspicious activity well before time.
- Keep themselves informed about the latest security threats and trends
Create an incident response plan
Your IT Security team is also responsible for creating an incident response plan that can be implemented in case of a cybersecurity threat. Such plans ensure all business employees know preliminary steps that can mitigate the damage resulting from the threat.
An incident response plan lays down immediate steps to take in case of a security breach. It puts communication strategies in place so that data recovery is undertaken smoothly.
Install IT security software
IT Security teams also ensure the business possesses adequate security software capable of detecting and addressing viruses and malware. The presence of firewalls is also utterly important to maximize cybersecurity defenses. Firewalls monitor your network traffic and stop any spyware from entering the system.
In this regard, IT Security teams help you choose and install the right firewall solution capable of warding off even the most sophisticated cybersecurity threats.
The team also provides various cybersecurity solutions that cover application security, cloud security, threat security, endpoint security, and other solutions.
In short, they provide comprehensive bulletproof security, from network security to database security and everything in between.
Role of the IT Security Team During the Cybersecurity Threat
If your Santa Fe business has been the target of a ransomware attack, phishing attack, DDoS attack, or any cybersecurity threat, immediately inform your IT Security team.
Depending on the type of cybersecurity threat, they will act swiftly so that minimal to no harm is done to your system. The process starts with enacting an incident response plan, identifying the impacted system, powering down devices (if required), restoring and recovering data, examining existing prevention systems, and more.
Fortify Your IT Security Defenses Today
Dealing with cybersecurity threats on your own can be overwhelming, and you may miss some important steps. Get help from an IT support team locally to deal with cybersecurity threats.
Zia Networks – IT Support, Services and Solutions for Santa Fe and New Mexico Businesses
We’re Zia Networks, an IT support company dedicated to helping businesses across Santa Fe, Albuquerque and the wider region grow and succeed with their technology.
Whether you’re concerned about compliance, struggling with tech that’s a poor match for your needs, or worried about the security of your data, we can provide secure, fully-managed services that help you overcome your most persistent IT challenges.
Get in touch today, to find out how IT services from Zia Networks can help move your business forward.
Ask us about an immediate, free cybersecurity assessment.
