Don't become a statistic, get in front and keep your team safe
Here’s a not-so-fun subject for Monday, but incredibly important to talk about: Malware attacks.
These scary cyber threats are hitting small and medium businesses (SMBs) harder than ever before.
All business owners/managers know the importance for some form of cyber protection, however what isn’t always understood is that the days of relying solely on antivirus are gone.
Threats are far more sophisticated than in the good ol’ days, as such your approach to mitigating these risks also needs to be ‘upgraded’. You need to be proactive on several fronts to fully understand how to defend your business.
First things first, what exactly is malware?
Think of it as the digital equivalent of the germs that make you sick. Malware, short for malicious software, is like the flu virus of the cyber world. It’s designed to sneak into your computer systems or network and wreak havoc in all sorts of ways.
Attacks aren’t always immediately noticed either as malware can lay dormant for a period of time and then rear up its ugly head.
So, what kinds of malware are we talking about here?
Well, according to a recent report, there are a few major troublemakers: Information-stealing malware, ransomware, and business email compromise (BEC).
You might be wondering why you should care about malware. Let me set the scene. You’re running your business smoothly, minding your own business, when BAM! A malware attack hits.
Suddenly, your files are encrypted, your systems are locked out, and you’re being held hostage for ransom.
Sounds like a nightmare, right?
That’s the reality for many SMBs facing malware attacks. It’s not just about losing money – it’s about the potential damage to your reputation, your operations, and your customers’ trust.
But the good news is there is light at the end of the tunnel, and there are plenty of ways to fight back against malware and keep your business safe and sound:
Educate your team: Teach your employees to spot phishing emails (an email pretending to be from someone you trust), suspicious links, and other sneaky tactics used by cyber criminals. A little awareness goes a long way.
Armour up your devices: Make sure all your computers and devices are patched with the latest security updates and are equipped with the best software to prevent attacks such as antivirus, EDR.
Back up your data: Regularly back up your data to secure offsite locations. That way, if you are attacked, you’ll have the ability to restore your files. This is also a win because it helps protect your business in case of fire or natural disaster.
Fortify your network: Improve your network security with firewalls, encryption, MFA, email filtering software and other powerful tools. We can help with all of that.
Stay sceptical: Be cautious of suspicious emails or requests for sensitive information. When in doubt, double-check the sender’s identity and never click on risky links or attachments.
Have a plan: Prepare an incident response plan for dealing with malware attacks. Think of it as your emergency playbook, complete with steps for containing the threat, recovering your data, and reporting the incident. A solid plan allows your business to quickly react to any threats without people scratching their heads as to what to do.
At Runtime IT, we appreciate how tough it can be for a SMB to not only deal with the day to day running of their business but also to know how to effectively handle their IT needs and cyber security mitigation.
Our team of expert techs are here to help! We will work with you to assess your current environment, give you details of what you need to prioritise and help keep your business safe.
Get in touch today.
