We often receive news of large enterprises victimized by cyber criminals – Despite their ability to afford the resources – funding for tools and availability specialized personnel, and potentially, having their own SOC (Security Operation Center).
This spotlight on large organizations may give the wrong impression that SMBs (Small and Medium-sized Businesses) are not targets of digital criminals.
Although some cybercrimes aim only disruption, the overwhelming intent of bad actors is financial gain.
Therefore, facing more difficulty in breaching the big guys, hackers often go after the money of more fragile targets.
Reasons why SMBs may be more vulnerable to cyberattacks
Main points are:
- SMBs may not afford all the tools and manpower needed to address the problem.
- The problem itself is constantly changing.
- There is a false belief that vulnerabilities cease to exist when cloud hosting and/or applications are used.
Hackers have only one job: beat adversaries working in security departments. Most of them are extremely technical and use very AI-based modern tools. Less capable organizations become easy preys to them.
To make matters worse, the sheer variety of types of cyberthreats demands increased and evolving specialization in various technical areas by the ones responsible for IT/OT security.
Attacks come in many flavors. Examples: Phishing, Man-in-The-Middle, Dos/DDos, Malware, SQL Injection, Ransomware, etc. – Typically, in large corporations, they are addressed by narrow-focused SecOps specialists.
It is highly unlikely that SMBs can afford such number of specialists or even the tools to contain such variety of cyberthreats.
Options for SMBs
Not long ago, businesses had to either, year after year, increase security funding to protect its data, customers, its business continuity, etc. or hope nothing bad would happen.
After ROI analyses or under duress, many times inaction was the path chosen. But, fortunately, nowadays, there are more options.
Companies may contract all, or part of the security services needed for their operations. They may outsource tasks that go from pre-deployment testing through remediation and forensics and even training for IT and non-IT employees.
Ingredients for SMB Security Solutions
Security Service Providers may offer either Turnkey Solutions or even create/enhance new business opportunities by offering Security-as-a-Service to their customers. Components of such service may include:
Professional Cybersecurity Training and Non-IT Personnel Awareness Programs
Hands-on (lab intensive), gamified cybersecurity training for IT professionals, including specializations in Ransomware, Secure Development, Red vs. Blue Teams, Ethical Hacking.
Also, as many cyberthreats exploit non-IT users, Awareness Training for those individuals is strongly recommended.
Breach Attack Simulation (BAS) Services
Cybersecurity tool, daily updated with real-life threats and scenarios to simulate attacks on the networks and applications. It allows security teams to continuously assess the effectiveness and preparedness of their network defenses.
It also identifies gaps in security, misconfigurations, and needed corrective measures before actual incidents occur.
Pentesting Services
Network Penetration Simulations to analyze and evaluate the status of security defenses. They expose network and application vulnerabilities providing data to experts to generate correction recommendations.
ZTNA Network Protection Services
Monthly-billed Network Access and Security solutions to ensure secure communication and safe access to resources by any device or people, from anywhere (on-premises, remotely).
Firewall-as-a-Service, Web Filtering, Secure Web Gateways, VPN alternatives and Network Access Controllers are some of the solutions to protect customers’ IT and OT environments.
IT/OT Observability Solutions (Turnkey or As-a-Service)
Since no defense is perfect, AI/ML-based tools provide the needed visibility and immediate response to security problems that have eluded the deployed defense assets. Network Detection & Response (NDR) Systems, and specialized hardware (TAPs, Network Packet Brokers, etc.) are self-owned/operated alternatives.
However, for SMB’s, a more practical approach may be to outsource an AI-enhanced XDR/SOC service. It may make more sense technically and financially. It may be paid monthly and according to that period’s needs. It must overlook endpoints, active network elements as well as cloud applications. Ideally based on an open architecture, it may also provide remote remediation, forensics services, etc.
Contact BAMMTECH today and learn more about this topic. Write to sales@bammtech.com and we will immediately contact you.