This Season’s Top Cybersecurity Threats for Small Businesses
As the holiday season approaches, small businesses face unique cyber threats that can jeopardize their operations. Here are some of the top cyber threats to be aware of this season:
Phishing Attacks: Cybercriminals often ramp up phishing schemes around the holidays, targeting employees with emails that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as suppliers or known contacts. These emails may request sensitive information or contain malicious links. Cybercriminals LOVE to attack when tech support is trying to enjoy their holidays.
Ransomware: Small businesses are increasingly targeted by ransomware attacks, especially during busy shopping periods. Attackers may exploit vulnerabilities to encrypt data and demand a ransom, disrupting business operations and leading to potential data loss. When the office is closed for a four-day weekend, dormant ransomware has more time to spread.
Business Email Compromise (BEC): This sophisticated scam involves impersonating a company executive or trusted partner to trick employees into transferring funds or sensitive information. With its focus on transactions and logistics, the holiday season makes BEC particularly effective. Be sure everyone knows to call to verify before making bank transfers, adjusting payroll direct deposits, or running to the store to buy emergency gift cards.
Payment Card Fraud: With the increase in online shopping, small businesses that process payments online are at risk of credit card fraud. Cybercriminals may use stolen card information to make unauthorized purchases. Work with your merchant service and website providers to ensure you have all the latest protections.
Weak Passwords and Security Practices: Many small businesses still use weak passwords or have inadequate security measures. Cybercriminals can exploit these vulnerabilities to gain access to sensitive systems and data. This warning is decades old; don’t be stupid; make strong passwords.
IoT Vulnerabilities: As more small businesses adopt Internet of Things (IoT) devices, the lack of security in these devices can become an entry point for attackers. Ensuring that IoT devices are properly secured is essential. The IoT Apocalypse is on the horizon. Ensure your IT Service provider is keeping your valuables separate from your doorbell.
Mitigation Strategies
To protect against these threats, small businesses should consider the following measures:
Employee Training: Regularly train employees to recognize phishing attempts and social engineering tactics.
Regular Backups: Implement a robust backup strategy to ensure data can be restored in case of a ransomware attack.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Use MFA for all accounts, especially those with access to sensitive information.
Keep Software Updated: Regularly update all software and systems to patch vulnerabilities.
By being aware of these cyber threats and taking proactive measures, small businesses can better protect themselves during the holiday season.
At Shared Resources, we eat, sleep, drink, and breathe cybersecurity all year round. If you’re concerned about any of these items, contact us today at 704-655-0615 or info@sronc.com.