Cybercrime is a concern for businesses of all—and we mean all—sizes, from the small mom-and-pop shop down the road to the multinational enterprises, and it’s a concern for a variety of reasons. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons that these massive businesses worry about cyber incidents and see if there isn’t some common ground.

Surveyed Board Directors Identified Their Three Biggest Concerns, in Terms of Cyberattacks

Looking at their responses, they were split pretty evenly…and their reasoning might just resonate with you.

36% Were Most Concerned About Their Operations Being Disrupted

One of the biggest, but often overlooked, impacts of cyberattacks in general is how thoroughly they can throw the proverbial wrench into the entirety of the impacted business. The fact of the matter is that normal operations are almost certainly going to be put on pause to some degree. In severe enough cases, they may be suspended entirely.

It’s no surprise that a third of board members were most concerned about this particular outcome, and it makes sense for you to be concerned, too. About 60% of small businesses that suffer a cyberattack are permanently closed within six months.

36% Were Most Concerned About Their Internal Data Becoming Public

The penalties for data leaks are extensive and significant. Not only are there serious consequences to your business directly, as we’ll touch on next, but there are very real legal ramifications that could also do their fair share of damage to your continued operations.

While large corporations have things like trade secrets and other pieces of information that make this a significant concern, the damage these kinds of leaks can do cannot be underestimated for businesses of any size.

34% Were Most Concerned About Their Reputation Being Damaged

Let me ask you this: what if your identity was stolen, and it was because a company that you had entrusted your information to didn’t do everything they could to protect it? A business’ reputation is a real form of capital nowadays, and being attacked can lose you some significant value where it is concerned. Many enterprises understand this, even when their brands are strong enough to power their way through many cyberattacks, and many do what is needed to prevent this exact outcome.

Now, consider the average small business, which could very easily live or die based on word of mouth. If anything, you should be more concerned than these executives and act accordingly.

We Can Help Keep You From Worrying About These Things

Of course, it is always better to avoid being a victim of cyberattacks and other similar incidents. Our cybersecurity tools, strategies, and training can help you do so. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help. Call us at (760) 466-1200.