IT security of SMEs: risks and solutions

The IT security of companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, is increasingly exposed to cyber risks and attacks, as recently reported by Kaspersky. Many of these attacks come from inside the company and are caused by employee misconduct. According to Pierluigi Paganini, cyber security analyst and CEO of Cybhorus, the main cause of cyber attacks against SMEs is due to lack of knowledge and investment in cyber security. Human error represents the greatest risk to the IT security of SMEs. While large and small companies are equally exposed, lack of awareness and lack of controls increase the risk for SMEs.

The main threats to the IT security of SMEs

According to Kaspersky, 46% of cyber attacks target SMEs. One of the main threats comes from inappropriate employee behavior, which could put the company's cybersecurity at risk. Additionally, employee negligence or vindictive actions can negatively impact SMB cybersecurity. The use of unlicensed software or cracked versions of operating systems and applications represents an additional risk for SMEs. Lack of employee knowledge and awareness, coupled with poor attention to passwords, facilitates unauthorized access to SMB systems. Another risk concerns BYOD policies, i.e. the fact that employees use their own personal devices to work, without the right protections. Due to the lockdown, this practice has become widespread, but SMEs must adopt strict rules to avoid compromising the security of their networks.

How to ensure the IT security of SMEs

To avoid the risks to which SMEs are exposed, some basic rules must be followed. First, make sure your employees use strong passwords and learn to recognize phishing messages, thus avoiding spreading malware or falling victim to cyber scams. Additionally, it is important to implement BYOD policies that ensure the security of corporate data contained on employees' personal devices. Backing up your data is an additional security measure in the event of a ransomware-type attack. In addition, employees must be trained and informed about cyber threats in order to avoid inappropriate behavior or phishing traps. Finally, SMEs should consider using advanced information security technologies, such as multi-factor authentication systems and password managers.

Employee training: an effective solution for IT security in SMEs

To ensure SMEs' IT security as best as possible, it is essential that all employees are trained and informed about the risks of cyber attacks and good practices in IT security. Indeed, human error is the main cause of IT vulnerabilities in SMEs. In particular, employees may accidentally or knowingly put the company's IT security at risk. For example, they might fall for phishing traps, use weak passwords, or use unsecured personal devices to access company data. To avoid these errors, it is necessary to train employees on cyber risks and solutions to ensure the company's cyber security.

Information security policies to limit risks

To ensure the IT security of SMEs, it is important to implement some IT security policies, such as blocking access to corporate data through personal devices. Furthermore, SMEs should adopt advanced information security technologies, such as multi-factor authentication systems, password managers and data backup systems. Finally, it is essential to ensure that the software used by the company is regularly updated and that security patches are installed promptly. In summary, IT security represents an increasingly demanding challenge for SMEs. To avoid the risks to which they are exposed, IT security policies need to be carefully planned and integrated into a long-term strategy. In particular, SMEs need to invest in training their employees, making them aware of cyber risks and threats and providing them with the right technologies and solutions. Finally, it's important to remember that cybersecurity is an enterprise-wide concern that needs to be addressed in a collaborative and coordinated way. Only with an integrated approach and a solid knowledge of cyber threats will it be possible to protect the company from increasingly sophisticated attacks.