Cyber criminals are becoming far more sophisticated as technology evolves and new and better tools become available. In a disturbing trend, attacks are increasingly more targeted and aimed specifically at smaller organizations. The threat landscape changes and evolves at such an alarming rate it has become increasingly difficult for SMBs without a dedicated IT staff to stay ahead of the threat curve.

It is an unfortunate coincidence that the mindset of many such companies helps cyber criminals do their jobs. Some SMBs believe that they are too small to attract the attention of hackers or data thieves. Others play the odds, assuming that it can never happen to them. Still others are convinced that a single layer of protection – a firewall, for example – will prevent an attack.

History shows that these are dangerous misconceptions. Recent research by specialty insurer Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB) found more than half of all SMBs have been hacked at some point, and nearly three-quarters weren’t able to restore all the lost data. These small companies often handle large volumes of personally identifiable information that can be very valuable or destructive if it falls into the wrong hands.

Therefore, it is crucial for SMBs to take a more intelligent approach to protecting and securing their infrastructure. Here are seven essential cyber-security building blocks that SMBs should remember when constructing, managing and executing upon security strategies:

Read the Full Article: Source – Examiner
http://www.esecurityplanet.com/network-security/7-cyber-defense-best-practices-for-smbs.html

source not found