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What’s Next For Your Micro-Business
Your Small Business May Have A Security Gap
A report released this past summer showed that 56 percent of small businesses have experienced at least one information security breach in the past year.
The report, “Small Business Information Security Readiness,” came from the Small Business Technology Institute (SBTI) and Symantec Corp. It confirmed that small business information systems are increasingly vulnerable to attack. Computer viruses, spyware and malware were cited as the main causes of the security attacks.
The report’s findings reveal that the rate of information security exposure is growing as small businesses deploy increasingly sophisticated information technology (IT) and automate more of their business processes. The report concludes that small businesses must take immediate steps to protect themselves from the productivity and economic losses that occur when sensitive business data is compromised as a result of viruses, hackers, privacy threats or disasters.
“Small businesses represent an extremely high point of exposure for the U.S. economy based on their significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and their insufficient information security readiness,” says Andrea Peiro, CEO and practice director of Market Intelligence for SBTI.
“This issue is of critical importance to small businesses,” Peiro says. “Any data loss or system downtime resulting from security incidents can severely affect their ability to do business. SBTI has identified a significant opportunity for small businesses to mitigate the risks and improve operational control by embracing a proactive approach to information security based on solutions designed expressly for their needs.”
What You Can Do
If your small business hasn’t yet suffered an information security attack, chances are you will … unless you protect your data. Here are four steps you can take to secure your information.
Evaluate your risk. Wireless networks, mobile computers and always-on Internet connections pose significant security risks, even for home-based businesses. Identify those areas that are vulnerable and start looking for ways to add layers of security. Educate yourself. Learn about the security threats to your small business. By understanding the economic consequences of security breaches, you’ll be more likely to set up defenses. Set a budget. The survey from SBTI and Symantec found that only 30 percent of respondents have increased spending on information security. Less than half (41 percent) allocate a specific budget for security solutions. Admit that you’re going to need to spend some money to protect your data. Make those funds a part of your small-business budget. Look for solutions tailored to small businesses. Get online and research security solutions that can benefit your business. Firewalls and anti-virus software are a good start. But depending upon your systems, you may need more sophisticated solutions.
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(Posted September 2005) |
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