The more important digital information is to your business, the more cybercriminals want to steal it. Corporate data, particularly that belonging to small businesses, has long been a favorite target for hackers. Rarely a day goes by without a raft of data breaches hitting the headlines. Keeping your company out of the cybersecurity news isn’t complicated, it simply requires a capable business partner.
Here are five reasons why you should consider outsourcing your IT support to a provider that puts security at the forefront of your technology plan:
#1. New and unknown threats
Reactive security measures such as antivirus software are no longer enough to stave off advanced threats. These solutions can only detect known threats by looking for recognizable characteristics, which means your defenses won’t even recognize malware until an infection has already hit your network.
Modern cybersecurity strategies are proactive in nature. They monitor your systems around the clock and detect potentially suspicious activities and requests before they have a chance to penetrate your network or get anywhere near your corporate firewall.
#2. Your employees are your first line of defense
All the technology in the world can’t protect your corporate data from the number one culprit of data breaches: human error. Yes, your employees are the greatest threat to data security if they haven’t been trained to understand and follow security protocols.
Employee training should play a central role in any cybersecurity strategy, since your technological measures are only as effective as the people are at using them. Ongoing security awareness training is also required by law in most industries, and an inability to demonstrate that you’re training your staff can lead to crippling fines.
#3. Compliance obligations
The fact that organized cybercriminals and small-time scammers alike are out to get a hold of business data has prompted regulatory bodies all over the world to introduce tough compliance measures to safeguard people’s privacy and online security. Failing to meet these obligations can lead to a reputation disaster, as well as enormous fines.
A clearly defined cybersecurity strategy doesn’t just give you complete visibility over your corporate systems, data, and the threats facing them — it also gives you something to show inspectors in the event that your business ends up being targeted for a compliance audit.
#4. Customer loyalty is based on trust
Although a large portion of the population remains blissfully unaware or uninterested in the serious implications of digital security, things are changing. Online shoppers and business customers are looking for trust signals, and they are getting warier about who they provide their confidential information to.
There’s a lot more to building trust than simply sticking a McAfee or Symantec badge on your website. A robust and constantly evolving cybersecurity strategy must identify the threats facing your business and better understand the needs of your customers. To that end, prioritizing cybersecurity can improve your business’s reputation and give you a crucial competitive advantage.
#5. Company scalability and flexibility
Modern technology’s greatest advantage is also one of its biggest drawbacks — mobile devices and ubiquitous internet keep us connected 24/7 but greatly increase risks to our privacy. Smartphones, for example, are at a much higher risk of getting lost or stolen and the sensitive information they store requires constant attention to prevent unauthorized access to your corporate data.
A cybersecurity strategy from a managed IT services provider comes with the right mix of technology and administrative controls to safely take advantage of cutting-edge solutions. For example, you’ll be able to safely bring employee-owned devices, cloud apps, and web-based file storage into the mix, thereby making your IT more scalable and better equipped to adapt to your constantly evolving corporate needs.
Arnet Technologies helps companies in Ohio meet and surpass their cybersecurity and industry compliance needs through technology you can depend on. Give us a call today to get your free consultation.
