As the owner of a small business in Maryland, you may have been running your business well for years. To keep up with your competitors, you decided to modernize your IT systems.
However, unexpected occured—your business was hit with a cyber attack that left you and your team scrambling to safeguard business systems.
The attackers left you vulnerable to exploitation after they gained access to customer data, financial records, and other confidential information.
Fortunately, there’s a way to keep this nightmare scenario just that—a scenario. With an experienced IT managed service provider (MSP), you can keep your business safe from cybercriminals and their malicious activities.
The Dangers of Cyber Crimes: Do SMBs Stand a Chance?
Although businesses of all sizes may be at risk of cybercrime, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are especially vulnerable. Here’s why:
1. Lack of Knowledge
With limited internal knowledge and funds to invest in IT security, SMBs can easily become the target of a malicious individual or group.
2. Outdated Security Practices
Most SMBs use outdated security practices that are unable to detect or prevent modern threats like phishing scams, ransomware, and data breaches. All the more so, small businesses often lack the tools to properly investigate a breach when it occurs.
3. Limited Resources
When it comes to cyber security, SMBs lack the resources and expertise they need to respond effectively in the event of an attack. Without a dedicated IT team or cybersecurity expert, SMBs struggle to stay on top of potential threats that could compromise their systems.
How an MSP Offers Better Security
IT managed service providers offer a variety of services to help protect businesses from cybercrime and save time in the process. An average company spends 197 days to identify and 69 days to contain a security breach. Implement the following MSP benefits and don’t let your business be next victim of attack:
Backup and Disaster Recovery
When your system is hit by a malicious attack, you will want to recover from the damage quickly. An MSP can provide backup and disaster recovery services to help ensure your data is safe no matter the damage.
Advanced Security Tools
IT managed service providers use advanced security tools such as firewalls, anti-virus software, and multi-factor authentication for stronger protection against cyber attacks. These tools are continually updated to offer the most robust security available.
Provide Awareness Training to Staff
One of the best ways to protect your business from cybercrime is by educating staff on security measures and best practices. According to Security Today, 88–95% of data breaches are caused by employee errors. Training your employees is one of the best ways to strengthen your first line of defense against cyber crime.
Manage Software, Hardware, Applications, Network, and Devices
An IT managed service provider can keep your business secure by managing all aspects of your IT infrastructure—from software and hardware to applications, networks, and devices. Managing your IT ensures that your systems are up-to-date and secure against malicious activity.
Handle Updates, Performance Issues, Slow Network
In addition to managing your IT, an MSP can also handle any and all updates or performance issues related to your IT system. This includes slow connections, which can be caused by outdated software or hardware. An MSP can help you identify the issue and provide necessary solutions quickly.
Identity and Disable Inactive Accounts
With the stress of offboarding employees, managers and leaders may forget to revoke access to business accounts. An IT managed service provider can help ensure that all former employee accounts are disabled. Protecting your accounts is crucial to avoid the possibility of malicious intentions.
How Can Telewire Keep Your Business Safe?
At Telewire, we understand the risks associated with cybercrime and how it can affect businesses in Maryland. We offer advanced security tools, backup and disaster recovery services, awareness training for employees, and identity management to help protect your business from cyber threats.
Our team of experienced IT managed service providers is dedicated to helping you keep your business safe. Are you ready to take the next step in protecting your business from cybercrime? Contact us today and get the security you need.
