Five Cybersecurity Red Flags That Are Often Missed

Every business relies on technology to function. Some wouldn’t be able to deliver any value to their customers without it, while others would be severely hindered if they suffered a data breach. For this reason, cybersecurity has to be a priority. In today’s blog, we will discuss five issues that business owners run into that can muddle their cybersecurity efforts.

Not Taking Security Seriously Enough

For organizations that think that cybersecurity is just a line item on a budget, things can get dangerous quick. Since your technology effectively runs every part of your business, security issues can have a negative effect on literally every part of your organization. Cybersecurity initiatives are more than a budgetary concern; they are existential ones. Since a breach can happen at any point in your business, you need to consider the ways you can protect your business continuity. This often requires investment throughout your business, and one number on a budget doesn’t provide the context needed to address the issue sufficiently. 

You Are Being Targeted, Whether You Like It or Not

Many decision-makers see these horror stories of companies dealing with multi-million dollar hacks and their reputational fallout and think to themselves, “not us.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Any success a business has just serves to create a bigger target for opportunists. Face it; we live in a time when individuals and groups seek to exploit any business they perceive as “low-hanging fruit.” If taking action to reduce your organizational risk is part of your mandate, paying attention to cyberthreats has to be at the top of your list.

Lack of Training

Training your employees to navigate potential cyberattacks is essential for every business. Not only do they need to know how your organization handles these issues, they need to know some best practices to help your organization avoid them in the first place. Training them on the best ways to build secure passwords, how to identify phishing attacks, what to do when they encounter one, and why your organizational procedures are in place in the first place puts the truth right out there: cybersecurity is a team effort, and it starts with them functioning responsibly in regards to documented policies and procedures. 

Breakdowns in Communication

Say you have a big contract that you need to fulfill. Do you often want a status report to ensure that everything is on the up and up? 

Of course, you do. 

Good communication is a key component to a well-functioning business. Why then would you not have constant, meaningful conversations with the people you entrust to ensure that your business’ digital assets are secure? Every business owner needs to schedule regular meetings with their security team to get status updates and ensure they have sufficient information to protect their business. Going long stretches of time without reaching out can have dire consequences.

IT Support is a Mess

For a great many businesses, technology is a headache. This is why you have an IT department. The people who work behind the scenes to support the efficiency and overall effectiveness of your business. For some organizations, keeping IT staff is not only a challenge; any turnover or inconsistency can leave holes in your network security. Many organizations choose to partner with an outside vendor to look after their IT to remove these concerns. Even if you have an active IT department working for you, you can always use an extra set of eyes on your business’ cybersecurity. At Preferred, we offer co-managed services that work with your IT department to ensure that you get the coverage and support you need to avoid costly inefficiencies resulting from dealing with cyberthreats.

If you would like to learn more about how we can help you prioritize your organizational cybersecurity, support your training initiatives, and more, give our team of IT experts a call today at 708-781-7110.