The Real Cost of Cybersecurity Inaction

Imagine you’re going through your workday, business as usual, until all of a sudden, you lose control of your computer. A message displays across your screen stating that your files have been encrypted and they will be permanently deleted unless you pay a huge ransom. Meanwhile, you’re sitting there thinking, “Why me? Why my small business?”

Cybersecurity is not just for enterprises; it’s for all businesses, big and small. You need to take proactive measures now so you don’t pay for your inaction later.

What Does Proactive Cybersecurity Mean?

Think of it this way: would you rather go into emergency mode responding to a security breach, or would you rather proactively prevent that same breach through proper preparation and protection?

That’s what proactive cybersecurity aims to do: prevent security breaches altogether. The key components of proactive cybersecurity include:

• Employee training - Your employees should be able to identify and report phishing and social engineering attacks.
• Layered defenses - Security is not one singular product; it’s a stack that includes backups, endpoint detection, multi-factor authentication, and so much more.
• Continuous monitoring - 24/7 monitoring of your systems, even after hours.

With these measures in mind, you’ll be well-equipped with a strategy that ensures business continuity and reliability.

The Hidden Costs of Your Neglect

Failing to implement proactive security measures could result in hefty financial penalties, even beyond the ransom demands.

First, you’ll have to deal with operational downtime, as your business cannot function when it’s dealing with a security breach that puts vital data at risk. Then you have to consider that your customers won’t appreciate their data being put at risk. And then you layer on the fines associated with compliance penalties for heavily regulated industries. You’re essentially losing sales, productivity, customers, and capital.

Suddenly, investing in security measures doesn’t seem like such a waste, does it?

How to Make Security Easier Than Ever

We know what you’re thinking: “I don’t have time or staff to handle all of this.”

You’re not wrong; it takes an immense level of skill, time, and expertise to manage network security for an entire business. But you can make it significantly easier by outsourcing security to a trusted managed service provider. An MSP can be your single point of contact for your entire security stack. You can rest easy knowing that your network is constantly being monitored and maintained by cybersecurity professionals, allowing you to focus on your actual job responsibilities.

Furthermore, you’ll know that your business has a response plan in place, even in the event of a security incident; one that can lead to a swift path to recovery, minimizing panic and downtime.

Cybersecurity is an investment that pays off, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time. If you’re concerned about the status of your business’ protections, we’d be happy to chat and offer our assistance. Learn more by calling us today at (402) 514-3200.