Cybersecurity statistics small business need to know
Cybersecurity is the practice of making sure that not only computer systems, networking elements, but also each and every digital aspect of your business are fully shielded from malicious intent of cybercriminals and hackers. Internet and hacking-related crimes have increased gradually and no consistent decrease could be reported in these states during the past decade. This probably means that as the opportunities for conducting businesses using digital means grow the likeness of the cybercriminals trying to attack these businesses also grows accordingly.
If we talk about the past cybersecurity trends and breaches then we probably would be here all day long. Not only has the number doubled from the past two years but also the very mode of attack these criminals use continues to get updated and changed all the way through. But the purpose of this article is to present the current cybersecurity risks being faced by small businesses. Let's be honest on one thing, if you could hack a small business organization with a weak and crumbled security system then would you go out to hack a bigger one with stronger and better security?
No, you won't because it is easier to go after someone who is weak and timid and the same psychology applies to the small businesses along with the cyber threats these encounters. Following is a list of the most recent cybersecurity stats for small businesses;
- Small businesses and data breaches
According to some latest stats, about 43% of all the data breaches target small businesses. The trend is not that new because it is rather easy to target small businesses because they don't have that astounding definition of cybersecurity. This whole point kind of explains itself and doesn't require that much of an explanation to make it clear to the audience. Small businesses, weak cybersecurity practices the hackers can easily target this whole shenanigan, do the math.
- The newer influx of cyber breach at small businesses
In recent years a solid 400+% increase in introducing new cyber breaches and practices has been observed. Where do these new threats emerge from? Is the line of hackers and cyber criminals changing? No, they are still the same but in order to remain in the business, some sort of diversity is required. If they don’t continually upgrade themselves with the latest and greatest equipment then soon they will be out of the game.
Too bad small businesses and digital enterprises don't bring out that much up-gradation and diversified practices to counterfeit these new illicit cyber implementations by the hackers. No wonder small businesses are an easy target.
- Lack of funds
Why business is categorized as a smaller or a start-up? Well, the obvious reason without beating about the bush is that these enterprises lack funds to improve their security. Almost 83% of small business owners weren't so supportive of implementing dedicated cybersecurity practices at their place. Some argued that it was an obvious waste of their money and it was better if that money was spent somewhere else. While others accepted the need for such extensive cybersecurity practices but they couldn't meet up with the total cost for such implementations guarding their business.
- Breaches and downtime
They say downtime is the real killer of the small businesses, but in reality in the incapacity of these enterprises for not upgrading with the latest definitions of cybersecurity is what's really keeping them in the plummet. If a small business carrying about 200+ employees comes around cyber breach then it can evidently lose about 8-10 hours of total working time. Now this estimate is only valid for so many small businesses and the rate at which they can neutralize the breach and its added consequences.
- Email phishing
The concept of email Phishing is as old as it goes. Many businesses, corporations, and organizations from around the globe experience these phishing emails on a daily basis. But as it goes they have dedicated streams of engineers, cybersecurity experts, and moreover the cloud technology looking after them regarding such malicious activities. So, what happens is that large businesses get around these phishing emails. But for small businesses, it is more of a consistent struggle.
Every 1 in 323 emails these enterprises receive is malicious. Meaning due to inefficient cybersecurity practices and technology these malicious emails don't get sorted or properly treated. That is why these make their way into the security infrastructure of small businesses disabling the firewalls and providing imminent access to the hackers who designed the whole plot.
The future cybersecurity predictions about the small businesses suggest that the spike would continue to rise because of less and less attention spared by these enterprises. And if something were to happen then now is the time otherwise the game might be lost forever for these small enterprises.
Cybersecurity certifications might help you get around the type of career that you have always wished for yourself with a handsome pay rate and added responsibilities.