Mike Durant: Studies have shown that while 73 percent of business owners report that they are worried about a cyber-attack, fewer than 20 percent of businesses have a plan in place should an attack occur.
An Update from Your NFIB/New York State Director
Cyber-crimes are on the rise in frequency and severity leading many lawmakers across the country, including New York, to examine best practices to limit risks. Small business owners need to understand and manage risks associated with rapidly changing and evolving technology.
Studies have shown that while 73 percent of business owners report that they are worried about a cyber-attack, fewer than 20 percent of businesses have a plan in place should an attack occur. And the likelihood of that is high—63 percent of business owners reported that their business had already been attacked.
The New York State Cyber Security Advisory Board recently partnered with the Better Business Bureau and the National Cyber Security Alliance to educate small and medium sized businesses about risks and managing cybersecurity. The BBB and NCSA offer framework to understand and approach cyber security called the “Five Steps to Better Business Cyber Security.” This plan includes ways to Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond and Recover. NFIBNY attended this discussion on cybersecurity and will continue to provide our members with the latest information and strategies to protect your business.
Remember, a lost phone, an employee falling victim to malware, or a weakness in encryption technology can result in compromised data privacy and a corrupted CRM—as well as lost revenue and liability. Many resources and tips are available to support business owners at staysafeonline.org and stopthinkconnect.org.
Additional information can be found here.
Mike Durant
State Director
NFIB/New York
