In recent years, an increasing number of small and medium-sized businesses (SMB’s) have become attractive targets for cyber criminals, often causing a range of problems and issues. So could your company be at risk? If so, what are the biggest cyber security threats predicted for 2022? Well, here at Creative Network Solutions, we are Manchester’s leading network solution specialists. From designing and optimizing specific information technology strategies, to hosting cloud server storage solutions and top of the line security, we are the team you can count on, for all your networking needs. As such, we have produced this guide to the latest in cyber security trends and threats for SMB’s.
Increasing cyber security risks for SMB’s in 2022
In the recent past, it was only the Fortune 500 companies that really needed to take care with data, storage and network security. But over recent years, there has been an increase in the number of SMB’s targeted by cyber criminals, causing varying degrees of damage. This is because, in the opinion of cyber criminals, SMB’s are potentially easier to breach. These businesses are perceived as having less-sophisticated security infrastructure than larger companies, with fewer trained people on hand to manage and respond to threats quickly and effectively.
What are the predicted cyber security threats for 2022?
So, what are the biggest threats to SMB’s in terms of cyber security breaches? And what kind of damage can these threats have? Well, here are the most common threats SMB’s have been tackling in recent years:
- System downtime
- Lost revenue
- Ransomware
System downtime
Any cyber security threat for SMB’s will result in some system downtime, which can impact on your regular day to day activities, as well as trading and your business practices. This is because, for any SMB, the core IT systems are usually interconnected, and this means that any type of cyber security attack can easily spread from system to system, increasing the risk of the threat, and increasing the amount of damage caused. Pair this with fewer IT resources, including staff, and its understandable that SMB’s take longer to recover from cyber crime.
Lost revenue
Cyber attackers are often searching for financial gain, which is often taken from the company itself, or from their customers. And this means that for many SMB’s, loss of revenue is a very real threat accompanying cyber crime attacks. This also includes any lost opportunities or a loss in trading due to system downtime.
Ransomware
Ransomware is becoming a huge problem for both the public and private sector, with an increasing number of SMB’s involved. This can be especially costly for small businesses, which are often more likely to pay any demands quickly, to resume operations as soon as possible.
How can we help?
Working with a professional team, like us here at Creative Network Solutions, means that you have access to a dedicated cyber security team who can not only help to protect your network, data and IT services, but who can also train your staff to be aware of the realities, and warning signs, of cyber crime. Why not get in touch today, to find out more?