The cybersecurity landscape has grown increasingly perilous for small businesses in recent years. High-profile data breaches and malware attacks make headlines regularly, but what often goes underreported are the staggering number of small companies suffering compromised systems, stolen data, financial losses and other fallout from cyber threats.
According to Verizon’s 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report, 25% of data breaches involved small businesses. The average cost of a single cyber attack on a small business is a staggering $8,500, based on recent survey data. For many smaller firms operating on tight budgets, that amount could prove devastating. Yet only around 28% of small businesses are prepared to handle cyber attacks.
In this ever-evolving cyber risk landscape, implementing robust cybersecurity software and practices tailored for small businesses is crucial to protecting sensitive data, intellectual property, finances, and business continuity. This article explores top software solution recommendations spanning the key categories small firms need.
Categories of Cybersecurity Software
Today, there are no bulletproof software solutions that completely and reliably guarantee cybersecurity. In successful defensive methods, there are multiple defensive solutions that are designed consistently to protect any possible critical path and exploitable vulnerabilities. Some of the main categories of cybersecurity tools include:
- Antivirus/anti-malware software to detect, quarantine and remove malicious software.
- Firewalls to monitor and control incoming/outgoing network traffic.
- VPNs (virtual private networks) to encrypt data traveling across public networks.
- Password managers to generate and store complex unique passwords.
- Cloud/endpoint backup and recovery to protect against data loss or ransomware.
Top Antivirus/Anti-Malware Options
At the frontline of any cybersecurity stack is antivirus/anti-malware software continuously scanning for and protecting against evolving virus, spyware, ransomware and other malicious threats. Some of the top enterprise-grade solutions suited for small businesses include:
Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security – Comprehensive cloud-based anti-malware protection combining workload/mobile security, web filtering, firewall, VPN and other modules. Simple centralized management.
Malwarebytes Endpoint Protection – Employs advanced behavior-based rather than signature-based detection to catch threats other antivirus may miss. Includes web protection, remediation tools.
Webroot SecureAnywhere – Innovative cloud-based solution leveraging file pattern analysis and machine learning. Ultra-light footprint ideal for mobile workforce security.
Firewall and Network Security Picks
Firewalls serve as a gatekeeper monitoring and controlling network traffic to identify and block potential threats from entering a business’s local systems. Leading SMB-focused options include:
Sophos XG Firewall – Combines high-performance firewall capabilities with intrusion prevention, web/app filtering, VPN, ATP anti-malware and more in an integrated solution.
WatchGuard Total Security Suite – Delivers an easy-to-deploy unified threat management (UTM) bundle for SMBs with firewall, antivirus, data loss prevention and more.
Cisco Meraki MX Firewalls – Cloud-managed protection combining auto VPN, content filtering, intrusion prevention, site-to-site security and unified threat management.
VPN and Security Suite Recommendations
Virtual private networks (VPNs) are invaluable for securely accessing business applications and data remotely or when connecting via public WiFi networks. Top business VPN solutions include:
Nord VPN Teams – Reliable service offering 256-bit encryption, malware/tracker blocking, and centralized billing/team management capabilities.
Express VPN – High speed servers across 94 countries with impressive security/privacy standards and easy client setup for remote workers.
Some businesses may prefer an all-in-one integrated security suite rather than juggling multiple point solutions. These can offer unified visibility and control with options like:
Bitdefender Gravity Zone Business Security – Combines workload/mobile security, encryption, firewall, anti-spam and more into a single cloud console.
Norton 360 for Business – Brings together device security, cloud backup, secure VPN and additional online safety tools in one package.
McAfee Total Protection – An 8-product security bundle including antivirus, web control, encryption and more managed through one dashboard.
Password Managers & Extra Tips
The password managers are universally advised as they help to create complicated and unique passwords for the business applications and the websites. Among many others, a list of top choices might comprise 1Password, Keeper, Dashlane.
To increase security, enable multi-factor authentication where possible, so that the system remains safe even when passwords are stolen. Routine security orientation for all employees must be the priority.
We also recommend that small businesses have a backup and disaster recovery plan in place, for data protection and the continuity in case of incidents such as ransomware, hardware failures and others. Services are available on a wide range from a cloud backup services being fully automated to involving IT consultants or managed service providers.
Conclusion
Each local business requires a custom layered security plan that combines right kind of software tools with best practices that identifies its own risk profile and vulnerabilities. There is no magic pill but a combination of these options like anti-malware, firewalls, VPNs and the suites we have covered earlier can be a strong foundation.
Regular software updating, security protocol training, and proactive listing of any software installation. It is good advisable for small ventures that have scarce resources to partner with IT security consultants or managed services providers in order to keep everything in order.
With the multitude of today’s complex cyber security threats constantly evolving, making an investment in strong cyber security is a no-brainer move for your organization to help ensure its longevity and reputation.