5 Security Red Flags and What to Do About Them

Technology is so ingrained in business that it’s nigh-impossible to operate without it. For this reason, cyberattacks on businesses are even more devastating, as they can halt operations and expose important data. Today, we want to highlight five common problems you might encounter with your cybersecurity.

You Don’t Take Security Seriously

Businesses that don’t have cybersecurity as a budget line item are sure to have a bad time.

This is indicative that they are not treating cybersecurity with the attention it deserves. Cybersecurity risks are more than just monetary risks; they can potentially drive your business into the ground and threaten its survival. You need to do everything you can to use your IT to prevent and address issues of business continuity and cybersecurity.

So, start with the easy step of investing in your business appropriately and ensuring your budget allocates funds toward cybersecurity.

You Don’t Realize You’re a Target

Most hacks you see out there are the big, high-profile ones from multimillion-dollar companies, but they don’t tell the whole story.

You might not see them in the news, but small businesses fall prey to cybersecurity attacks all the time. Any successful business is at risk of a cyberattack, and since small businesses tend to lack the resources of large corporations, cyberattacks are all the more deadly. It doesn’t take much for a hacker to exploit a lack of cybersecurity, and the same threats can topple large corporations or mom-and-pop stores all the same.

Pay attention to cyberattacks and ensure security is at the top of your priority list.

A Lack of Training

If you’re not training your employees, then you’re not giving them the information necessary to stop cybersecurity attacks in their tracks.

There are plenty of best practices to keep in mind that can put an early stop to the vast majority of cyberattacks. You must ensure your team has the knowledge and expertise needed to act when the time is right. Some topics to consider include phishing attacks, password security, how to report attacks, and organizational policies and procedures.

Remember, it’s not a matter of if they become the target of an attack; it’s when.

Communication is Inconsistent at Best

Good communication is central to any successful business, and it’s important, too, for cybersecurity.

Business owners should hold security briefings regularly to review updates and ensure that they are adequately protecting the organization’s infrastructure. The state of computing is fluid, and new threats are developed daily while older, less secure systems start to phase out. If you’re not communicating with your security team, how can you expect to know what to invest in for the future?

Remember, your communication with your security team is how you will keep your business safe.

Lackluster IT Support

Technology is not among most businesses’ priorities, and rightfully so—you have other things to worry about, after all.

That said, this often leads businesses to forsake the important stuff, like IT support, in exchange for more time to focus on their business operations. You’re lucky if you have an IT staff, let alone one qualified to handle every challenge you throw at them. This is why many businesses outsource their IT support to a third party.

Lucky for you, Washington Works can be your go-to resource for any and all IT needs, including your all-important cybersecurity.

To get started, call us today at 301-571-5040!