August 17th 2022
CYBER ESSENTIALS FOR SMEs
In our post-Covid world, more people than ever are working from home, using their own equipment and broadband lines. As our professional and personal lives move ever more online; data protection and online security becomes increasingly important.
The Risks of Poor Cyber Security
In the last year, 39% of UK businesses reported cyber-attacks. Most of these attacks resulted in at least one negative impact, and about half of these businesses reported a substantial negative outcome as a direct consequence of the cyber attack(s) they endured. Given these figures, cyber security in a modern business world is no longer a luxury, but an obligation.
One of the biggest risks for SMEs is phishing attacks, involving a malicious link or file being opened on your computer, allowing an attacker to access sensitive, private information. These attacks account for up to 90% of all successful cyber-attacks, making them a key issue for businesses.
As a result, the exposure of sensitive information about your business and customers can cause a loss of customer faith in your organisation.
Similarly, SMEs are at a greater risk against ransomware attacks, as research suggests that 71% of attacks target small businesses. Given the scale and capacity of smaller businesses, they are less likely to have data securely backed up compared to larger businesses, which makes them an easier and more appealing target for cybercriminals.
The average annual cost to businesses exposed to breaches is £3,230. This is a manageable loss for a bigger business but may be devastating for SMEs.
Cyber Essentials
The Cyber Essentials certification covers businesses for:
- Firewalls and internet gateways – your outermost barrier to the web.
- Secure configuration – how easy it is to access your systems.
- Access control – who has permission to access, use, and change your systems.
- Malware protection – a program in place to protect against malicious software.
- Patch management – ensuring there are no gaps or holes in your systems and software.
The Cyber Essentials certification greatly increases cyber security, protecting against phishing, malware, and ransomware, as well as various other cyber-attacks. All of which can be highly detrimental to small businesses, potentially causing the loss of data, finances, security, and trust.
A government backed scheme that is simple, effective, and suitable for businesses of all sizes and sectors, the Cyber Essentials certificate is a clear and straightforward option to ensure your business’ cyber security is unassailable.
Having the Cyber Essentials certificate and covering these more common, basic attacks will mitigate against more complex attacks as well. Attackers generally look for, and return to, for easier targets. As well as a shield against simpler attacks, the Cyber Essentials certificate serves as a strong deterrent for any stronger, more complex attacks.
Your Cyber Essentials Certificate
So how can you start the Cyber Essentials certification process?
The process can begin today with Lily. Our expert IT consultants will empower you through the process, ensuring everything is completed correctly. We will further support you by working through any potential weaknesses in your organisation to ensure you pass the certification first time.
Head over to our Cyber Essentials page to get your quote.