COVID-19 has changed much of the cybersecurity game, but some things have stayed the same.

Entire companies have shifted exclusively to remote work models for the safety of their employees. This remote work has fueled increased reliance on networking technologies to keep everyone connected. And hackers are jumping at the opportunity to exploit this abrupt shift and resulting vulnerability.

But while many corporations have tried to rise and meet the threat, small businesses appear to be less than moved.

The Cyber Readiness Institute recently reported results from a survey of 400 small business owners. This survey gauged small employers’ concern over cybersecurity in the face of the increased remote work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The results were much the same as cybersecurity experts encountered in pre-COVID times: The smaller the business, the smaller the concern and/or ability to deal with these issues.

Some of the lowlights:

• Forty-one percent of small businesses with 10 or more employees expressed increased concerns over cybersecurity amid remote-work situations.
• Just 31% of businesses owners with staff sizes below 10 were more apprehensive of possible cyber attacks.
• Less than 22% of small business owners with fewer than 10 employees have ramped up their cybersecurity training.
• And only 37% of owners with fewer than 10 workers have updated their cybersecurity policies.

Whether it’s small businesses banking that they’re too small for hackers to care about, or they simply don’t have the resources to upgrade their cyberdefense, the result is still unfortunate. That’s because hackers have their sights squared on these businesses. And that won’t change until effective cybersecurity controls make small business data breaches more difficult.

The good news? Small businesses don’t need to take on outsized security operations.

Employee training should be a priority as remote workers navigate the challenging new terrain. These individuals hold the keys to data privacy and security, and their cyber hygiene is absolutely critical. With the right partner, even tiny businesses can get best-in-class security protection and training at an affordable price.

Lunarline has the programs and resources you need. Learn more by contacting us online today.