The Risks of Not Having a Managed IT Security Plan For Your Business

Did you know that there are 2,200 cyber attacks happening per day? As an owner or operator of a small or medium business, not having a managed security plan can put you and your business at risk in several ways. Companies might run into data breaches, loss of sensitive information, and damage to their reputation. Additionally, they may also face financial and legal repercussions if they do not comply with industry regulations and standards. In this post, we will discuss the potential risks of not having a managed IT security plan and what actions you can take to proactively address cybersecurity threats when it happens.

Your Business vs. Cyber Attacks & Data Breaches

First and foremost, not having a managed security plan can leave your business vulnerable to cyber attacks. A cyber attack or data breach can also result in losing trust from customers and a loss of company revenue for a business. There are a few signs that can indicate a potential cyber attack or data breach. Some of the most common indicators that you and your employees should look out for are:

• Unexpected pop-ups or system messages
• Strange activity on network logs
• Unusual activity on bank or credit card accounts
• Suspicious emails or text messages
• Unusual changes in the system configuration
• Unusual slow down or crash of system.

Avoid clicking on anything such as suspicious links or attachments as your IT department team will need to investigate further and take appropriate action to secure the system and prevent further breaches.

Significant Fines if The Business is Being Non-Compliant With Industry Regulations

Another risk of not having a managed security plan is that your business may be non-compliant with relevant laws and regulations. Regulations may be different depending on each country, state, and situation. But here in the United States, specifically in California, we have the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). We saw a high-profile example of receiving a significant fine in 2018. Yahoo was fined $35 million by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for failing to disclose a data breach that affected over 500 million users.  With that in mind, this can be preventable by implementing best practices around your cybersecurity. 

Following Best Practices to Ensure Proper IT Security Measures 

To protect your business from potential risks, following best practices and having a comprehensive up-to-date IT plan will be beneficial. Best practices include:

• Regular software updates and patching
• Employee education and training on security risks
• Regular backups of important data, and 
• Implementing strict access controls. 

Employees can help protect themselves by being vigilant and avoid sharing personal information or passwords with anyone. Employees should also be familiar with company policies and procedures for reporting potential security incidents and should report any suspicious activity to your IT department. When your business works with a managed IT security provider, they should ensure that your systems are continuously monitored and protected against potential threats.

The CORE Group: Your Trusted IT Security Provider

At The CORE Group, cybersecurity and managed IT services are where we shine. Our team of IT consulting and service professionals provide clients around Long Beach and surrounding areas with peace of mind in a world where technology gets smarter but risks and vulnerabilities to security breeches increase. 

Interested in learning more about the safety you could gain by partnering with The CORE Group? Contact us today! 

With managed IT services by The CORE Group, our certified technicians will design, maintain, and monitor your entire IT infrastructure. Other services we offer include managed security, business continuity and disaster recovery, cloud solutions, and IT consulting, to name a few.Partner with The CORE Group to manage your IT services so your business and employees stay protected in a digital world.