How to Navigate the World of Cybersecurity as a Small to Midsize Organization

Last Friday, Doug Allgood, president and CEO of Blackink IT, sat down with WTHR Channel 13 to discuss the recent rise in cybersecurity attacks. The interview highlighted the preventative measures you should be taking to avoid a cyber-attack, and the harsh reality that everyone is a target.  

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According to KnowBe4, Managed Service Providers reported that only 30% of their clients feel ‘very concerned’ about ransomware. Without a real concern or motivation, the organization will not be prepared for the potential costs. Typically, small to midsize organization believe it could "never happen to them." We hope to change that mindset.

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It was found that ransomware downtime costs for small to midsize businesses are 50 times more than the ransom itself. The desire to become complacent may continue costing the organization even after the attack. At Blackink IT, we recognize the likelihood of it happening to any of our clients, as well as our own office.

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“Each time we see it in the news, we wonder, ‘OK, when is it going to happen to us?” Doug stated.

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So, what does the future of cyber-attacks look like for you? Doug fears it will only get worse.  

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However, there are clear, proactive steps you and your organization can take to prevent a potential cyber-attack. Doug outlines five main tips to make sure you are prepared.

1. Change your mindset to view an email as a “postcard.” Without the protection of an envelope, your postcard can be read by an entire mailroom. The same goes for email: avoid sending information you would not want to be read by a stranger (social security numbers, financial information, etc.)

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2. Report anything you may feel was suspicious to your IT team—whether it be a strange email, link you clicked on, or the way your computer is acting. There are no stupid questions. Trust us, our service team would rather receive an inquiry than a potential data breach.

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3. Require employees to have more than just a password to sign into email. We call this “multi-factor authentication,” which adds extra precaution to say “this is me.”  

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4. Provide education and awareness for ALL employees. It is clear: only a team can win. Check out our cybersecurity event video to listen to experts share insight on best practices.

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5. Create a robust security plan before it happens to you. Learn more in article of specific policies to include.

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Watch the full interview here.

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