Security Priorities for 2022: What Small and Midsize Businesses Need to Know

 Despite all the news about cyber attacks and cyberattacks, 9/10 IT and security executives believe that their companies are failing to address cyber threats, as per the Foundry 2020 Security Priorities Study.

However, there is some good news. A lot of small businesses lack security expertise and turn to outsourcing companies to help. In the year ahead, 21% of them plan to completely outsource their security requirements.

But, before you do that, take a look at this: Many managed service providers (MSPs) are also lacking the expertise in security. When faced with cutting-edge cyber-attacks, their strategies could be limited to setting up basic firewall rules and then deploying antivirus software, according to Gaidar Magdanurov, chief success officer at Acronis.

However, having a stronger security posture is the expense of companies. This can lead to holes and risk for both SMBs as well as their customers.

"We typically see that few SMBs have a strong security posture," Magdanurov declares. "So, when they are serving as vendors of large enterprises, they inadvertently become the weak link in the security chain." For one example, Magdanurov refers at a number of security breaches that have occurred recently at large retailers, like Target as well as Home Depot, through third companies.

Security Initiatives for SMBs

First, you need engaging with partners that have the capability to implement or manage the security event and information management (SIEM) systems as well as analyze events to identify security risks, Magdanurov explains. "Reactive security is not enough, and SMBs need to have security solutions that assess vulnerabilities, deploy patches, and improve configurations."

SMBs must invest in systems capable of quickly restore their systems to a working state following an attack while keeping an archive of the data for analysis and research to ensure that future breaches are not. If you're not sure what to do about prioritising and dealing with these issues threats, an MSP with expertise in security or a managed services provider (MSSP) could be a great resource.

"The partner will help you understand the possibilities available, based upon the budget you're able put aside for security",'' Magdanurov adds.

The people who are accountable for around 95% of violations.

It is also critical to invest in employee education around security best practices because people are still responsible for about 90% of all breaches, he added. Such incidents might occur when users open a phishing email, adopt weak passwords, or leave unlocked devices in public.

"SMBs should also demand for the MSP as well as MSSP partners review regularly their security posture to continuously improve the security of their environment Magdanurov adds.

When Finances are Limited

For those with a small budget, at a minimum, Magdanurov recommended the implementation of a comprehensive system that blends security with the protection of data and management.

"SMBs need proactive protection with patch management capabilities, vulnerability assessments, and antivirus and anti-malware protection," He states. They also require the capability to recover quickly when there is a a failure by restoring backups in a way that is automatic, if it's possible - to local hardware, or cloud storage.

A fully integrated service is the best choice for cost-effectiveness, Magdanurov says, because "it allows an SMB - or the MSP managing their infrastructure - to save on resources spent deploying multiple agents and managing multiple consoles, maintaining a patchwork of solutions, and training staff to work with disparate vendors." Utilizing multiple platforms the complexity of your system and increases the possibility of human error, according to him, which reduces the security of your business and putting it at risk.

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