Why an all-in-one security approach is best for SMBs

Guest post by Francis O’Haire, Group Technology Director, DataSolutions

Many of DataSolutions’ customers are small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and, just like larger enterprises which have reams of data, they have a high level of ‘cyber concern.’ Moreover, the belief that cybersecurity isn’t as important for SMBs as it is for larger organisations is a misconception.

No business is too small to be a target and sadly, thieves are very interested in smaller businesses because they are often badly defended from a cybersecurity point of view and offer easy pickings.  Moreover, the impact of a breach on an SMB could potentially be more damaging than it is to a larger business.

It comes as no surprise then that 80% of SMBs1 would consider an all-in-one security solution to manage all their security concerns. Indeed, this trend towards adopting an all-in-one solution is becoming increasingly common within the SMB community both in the UK and Ireland. So, if you are looking to make an investment in cybersecurity, here’s what you need to know.

The challenge faced by SMB leaders

A major challenge facing SMBs today is the increasing threat of cybersecurity attack, combined with a lack of expertise and budget to combat these threats – the most common among SMBs being phishing, malware and credential theft (according to Check Point).

Even in times of economic uncertainty, cybersecurity needs to be a top priority – especially when you consider the potential cost of a breach. That’s not to mention the knock-on impact on productivity, customer trust and business opportunities.

It is therefore critical that SMBs adopt the correct strategy and invest in the right tools when it comes to cybersecurity. As well as protecting themselves, this means they can avoid becoming a stepping stone for the attacker getting to a larger and more lucrative target such as a customer or business partner.

An all-in-one strategy explained

Surely managing cybersecurity risk is too complex to allow for a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution? This observation is more fitting when talking about larger or enterprise level business, but for SMBs we are talking about something else entirely.

Rather than a specific tool or solution, we are talking about an all-in-one approach. Specifically, it’s about having access to the necessary skills and choosing a vendor that allows your business to view all aspects of your security effectively.

Visibility is key; if you currently deal with one vendor who offers a standalone solution and another for a different one, it is easy to see how you can lose sight of the ‘overall’ picture when it comes to securing your IT estate. Nowadays, this is ever more crucial with hybrid working causing this environment to be spread across many locations and devices.

A holistic approach to security

In essence, adopting a holistic security strategy means working with a vendor who can provide you with a selection of products and services to improve security throughout your business. After all, it is very easy for a company to fall into the trap of focusing on just one aspect of security at the expense of other areas.

For example, a Check Point survey in 20222 found that endpoint protection was only used by 67% of SMBs and less than half had any form of mobile security. Moreover, the research found that more than 30% of businesses admitted to having only informal processes in place to manage security.

Cybercriminals are very good at probing defences and will quickly breach defences if there are ‘holes’ in in the security landscape or strategy. Of course, not every business will require the same tools or solutions and it’s important to take a blended security approach where you invest in the right mix of options that suit the specific needs of your business.

Your security blanket – spanning network security, cloud security and endpoint security – should be customised for your organisation and should provide you with all the coverage you need. The best place to start is by identifying and mitigating any vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by cybercriminals.

This helicopter view (from a security perspective) of your business should serve to identify vulnerabilities, wherever they exist in your IT infrastructure. This should include your network, endpoints (often overlooked when it comes to security), applications and (often your most vital asset and most vulnerable link) people.

There is no hiding from the modern scourge that is cybercrime and considering that only about a third of SMBs have adequate cybersecurity protection in place2, action is needed. Remember, the size of your business doesn’t make you any less attractive to cybercriminals. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. However, by taking a proactive and holistic approach to your security, you can identify vulnerabilities, plug weaknesses, and give any potential attackers a hard time succeeding.

1Statistic is taken from a survey commissioned by DataSolutions involving SMBs in the UK.

2 Statistics are taken from research conducted by Check Point in Q1 2022 involving 1,150 SMBs across the US, Germany, the UK and Singapore.

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