If you've spent any time reading cybersecurity news, you probably have seen more than a few stories discussing the cybersecurity skills gap. For those who don't know, the tech industry is suffering from a lack of talented employees specially trained in cyber defenses, which leaves organizations open to digital threats.
In truth, cybersecurity is something of an arms race between hackers and defenders. With cybercrime on the rise and lack of skilled defenders in the industry, we could see more small and medium businesses (SMBs) victimized.
Fortunately, cyber liability insurance from CyberPolicy can help insulate SMBs from financial ruin brought on by cyberattack or data breach. But even so, it's much better to block an attack from happening in the first place.
Until the skills gap is filled, companies will have to make do with what they have. Here are a few ways to do just that.
Hire an Agency: Because of the skills gap, SMBs often have trouble finding new hires with the cybersecurity chops necessary to defend their network and devices. However, SMBs can still enlist the help of an agency. For example, you could hire a team of consultants to work in your office for a week to assess any vulnerabilities and prescribe solutions. Or you could hire an external IT team to monitor your network for anything suspicious.
These services might seem a little pricey at first, but it is far superior to losing thousands of dollars to a cybercriminal.
Employ Artificial Intelligence: Cybersecurity experts are wonderful people, but even they can overlook a serious threat to your organization. They are human after all, and humans can't be expected to be online 24/7/365 or match the speed of an automated attack. For this reason, some companies are enlisting the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
That's right, AI programs are joining the fight against cybercrime by identifying malicious activity and flagging it to human professionals. Over time the AI solution learns which incidents are legitimate threats and works to block them with minimal human intervention.
Host In-House Training Sessions:If you can't seem to find security experts to hire, you might as well transform your staff into cybersecurity experts themselves. Start by hosting quarterly or even monthly cybersecurity training sessions to discuss common threats and how to avoid them. Popular topics include:
You should also consider hosting video training session for your remote team members.
Invest in Cyber Liability Insurance: Finally, you should invest in cyber liability insurance from a reputable provider. SMBs are a prime target for cybercrime because hackers and crooks know these organization often lack the resources and staff to properly stymie attacks. These attacks can cost thousands of dollars in damage and sometimes even bankrupt fledgling companies.
Don't let your small business become an easy target. Shore up your defenses, educate your staff and invest in cyber insurance from CyberPolicy today!
