Despite their efforts, small businesses often fall victim to cyber attacks.
There's a bit of a misconception that only the largest and most notable companies are targeted. Small businesses, however, have fewer resources to dedicate to prevention, detection and resolution, which makes them prime targets.
So what happens when a small business experiences a cyberattack? In short: a lot. There are numerous steps these companies must take to actively confront the intrusion or breach and deal with the aftermath.
While small businesses may have smaller IT budgets than other firms, that doesn't make a thorough response any less important. Some of the best practices to work through include:
Identification of warning signs or an attack: Small businesses must always be on the alert: It's modern reality that threats are lurking just about everywhere, both outside and inside the company.
Prompt action to secure and stanch further loss: Once an incident has developed, small businesses are on the clock to rectify the situation. This includes securing networks during the near term and laying down further defenses for the long term.
Notification of affected customers or parties: The hardest part for any small business is crisis communication. Notifying customers, business partners, vendors and other stakeholders is a priority once the situation has been controlled. Companies have to be thorough and honest in their public responses, as well as ready to answer questions. No small business wants to think it will be the victim of a cyberattack, but the odds aren't promising: Almost half of all small businesses will face an event. It's crucial they be prepared to remedy the event and ensure customers are aware of next steps.
This information is provided for general awareness purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as legal or compliance advice for your business.