To stave off cyberattacks and phishing plots, you need someone who can spot them from a mile away. You need a cybersecurity professional! Think about it, without someone who can help you control the outcome of a cyberattack, you could owe over $34k in bills and restitution fees! Not to mention the giant hit your reputation would take.

Hackers know that small business owners are less likely to secure their businesses, that's why 43 percent of cyberattacks target SMBs. Is refusing to learn about the benefits of hiring a cybersecurity professional worth your dream of business ownership? We think not.

These are the top 5 reasons why hiring a cybersecurity professional stands to benefit your business!

Reason I: New technology demands better security practices. Cybersecurity professionals must stay up-to-date on cyber trends and threats so they're able to mitigate data breaches as they happen. The number 1 cause of cyberattacks is human error, and if you or your employees can't spot a phishing email (half of all employees can't!), your cyber pro will.

Reason II: Having a cybersecurity professional on staff builds your trust factor. With cyberattacks making the news every week, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of what it means to be cyber secure. This means they're less likely to do business with a SMB that doesn't take precautions. Demonstrating that you have a cybersecurity plan backed by an IT professional will help build trust between you and your customers.

Reason III: Downtime after an attack will shrink. Today, a cyberattack isn't a matter of if, but when. And when a hacker exposes your security flaws and shuts down your business, you'll be able to get it back up and running with the help of a cybersecurity professional. They'll find the cause of the breach and stop it.

Reason IV: Streamline cybersecurity procedures. When a cyberattack happens, you have to act fast. If your employees have to wait for your go ahead to enable security defenses, you're wasting precious time. A cybersecurity professional can go after the hacker, close the gap, and have contacted your customers all before you've stepped into the office.

Reason V: Stay up-to-date on government and contractual requirements. Running a business is a full-time job, and so is managing its cybersecurity. With so many balls up in the air, you risk dropping one. A cybersecurity professional will allow you to focus on the big picture while they make sure the business is meeting the necessary cyber and data requirements set by your partners and local government.

Phew! Can you imagine having to take care of all of this without a cybersecurity professional? That's a lot of extra work! When you hire the right people, your business flourishes. And before your resident cybersecurity expert has to tell you, make sure you get cyber insurance; it has your back.