A study conducted by the Small Business Authority reported that only 27% of small business owners have used a third party to check the security of their network. Only 39% have data backed up in more than one location.

Preparing for Cyber Attacks

• Periodically hire a network security specialist to analyze how well protected your data and systems are. The outside perspective can help to find gaps in your security.
• Have a plan in place, just in case. Any real incident will be unique in how much and what type of data is compromised, so dealing with a specific data breach will require an individualized response. However, examining potential scenarios will help your organization be better prepared.

Avoid Panicked Customers

Generating hypothetical response plans can help you achieve thoroughness in the event of a breach, without overreacting. Many companies don’t respond or notify customers until they absolutely have to required by law. Customers can lose trust in the company this way, wishing that they had been notified sooner. Other companies jump out of the gate, releasing information prematurely, before they have all the facts. This can cause customers to panic and lose trust in the company because they are unable to answer questions or provide more info.

According to the Georgia Tech Information Security Center, the following are specific cyber threats to look out for in the coming year:

• Search Poisoning - Attackers will increasingly use SEO (search engine optimization) techniques to optimize malicious links among search results. This makes users more likely to click a URL because it ranks higher in Google and other search engines.
• Mobile Web-based Attacks - More attacks will be aimed at mobile web browsers. Because there are device constraints (small screen size), it's harder to solve web browser security flaws.
• Stolen Cyber Data Use for Marketing - Private user information that is shared on social networking sites will be collected and sold to business channels for marketing and lead-generating purposes.

For cyber security tips, click here. For more resources about cyber liability and protecting your risks, feel free to contact us. 

Information from Insurance Journal