In a world where risks are on the rise, cybersecurity is key. Cybersecurity refers to the body of technology processes, and practices designed to protect networks, devices, programs, and data from attack, damage, or unauthorized access. Cybersecurity is the protection of internet-connected systems such as hardware, software and data from cyber threats. This practice is used by individuals and enterprises to protect against unauthorized access to data centres and other computerised systems. It can also be simply said that Cybersecurity is “Risk Management”.
Some reasons your business needs a cybersecurity system
•Protection against External Threats: Millions of cyber threats are created every year and at great cost to businesses. While primarily launched for financial gain, the reasons behind cyber-attacks vary as the perpetrators themselves. Whether it is cyber criminals, hacktivists, or industrial spies, the common ground these bad actors share is how agile, sophisticated, and stealthy their attacks are becoming.
•Protection against Internal Threats: The weakest link in the cyber security chain remains the human factor. Whether it’s accidental, negligent, or outright malicious, insider threats can come from current or former employees, third-party vendors, or even trusted partners. But with proactive monitoring of networks and managed access, detecting and responding to threats can cut down on costly incidents. Moreover, providing consistent, up-to-date training can help turn risks into another extension of the cyber security solution you need.
•Regulation Compliance: For industries that still remain under-regulated, there’s an opportunity for businesses to invest in cyber security and see compliance as more than an obligation. In fact, according to data privacy and cyber security law experts, leaders could approach cyber security in regulatory compliance as “a competitive advantage, getting ahead of industry competition before under-regulated industries become regulated.”
•Improved Productivity: Viruses and other cyber-attacks can slow networks and personal devices down to a crawl, making it virtually impossible for employees to work, for websites to function, and for businesses to operate. By implementing a range of cyber security measures such as improved firewalls, virus scanning and automated backups, you can drastically reduce violations and the downtime it takes to remedy the breach. Education and training can also help guide employees in identifying potential email phishing scams, suspect links, and other nefarious criminal efforts.
•Cost Savings and Value: As cyber-attacks only continue to grow more sophisticated and complex every day, it’s important to weigh the cost of dealing with one attack versus the value of taking preventative measures. By mitigating risks, you put your business in a better position to respond, recover, and keep existing customers happy, a far more cost-efficient option than attracting new ones.
•Brand Trust and Reputation: Perhaps the greatest case to make for cyber security in business is the reputation that you earn and keep. One of the most important factors in business growth is customer retention. Maintaining brand loyalty through a strong cyber security position is paramount for customers today and the shortest path to repeat business, recommendations, and higher per-ticket purchases. It also opens doors to potential future ventures and expansion, helping producers land on the vendor list with larger organizations as part of their supply chain that is only as strong as their weakest link.
As a business, looking to maximise diverse commercial opportunities, maintain a sterling brand perception, and grow, you must adopt cyber security to protect your networks, devices, programs, and data from attack, damage, or unauthorized access from potential cyber-attacks.
You can sign up for a tool like Acronis to be fully protected and proactively avert severe consequences such as reputational damage, loss of business data, and financial costs.
