The pervasive shortage of global cybersecurity expertise has been a long-standing issue, with a particular impact on smaller and mid-sized enterprises.
According to our latest report, which draws on insights gathered through a vendor-agnostic survey of 5,000 frontline IT and cybersecurity professionals commissioned by Sophos, small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of insufficient information sharing.
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Within budgetary and resource limitations, this guide offers practical strategies for addressing key security concerns, as well as insights on how Sophos can support small organisations in enhancing their cybersecurity performance.
Smaller non-profits and organizations are often disproportionately affected by skill shortages.
Our research shows that SMBs perceive a lack of in-house experience as their second-greatest cybersecurity threat, whereas larger organizations rank it seventh. Meanwhile, threats like insufficient cybersecurity tools (#2 concern for firms with 501-1,000 employees) and stolen login credentials (#2 concern for those with 1,001-5,000 workers) are secondary concerns for smaller companies struggling to get people to utilize their existing investments effectively?
Abilities scarcity: a two-headed problem
A significant obstacle hindering the availability of skilled cybersecurity professionals lies in the shortage of certified experts within the field. This affects small-to-medium-sized businesses in two ways.
As cyberattacks continually adapt and intensify, cybersecurity has become increasingly complex, necessitating exceptional expertise to effectively combat emerging dangers. According to our assessment, nearly all small businesses (96%) encounter difficulties when exploring alert investigations. While larger companies also struggle with this issue, the challenge is particularly acute for small and medium-sized businesses.
Ransomware attacks overwhelmingly occur outside standard business hours, underscoring the critical need for 24/7 cybersecurity vigilance that often surpasses the resources available to most small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Without exception, a staggering third of small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) fail to dedicate a single individual to real-time alert monitoring and response, thereby rendering themselves perpetually vulnerable to attacks.
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities are leaving a gaping hole in small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), putting them at significant risk of financial losses, data breaches, and reputational damage.
Small businesses are disproportionately affected by the scarcity of skilled workers. With the alarming rise of ransomware attacks, it’s crucial to acknowledge that nearly three-quarters of incidents result in data encryption, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced detection capabilities.
Furthermore, as the number of personnel responsible for handling cybersecurity responsibilities dwindles, the likelihood of expertise fatigue reaching alarming levels becomes increasingly probable? Across Asia-Pacific and Japan, a comprehensive survey commissioned by Sophos revealed that an astonishing 85% of companies detected chronic fatigue and burnout among their cybersecurity and IT teams.
With the rapid pace of technological advancements, many IT professionals are struggling to stay current with Small-to-Medium Business (SMB) requirements. To bridge this expertise gap, consider the following strategies:
Foster a culture of continuous learning, prioritizing hands-on training and certification programs focused on SMB-specific technologies such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or Zoho Workplace.
Encourage knowledge sharing through internal mentoring, peer-to-peer learning, and industry-wide collaborations.
Develop domain expertise by focusing on specific industries, such as healthcare, finance, or manufacturing, to better understand their unique technology requirements.
Given limited budgets and intense competition for skilled professionals, hiring additional cybersecurity personnel is often unaffordable for small-to-medium-sized businesses. Experts tend to favor larger corporations offering more substantial opportunities for growth. We suggest that you just…
Engaging external cybersecurity experts proves to be a cost-efficient strategy for bolstering expertise and capabilities. Two of the most prevalent options for organizations seeking to bolster their cybersecurity posture are managed detection and response (MDR) providers and managed service suppliers (MSPs), which offer tailored solutions for mitigating potential threats.
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) providers consistently deliver around-the-clock expert-led risk monitoring, detection, and swift response capabilities across your entire environment. Cybersecurity experts continuously monitor your organization’s digital footprint, identifying and mitigating potential threats before they compromise your business operations.
MSPs, traditionally serving small businesses, have increasingly turned their attention to medium-sized corporations in need of robust cybersecurity solutions. Most managed service providers (MSPs), at an astonishing 81%, also offer managed detection and response (MDR) services, enabling small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to consolidate their diverse provider networks into a single, streamlined solution.
While many cybersecurity solutions cater to large enterprises with extensive resources for implementation and management. Smaller entities often struggle to quantify the safety benefits and tangible returns on investment stemming from these advanced solutions, largely due to inefficient implementation strategies.
What if we instead proactively explore a range of reliable and accessible security tools that can effectively support the needs of overextended IT teams? Carefully consider all available safety features for each platform and product option during the evaluation process.
- A comprehensive cybersecurity hub consolidates diverse protection measures under a single pane of glass, streamlining management and reducing vendor complexity to enhance overall security posture. By fostering collaboration and information sharing, this enables robust cybersecurity measures that boost overall safety.
- Vendors often list numerous options, making it crucial to define your specific requirements to avoid unnecessary price quotes. Implement AI-driven cybersecurity configurations that seamlessly automate setting deployment, mitigating the risks associated with manual setup, and offer user-friendly interfaces providing transparent insight into system deployments. For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), selecting automated response tools to address cyberattacks is crucial, providing a safeguard until their team can respond effectively.
How Sophos may also help
With unparalleled expertise in safeguarding small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), Sophos has crafted numerous services specifically designed to address the unique needs of this critical segment.
As the globe’s leading Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider, Sophos safeguards an unparalleled number of tiny businesses above all else. With unparalleled visibility into attacks on small businesses, we harness the power of telemetry data from across our customer base to proactively safeguard every organization.
Sophos supports more than 7,000 Managed Service Provider partners worldwide by offering a comprehensive suite of high-caliber products and managed security services. Sophos is the global leader in supplying Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services to managed service providers (MSPs) for their end-user clients.
Sophos Central stands out as the largest and most scalable cloud-native, AI-powered platform in the industry. The Sophos Central Orchestrator is utilized to manage a comprehensive suite of next-generation cybersecurity solutions, including Sophos Endpoint, Sophos Firewall, Sophos XDR, Sophos MDR, Sophos Email, and Sophos ZTNA. By integrating with a wide range of non-Sophos technologies, including Microsoft and Google, we ensure that customers can derive the maximum value from their existing security investments.
Optimized for seamless usability, Sophos offers a suite of features that includes intuitive automation, comprehensive setting configurations, streamlined central management, intelligent threat adaptations, and instant access to security postures in real-time. These capabilities empower small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to effectively counter cyber threats, mitigating the persistent shortage of cybersecurity experts.
To gain a deeper understanding of Sophos’ solutions tailored to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), consult with your designated Sophos consultant or partner, or visit the official website at .
