*By Leticia Rocha
With technological advances and the growing complexity and interconnection between systems used by companies, it is possible to observe a constant escalation in relation to the sophistication and impact of hacker attacks on business. News about corporate giants facing huge financial losses due to shutdowns in operations, customer services, distribution networks and theft of sensitive data reinforce the dangers that large organizations face when they do not protect themselves adequately. However, it is a mistake to imagine that hackers are not interested in reaching out and generating serious consequences for the businesses of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well. Cybersecurity is far from being an issue only for large companies.
The reality is that cybercriminals attack from all sides. The false sense of security that comes from thinking that only larger companies, which handle large volumes of data and financial transactions on a daily basis, are targets causes smaller companies to overlook the threats. For this reason, and because they generally operate on tighter budgets, SMEs are often at greater risk by not protecting themselves properly.
For cybercriminals, small and medium-sized businesses are very attractive targets, especially due to their large market share and the low cost of attacking them. This is because these companies, like large companies, have adopted a hybrid and decentralized network environment, greatly increasing their attack surface. However, unlike large companies, most small and medium-sized companies do not have the security and control layers necessary to protect themselves from increasingly large-scale and automated attacks.
Even if only a few companies are affected by these attacks, the return for hackers can be significant and the impact on the company devastating, as they can gain access to bank accounts and financial systems and carry out scams that can destabilize and even paralyze businesses. Ignored or neglected vulnerabilities serve as gateways for the installation of malware that spies, remotely controls devices or encrypts data through ransomware. In order to have their information returned, companies are extorted to pay large sums. In the case of smaller organizations, a single successful attack can result in huge financial losses, capable of seriously compromising the company and its business irreversibly.
In addition to these consequences, it is important to emphasize that, just like large organizations, small and medium-sized companies also deal with sensitive information from customers and partners, which needs to be protected. Possible breaches of this data can expose them to legal risks, as they also need to comply with the LGPD (General Personal Data Protection Law), which provides for strong sanctions, including financial ones, in cases of breach. Another aspect of broad relevance is the loss of trust of consumers and partners who have their data leaked. To face these challenges, developing and implementing clear and comprehensive cybersecurity policies and digital solutions is essential.
Today, the technological landscape allows small and medium-sized companies to adopt advanced applications with the same level of protection that was previously restricted to large companies. Technology and costs are no longer barriers for small and medium-sized companies to have access to robust cybersecurity tools. The market now offers “as a service” contracting models, which allow investments to be spread over the time the technologies are used. When contracting Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions, which also include Hardware as a Service (HaaS) options, there is no need to invest in advance and it is possible to fit the amounts into the budgets according to the needs of each business through monthly payments. This way, the company has greater predictability of expenses for better management without a high initial investment.
Cybersecurity as a Service is the key to making protection more accessible to businesses of all sizes. With this model, there is no need to worry about updating tools, which are done automatically and constantly by the provider. Thus, new features can be integrated automatically, ensuring that organizations remain protected against the latest threats. Another highlight is the ability to adopt monitoring, management and support services specially designed for the profile of each business, without having to maintain professionals specialized in cybersecurity in their internal structure.
According to information from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC), of the more than 21 million active companies in Brazil, approximately 99% are small and medium-sized. As these companies evolve, their cybersecurity needs also increase. Therefore, they should see cybersecurity as a service as a solution to scale and make their protection more flexible, in an economical way, ensuring security even as their operations grow.
Small and medium-sized businesses play a fundamental role in the Brazilian economy, and in light of this, cybersecurity cannot be neglected. In an increasingly digital and interconnected world, any organization, regardless of its size, can become a target of cyberattacks. Fortunately, cybersecurity solutions are more accessible than ever, allowing SMEs to take effective measures to protect their businesses and ensure the trust of their customers.
*Leticia Rocha, Channel Manager at Blockbit
Notice: The opinion presented in this article is the responsibility of its author and not of ABES - Brazilian Association of Software Companies
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