Small and medium businesses (SMBs) these days focus more on generating more profits and revenues. However, they don’t give much importance to insurance plans because they think that the risks are very low. Every business requires a digital presence when it wants to target the potential audience online. Businesses have to protect their data from cyber-attacks which helps ensure smooth operations. They should consider choosing cyber insurance because it gives ways to overcome losses caused by cybercrimes. At the same time, many SMBs don’t see any need for insurance due to various factors and they should know how to strengthen their security measures.
Why SMBs don’t prefer cyber insurance?
1. High premiums
Many SMBs have to pay high premiums since insurance companies increase them every year which results in high costs. Moreover, SMBs aim to build their infrastructure facilities to provide better services or products for customers. As a result, they don’t want to spend money on expensive insurance policies, including cyber insurance.
2. Limited coverage
Apart from high premium prices, many cyber insurance companies offer only limited coverage for SMBs. Several SMBs don’t like to buy a plan due to limited coverage because it doesn’t provide any benefits to them.
3. High-security expectations
Cyber Insurance companies expect basic modern IT security controls and data protection in places while offering cyber insurance plans to SMBs. Furthermore, the policies are very complex to understand when it comes to coverage and other things.
4. Investments in digital technologies
A recent survey reveals that a majority of SMBs don’t store more data online and they don’t see the need for an insurance plan for cyber threats. Some of them invest in digital technologies to reach more customers quickly to increase sales.
How to stay protected without cyber insurance?
1. Implementing effective backup strategies and testing
SMBs should consider implementing effective backup strategies and testing to prevent potential threats. Scheduling regular tests enables them to anticipate potential downtime and build restoration techniques to achieve better results. Backups allow a company to restore the data at the earliest during ransomware attacks and other problems.
2. Using multi-factor authentication
Using multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the best ways to prevent cyber-attacks effectively. It requires one or more additional forms of verification in fraud prevention allowing SMBs to ensure more protection. MFA reduces the access of attackers and third parties thereby showing methods to overcome unwanted problems. SMBs should consider implementing MFA on all email accounts and administrator accounts to minimize data theft and other threats.
3. Choosing different passwords which are more secure
SMBs should consider choosing different passwords which are more secure where MFA is not applicable. By doing this, they can eliminate security risks significantly to experience peace of mind.
4. Conducting a cyber risk assessment
Conducting a cyber security risk assessment will help an organization anticipate problems with high accuracy. SMBs can benefit more from risk management analysis that helps accomplish their goals with high success rates. The next step is that they should monitor the environment for changes to the risks which help run a business without any hassles.
5. Training staff
SMBs should train their staff to learn more about cybersecurity basics and the best practices in detail. Training staff will help minimize errors and mistakes that help safeguard digital information from cybersecurity threats. Apart from this, staff training provides ways to be aware of the situations well in advance to control them immediately.
6. Utilizing the latest antivirus tools
Nowadays, antivirus tools come with the latest features allowing users to easily monitor everything. They alert employees and organizations to anticipate an incident before it becomes catastrophic which helps reduce potential risks.
