How Secure Are Businesses?

It may seem like just another mundane work day till you click on a link that says ‘Cute kitten playing with a string’ and then all hell breaks loose. Enter Crytowall: a malware capable of affecting personal information stored from credit card details, social security number, to customer information. Although, the housing of such data is not on the affected computer, viruses like Crytowall enter the home network and encrypts all the stored files. These files are often held for a ransom for the decrypt code. Small businesses thrive on good reputation and when that is endangered they can do nothing but give in.

For all you know, the intent of malice is never true and the claim to decrypt code may just be a bluff which the small business often fall for. Once the bait has been bitten into, the company loses its money and resources. The result: complete cease of operations within the next 6 months. The only option left is to rebuild the network, if there are available funds or shut shop.

Survey conducted by the National Cyber Agency also agrees with the postulation that small companies which become victim of cyber-attack sink after six months. If recent events are anything to go by, it can be deduced with zero error that no one is safe from cybercrime- not the big conglomerates or small start-up. According to IBM, mid and small sized companies are a favorite target for cyber-attacks. Over 60% of such small business shut before they gather enough resources to get back up again.

Is There No Solution Then?

There is no problem without a solution. If something seems too magnanimous to solve, the time taken may be longer but a solution will be sought out, nonetheless. If there is one safe harbor from cyber-crime, it is VPN. Virtual Private Networks offer complete anonymity while connected to the internet. All data exchanged through this channel are encrypted and decryption is only possible at the other end of the tunnel. Switch all networks to VPN and open any link you please knowing that there is no entry point of any threat into your business network. The best part about a VPN is that there are solutions for all scales of businesses. Educate employees not to open any attachment sent by unknown sources and always update all the systems connected to a network.