According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2022, 83% of organizations have experienced more than one data breach, and, more surprisingly, the average total cost of data breaches was $4.35 million each.
These figures underscore the fact that no business can afford to neglect cybersecurity, particularly SMBs, which often lack the proper tools and solutions to bounce back after a devastating breach.
Unfortunately, proper protection can be challenging to implement and the previous protocols of installing firewalls and antivirus software are no longer enough. Every small business has its own set of concerns and vulnerabilities requiring a thorough assessment to identify risks and develop a robust strategy to mitigate them.
How can SMBs that do not have the resources to devote a full-time team to cybersecurity protect their systems and their business from breaches? Cybersecurity consultants can provide comprehensive coverage that takes the individual needs of each business into account.
These consultants will perform a cyber security audit and risk assessment to identify external and internal vulnerabilities, recommend a strategy, and implement the latest measures and processes to ensure optimal protection.
Here is a closer look at how cybersecurity consultants can help SMBs.
Prevent Financial Damage
A single data breach can cost a business millions of dollars, and Cybersecurity Magazine reports that 83% of SMBs are not financially prepared to recover from such breaches. Cybersecurity consultants can implement solutions that can prevent negative financial consequences, whether it is through deterrence, or early detection and recovery, that minimizes damage.
Reducing Threat Risks
Cybersecurity consultants use innovative tools to evaluate a business’s IT environment as well as its current practices. They will assess the infrastructure of the business, along with its servers, email systems, software, file storage, cloud services, and authentication practices. Their thorough review of all threat vectors enables them to implement a robust security plan that significantly reduces an organization’s risk.
Responding To Incidents
Enlisting the services of cyber consultants helps SMBs prepare to respond to any incidents that take place. In addition to developing incident response plans that contain the steps that must be followed during attacks, they can help with every aspect of incident response when a breach occurs.
This includes identifying the cause of the attack, keeping the damage contained, and restoring the business’s data and systems. This rapid response can minimize the impact of breaches and help the business recover faster.
Ensuring Compliance
For many types of SMBs, compliance with industry regulations is a major concern. A data breach can have serious regulatory consequences, particularly if it involves sensitive customer data. Regulations such as GDPR can result in heavy fines in the event of exploited data.
Other standards, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) apply to businesses that accept payments from customers via credit cards. Finance, law, and healthcare are just a few of the industries that need to take extra security measures to protect their business, clients and reputation.
Cybersecurity consultants stay up to date on the latest regulations and best practices in a range of industries, using their knowledge and expertise to ensure that SMBs remain fully compliant at all times.
Providing Employee Training & Raising Awareness
Cyber consulting services can train employees on the latest security practices. This is important because the employees of a business are typically the first line of defense against breaches. As such, they need to be aware of the potential risks they face and how they can mitigate or avoid them.
By instructing them on everything from safe browsing to password management and email security, employees will be better placed to ensure the security of the business systems. For additional protection, these professionals can carry out simulated phishing attacks to test employees’ awareness and identify areas where improvements need to be made.
Remote Access Security
As more employees work from home, and more companies find cost savings and efficiencies by offering remote work as a benefit, the need for secure remote access has never been greater. Cybersecurity consultants can ensure employees are able to work securely from home without exposing the business to risks.
Unbiased Solutions
Cybersecurity consultants offer unbiased solutions for cybersecurity needs, which means they do not try to obligate businesses to purchase from a particular software company or hardware brand.
Instead, they consider the unique needs of the business they are working with and find an effective solution to suit their budget. When they recommend a specific product, it is because their experience tells them it is the right solution.
Protect Your Business With Cybersecurity Consulting From Advantage Technology
Computer systems and the internet are an integral part of modern business making proper cybersecurity paramount for protecting your company from breaches, hacking, data leaks, and other incidents.
At Advantage Technology, we offer a range of cybersecurity services tailored to the needs and budget of your business. Contact Advantage Technology today to find out more about our cybersecurity consulting services.
