1. SMBs being pushed into bankruptcy by data breaches
A recent survey by Zogby Analytics confirmed what many people already knew: data breaches are wreaking havoc on SMBs. In particular, the financial implications of a data breach are overwhelming their capacity and forcing them to take drastic action.
The survey, which questioned more than 1,000 small business leaders, found that 37% of SMBs that experienced a data breach suffered financial loss and 25% filed for bankruptcy. Ultimately, 10% of SMBs went out of business following a data breach. SMBs must have a disaster response plan to deal with the high likelihood of being breached.
2. City of San Marcos computer systems hacked
Hackers accessed the municipal computer systems of San Marcos, Texas, recently, effectively shutting down the city’s email accounts and other communication services. Fortunately, there was no data breach or extraction according to city officials.
Many cybersecurity risks can be lessened with preventive measures like using strong, unique passwords and multifactor authentication. Most cities and other government entities can’t tolerate extended periods of downtime or interruption of public services. At DiamondIT, we know IT solutions for the public sector share little in common with private counterparts and are equipped to provide support for governmental clients.
3. How to get rid of malware & keep it out
More than 350,000 new malware and potentially unwanted applications (PUA) appear on the cyberthreat landscape every single day. Preventing malware is difficult because of the millions (902 million in 2019) of viruses we need to protect against.
Your journey to eradicate malware starts with thorough assessments of your IT network. Managing your cybersecurity risk and identifying areas of improvement are key to network security.
4. Consumers will stop engaging with brands online after data breach
After years of high-profile data breaches, consumers are fed up with companies that can’t protect their data. In a recent survey by Ping Identity, nearly 50% of respondents are more concerned about data security than they were a year ago. Notably, 81% indicated they would stop engaging with brands online after a data breach, and 63% of consumers believe that the company is always responsible for data security.
These findings place a significant burden on companies to evaluate their cybersecurity posture. Rather than leaving it to chance, get the support you need to ensure that your company is ready to address consumer demands.
5. Web.com customer information compromised
An unauthorized third party accessed Web.com’s network which compromised their customers’ personally identifiable information. The intrusion took place in August 2019, but IT personnel were not able to identify the breach until October 16th. The significant detection delay will compound the damage for both the company and its customers. Survey after survey reveals that customers are increasingly wary of doing business with companies that can’t protect their personal information. This reality is only exacerbated when companies are slow to detect or respond to security incidents. As a result, data security and response protocols are an integral part of doing business.