Security assessment for SMEs: identify your cyber risks
As an SME, you naturally understand that cybersecurity is important. However, when you are investing considerable time and money in making your business profitable, cybersecurity concerns can sometimes fade into the background. Business owners should not underestimate the risks of cybercrime: research indicates that sixty per cent of businesses encounter cybercrime and twenty per cent of these organisations become victims.
“A cyberattack can bring an entire business to a standstill. Restoring systems and networks can then take a great deal of time. Our focus is on preventing this as much as possible.”
- Stef Liethoff, founder of SBL Cyber Monitoring
In today’s digital world, businesses are continuously exposed to a wide range of cyber threats, which are also constantly evolving. It is therefore crucial to understand the digital risks, the vulnerabilities within your organisation and the potential consequences of a cyberattack.
Would you like to learn more about the different cyber threats? Read our article about how cyberattacks work and what you can do to prevent them.
The main cybersecurity risks for SMEs
- Fewer employees with extensive privileges. Employees have their own workstations, all of which are connected to the corporate network. If an employee is busy or distracted and accidentally clicks a malicious link in an email, attackers may gain access to the network. This risk is increased because smaller businesses often grant employees extensive access rights, allowing them to access many different systems.
No built-in layers of security. Many organisations do not have multiple layers of security in place. This means that once attackers gain access, they may immediately be able to reach the entire network. This lack of segmentation and security controls makes it easier for attackers to cause damage. - Operational environments are not always up to date. The operational environments of SMEs often fall behind when it comes to updates. Examples include older machinery used within the manufacturing industry. When these machines are unintentionally connected to the network, they can become vulnerable to attacks. Outdated software and systems provide attackers with more opportunities to gain access.
“What we often notice immediately is that organisations have no clear understanding of which systems can be accessed by attackers from the outside. They lack a complete overview of the assets they have and how everything is interconnected. ”
- Stef Liethoff, founder of SBL Cyber Monitoring
These vulnerabilities give attackers several opportunities to enter networks, deploy ransomware and compromise as many systems as possible. This can result in an organisation’s entire operational environment being brought to a standstill. Recovery requires considerable time and money and can also damage customer confidence. It is therefore crucial to reduce these risks as much as possible.
My business needs better security. Where should I start?
SMEs can be relatively easy targets, but they can also be attractive to attackers for another reason. When your organisation works with larger customers or supply chain partners, attackers may try to use your systems as an entry point into their networks. This provides more than enough reason to conduct an in-depth review of your security.
“It starts with awareness. Once you understand where your vulnerabilities are, you can begin strengthening your cyber resilience.”
- Stef Liethoff, founder of SBL Cyber Monitoring
Before you can address security weaknesses, you need to understand your organisation’s vulnerabilities. A security assessment is an effective way to evaluate the security of your network and organisation. This process focuses on identifying and assessing the potential risks, vulnerabilities and threats that could affect your systems. During an assessment, we examine the following:
- How vulnerable is your IT infrastructure? The first step in a security assessment is to examine your IT infrastructure thoroughly and identify potential weaknesses. This can include scanning networks, servers and applications for known vulnerabilities, such as outdated software, unpatched security flaws and incorrectly configured systems.
- How effective are your existing security measures? Assessing the effectiveness of existing security measures is an essential part of a security assessment. This involves determining how well your current firewalls, antivirus software, intrusion detection systems and other security technologies are functioning. We also examine the policies and procedures implemented to maintain security.
- Which threats pose the greatest risk? Identify your attack surface. An important part of a security assessment is determining which threats are most relevant and potentially damaging to your organisation. These can include external threats, such as cybercriminals and malware, as well as internal threats, such as malicious employees or human error.
- Can you detect a cyber incident quickly? Having security and monitoring tools such as Microsoft Defender is only the first step. It is essential that someone is responsible for regularly reviewing these tools for suspicious activity. Rapid detection is crucial for responding in time and limiting the impact of a cyber incident.
- How quickly can you respond to security incidents? To minimise damage, you need to respond to security incidents as quickly as possible. This part of the assessment evaluates how well your organisation is prepared to respond to a cyberattack. It includes testing incident response plans and crisis management procedures, as well as assessing the resources and tools available for incident response.
- Which specific improvements are required? What needs to be addressed immediately? Improvements can range from updating software and strengthening network configurations to implementing more advanced security technologies.
A thorough security assessment provides comprehensive insight into the vulnerabilities and threats within your network and organisation. This enables you to implement targeted and effective measures to protect your business against the growing threat of cyberattacks.
The solution is often simpler than expected
Once you have a clear understanding of what your organisation needs to protect, you can implement the appropriate measures. These do not always need to be complex or expensive security solutions. The answer is often simpler than expected. Examples include rerouting cables so that systems use a different network or separating networks with a firewall. Existing firewalls often already provide the necessary functionality. These relatively simple and affordable measures can also be highly effective.
“Cybersecurity is not the core business of most SMEs. It is therefore important for them to have a reliable partner that can support them.”
- Stef Liethoff, founder of SBL Cyber Monitoring
Detection and response are essential
After security measures have been implemented, rapid incident detection remains essential. Complete protection is not achievable, or would at least make systems impractical for employees to use. The focus should therefore be on detecting incidents quickly and responding to them effectively. This enables organisations to take appropriate action and minimise potential damage.
SBL’s WatchEagle MDR analyses and interprets data and alerts from your IT and OT environments. We identify indicators such as suspicious IP addresses and anomalous behaviour and take immediate action.
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