Small and medium-sized businesses are attractive targets for cybercriminals. Between limited resources, a lack of skilled security staff and minimal IT support, SMBs are susceptible to attacks. They also house valuable data — customer information, payment details, proprietary business information and more — that makes for a significant potential payoff for cyberattackers.
So it’s not surprising that nearly half of all cyber breaches, an estimated 46%, affect companies with fewer than 1,000 employees.
To protect themselves, SMBs need to elevate their cyber resilience. This doesn’t mean simply purchasing the latest and greatest security technologies. Small businesses must proactively evaluate their cybersecurity architecture and defense measures before a real attack strikes.
That’s where security tests come in.
LEARN MORE: How third-party services can help small businesses.
How Security Tests Improve Cyber Resilience for Small Businesses
Security testing helps reveal the strengths and weaknesses of a company’s security setup that might otherwise go overlooked or unconfirmed, making these tests an efficient and effective way to help SMBs prepare for real attacks.
Many small businesses recognize what they’re up against. Six in 10 report that cybersecurity threats — including phishing, malware and ransomware — are a top concern, and 73% say they are prepared to handle cybersecurity threats, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
43%
The percentage of small businesses that report establishing formalized plans for cyberthreats in the past year
Source: uschamber.com, “Small Businesses Think Cyberattacks Are Biggest Threat, Survey Shows,” April 2, 2024
But are they really? Less than half of small businesses report having trained their staff on cybersecurity measures in the past year, and even fewer have formalized plans for future threats.
That’s part of why security testing is so pivotal. Assessments can help SMBs evaluate their security setups and make changes to enhance their cyber resilience. Doing so is a must, since 27% of small businesses say they are just “one disaster or threat away from shutting down,” according to the Chamber.
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Three Security Assessments Every SMB Should Explore
Security tests come in all shapes and sizes, but SMBs don’t have to navigate the process alone. CDW’s security assessment services can pinpoint which tests to conduct and help businesses chart a path forward based on the results.
Here are three security assessment services that most SMBs should consider to ensure they are cyber resilient:
- Penetration testing: A penetration test mimics malicious actors attacking an organization’s network to try to exploit its systems. This is typically done by a team of trained cybersecurity experts, who will use several tools and techniques to look for vulnerabilities. The testing helps SMBs identify and address any weaknesses across myriad systems. Among the top threats uncovered during pen testing are password weaknesses, gaps in multifactor authentication, unpatched vulnerabilities, privileged access issues and Microsoft Active Directory misconfigurations.
- Incident response testing: Often done in tandem with penetration testing, incident response testing assesses an organization’s ability to bounce back quickly from an attack. Incident response tests can help SMBs ensure they have the key components of an effective IR program in place and make any necessary changes to bolster the program. The benefits go beyond peace of mind: According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023, organizations with high levels of incident response planning and testing save nearly $1.5 million after a data breach.
- Rapid maturity assessment: This can be a great place to start for the nearly 90% of organizations that have begun embracing zero-trust security. Similar to a penetration test, a rapid maturity assessment provides a holistic view of an organization’s vulnerabilities. It also offers guidance on remediating incidents based on frameworks from the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. CDW’s rapid zero-trust maturity assessment, for instance, measures an organization’s IT environment against CISA’s Zero Trust Maturity Model and offers a four-week workshop with security experts to help teams design their zero-trust strategy and prioritize cybersecurity projects.
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