What We Can Learn From IT Statistics

Technology plays a pivotal role in the way modern businesses function, and as a result it carries some element of risk. An example of this is how companies store electronic records. While the implementation of measures that are designed to provide greater ease of use and organization for a business’ employees make business move faster, it also makes it that much easier for a hacker to locate and steal data. Small and medium-sized businesses, in particular, are vulnerable, as they may not have dedicated IT security.

To give you an idea of how you should approach IT security for your small business, take a look at the following statistics gathered by Netwrix.

• Only 36 percent of organizations report being fully aware of employee activity on their network. Are you aware of all activity that happens on your network? It doesn’t matter if it’s your employees accessing social media, or a former employee accessing their account for who knows what purpose. Only about one-third of companies understand what happens on their network, and ignoring these facts can be a considerable threat to your organization’s computing platforms. The more you know about how your network is being used (and by whom), the more you can protect it.
• The percentage of businesses that have at least some control over employee activity on their network grew from 62 percent in 2016 to 85 percent in 2017. IT risk reports also contain some positive information. In this case, it’s that more employers are noticing the need for IT security. Most security issues happen, in at least some capacity, due to human error by employee behavior on your network. Whether or not they are deliberately trying to sabotage your computing systems is an entirely different story. Regardless, remaining cognizant of the threat to your network is key, so keep track of who accesses what information, and for what reasons.
• 65 percent of respondents admitted to having security incidents in 2016; the most common reasons cited were malware and human errors. You might be surprised by how often SMBs are targeted by hackers and cyber criminals. The point stands that small businesses that fail to implement safeguards against common security threats can fall victim to data breaches and other attacks.
• 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. Depending on the industry, some SMBs will have to adhere to specific standards put into place to ensure accountability, among other things. More than this, though, is that auditors require proof that these organizations are adhering to their regulations. This can include anything from policy implementation to compliance audits. It’s recommended that you reach out to Washington Works for assistance with ensuring compliance with these often-complicated requirements.
• 79 percent of respondents say that detecting and mitigating human errors, both malicious or accidental is critical for reducing IT risks. Humans are known to make mistakes. If an employee clicks on the wrong link or downloads the wrong attachment, they could expose your network to all manners of threats. Therefore, risk mitigation has become a major point for many organizations. Through proper training and security solutions, SMBs can ensure that their network security remains strong.

These are only five of the many aspects addressed in the Netwrix Risk Report. How does your business fare? To improve the way you protect your organization’s technology from all manners of threats, reach out to Washington Works at 301-571-5040.