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Practical ways for SMBs to safeguard data

Mobile devices and cloud computing have increased the volume of online transactions, further diversifying the ways in how cybercriminals intercept data. While statistics show small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) remain vulnerable to such attacks, enterprises can take concrete steps toward keeping their information safe with the proper knowledge and tools.

Cybercriminals "thinking small"
While the high-profile hacks of big financial and corporate institutions making top news headlines may prompt some independent business owners to believe they are not worth the cybercriminals' efforts, the reality is that hackers are increasingly focusing their attention to SMBs. A CIOL article cited a recent survey-performed by Symantec that found 77 percent of SMBs believe they're safe from hackers, viruses and malware. Even more alarming from the survey's findings is that that 83 percent of SMBs take no formal measures against cyber threats, even though almost half of all malware attacks are aimed at SMBs.

As technology has continued its democratizing trend and SMBs continue relying on the internet to perform online transactions of financial or personal data, cybercriminals see untapped potential. Some estimates indicate that nearly 90 percent of SMBs bank online, said CIOL. Although smaller businesses lack the deep pool of resources of larger enterprises, they can still take meaningful steps to ensure the privacy of data.

Encryption one of the best ways to keep data secure
Using advanced encryption keys like those used in SSL certificates is one of the easiest ways for SMBs to keeps information shielded from cybercriminals. In an interview with InformationWeek, Craig Spiezle of the Online Trust Alliance agreed, cautioning that poor encryption practices leave many SMBs at risk. One such example he cited is an organization that might encrypt customer data in certain states or process steps but fail to do so when it's in motion or in use on an employee's desktop.

Though an SMB's degree of security depends largely on the business it conducts, incorporating best practices should be thoroughly explored. Even for those businesses that are aware of formalized safety protocols, it may be beneficial to regularly evaluate and update practices to ensure they remain relevant.

"Companies that were encrypted based on what standards were five years ago are easily broken into today," said Spiezle.

With the number of malware threats out there, businesses of all sizes need to be equipped with the latest in computer security. Stop by Thawte today and purchase an SSL certificate.

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