The Rise of Website Hacks
If it seems as if in recent months there has been a notable rise in website hacks, you are not alone in your analysis. In 2016 alone, there were data breaches in major organizations such as LinkedIn, Snapchat, UC Berkley, Wendy's and Dropbox. Even tech organizations such as Oracle and Cisco, along with federal government departments such as the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Dept. of Justice succumbed to attacks from hackers in 2016. Just this month, Google reported in its State of Website Security report that there was a 32% increase in the number of hacked sites in 2016.
Based off the companies reported in the news, many assume hackers prefer to prey on large organizations only. However, small to medium-sized organizations should ask themselves if they want to gamble with their own vital data. Further, many small businesses are better hack targets, as they commonly have less sophisticated security protocols, leaving them as “low hanging fruit” so-to-speak.
Whether you are a small, medium-sized or very large organization, the data upon which your organization runs on is essentially the lifeblood of your business. If you haven't already done so, 2017 is the year in which even small businesses need to ensure they are doing everything possible to protect themselves from security threats.
Specifically, as a small business owner or manager, you should:
- Recognize the irreplaceable value of your data
- Train employees in proper data and device management
- Ensure that tech staff keeps hardware and software updated
- Consider investing in a security insurance plan in case of a security breach
Keep in mind that your data not only includes data on your computers, but also your website and many other forms of technology. The best path forward is to take data security seriously and develop a plan to avoid the costly clean-up efforts required after a breach. If you would like to discuss a comprehensive plan on how to protect your organization from data breaches and other security threats, please contact us.
