4 Cybersecurity Trends Small Businesses Should Look Out For

Cybersecurity issues have been in the spotlight over the past few years. It is especially true since many well-known organizations have been victims of cyberattacks. With more small businesses moving to cloud-based services, data security has become a top priority.

Part of securing data is identifying areas of vulnerability. Below we discuss top cybersecurity trends that small businesses that are moving to the cloud should know.

1. Data breaches continue to be the top cyberthreat

More companies are choosing to have their data transferred to a cloud server as opposed to having it stored on local servers. The growth of virtual desktop infrastructure has resulted in the generation of even more data in cloud environments. Ensuring data privacy, therefore, will continue to be a top priority for organizations.

Security is especially important as data breaches become even more sophisticated. With lawbreakers increasingly benefiting from ransomware and other security threats, organizations must continually seek new ways to secure their data now and in the future as the organization grows.

2. The cybersecurity skills gap continues to grow

It is interesting to note that the need for professionals skilled in cybersecurity continues to exceed the supply even in an age where cyber threats are increasing. Every two in three organizations globally report lacking adequate IT staff with cybersecurity skills. Many small businesses, on the other hand, do not have the budget to hire their own in-house IT team, let alone seek a full-time cybersecurity specialist.

The good news is that small businesses can take advantage of IT security and support solutions which provide access to state-of-the-art security solutions as well as skilled cybersecurity professionals at a fraction of the price. Security solutions offered by these services often include ransomware recovery, email protection from spam and viruses, blocking of malicious software and traffic as well as intrusion protection.

3. Increasing cloud security issues

Many businesses move their data to the cloud as part of their data security strategy. However, some fail to ensure security against cloud-based threats that continue to grow. Failure to control critical data and implement real-time threat analysis puts these organizations at risk of data breaches that can cause significant losses.

Many organizations that use web applications are not too concerned about security as long as the cloud-based infrastructure is performing efficiently. They often forget that the safety of their data remains their responsibility. Seeking out and implementing additional security measures such as cloud-to-cloud backup is vital for data security.

4. Mobile devices will become an even more significant cybersecurity risk

The use of cloud desktops has increased, not only the collaboration in the workplace but also flexibility. Employees are now able to access data from anywhere and at any time through mobile devices. It, in turn, opens businesses up to the threat of mobile malware.

You can expect to see an increase in data breaches related to the use of mobile devices to access business data. Every device within a business will soon become an endpoint through which hackers can access your business’ data.

Given the rising threats to cybersecurity, organizations can’t go wrong with investing more of their resources in securing data. It is especially crucial for those that rely on cloud desktops and other cloud-based services. Securing web application infrastructure, therefore, goes beyond securing laptops and workstations. A proactive approach must be taken, which often includes real-time vulnerability management.

Vulnerability management ensures organizations can identify areas that hackers can use as openings to gain access to their data. Problems identified can be addressed, thus improving data security throughout the organization. Organizations can, therefore, stay on top of information security issues.