The Importance of Business Cyber Security for SME Websites

The world is increasingly taking place online, with almost 30% of all business conducted in the digital space today. Over 99% of businesses can be classified as SMEs in the UK, with the vast majority of them having websites or at least some sort of online presence. However, despite these statistics, so many seem to ignore the vitality of small business cyber security. Just because an SME website doesn’t represent a larger corporation that doesn’t mean it’s not a target for hackers – in fact it could be all the more attractive.

Cyber attacks are constantly on the rise in the UK, meaning cyber security and business operations have never been more intrinsically linked. There are plenty of avenues for hackers and cybercriminals to take when targeting a business, from the internal operating network to social media accounts. This piece will explore the importance of small business cyber security, along with offering some key tips for maintaining it.

The most common threats to small business cyber security

Before digging into the importance of secure SME website design and other measures, it’s important to be aware of the threats most likely to affect your business.

Phishing scams

The most common cyber threat to small and medium-size enterprises is phishing scams by a considerable margin. Phishing is the practice of pretending to a be a reputable company to access sensitive information about SMEs. These scams have impacted around 84% of UK businesses, thriving in their simplicity – sometimes all it takes is a link to be clicked for phishing to be completed.

Impersonation

Impersonation, is the next step up in sophisticated phishing, with attackers actively impersonating representatives from buildings through emails and communications. These attacks, while less common only affecting around a third of UK businesses, can be far more impactful if successful. The goal is generally to inspire action, such as a transfer of funds or information.

Viruses and malware

These attacks are arguably the most technically sophisticated, using harmful, purpose-made software to infect business operating systems. Viruses that get past business security can then enact all sorts of nefarious activity, such as data corruption or automated action.

Any of these attacks being successful can lead to serious consequences, such as:

• Hacked social media accounts
• Spam emails being sent to customers
• Important business documents being compromised
• Money being stolen
• And more

As an SME without the safety net of major corporations, any of these impacts could be catastrophic to your business, denoting the vitality of effective security measures.

Core practices for maintaining a safe online business

While millions of businesses go through cyber attacks every year, there are plenty of tools and tactics that effectively minimise the impact of these events. Below are some core small business cyber security practices, to ensure your SME never feels the brunt of an attack-related collapse.

• Practice mobile phone security, ensuring all work phones use systems like passwords and 2-factor authentication (applies to social media accounts)
• Train your staff to spot phishing and impersonation scams
• Installing firewalls and antivirus software to defend against malware
• Creating separate usernames and passwords for shared accounts or interfaces
• Choosing a secure web hosting and cyber security service
• Using VPNs to minimise your digital footprint and traceability

By following all of these practices to a tee, SMEs can minimise the threat of cyber attacks to their business. It’s important to remember, even if your business doesn’t operate primarily online, a cyber breach can still do damage that spills over into your physical storefront. Don’t let small business cyber security pass you by and start taking the right measures today!

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