The bad news: a cyber-attack could not only slow down your small business, it could ruin it. Over 90% of small businesses were targeted by cyber criminals in 2024. Some businesses survive, but 60% of small businesses who experienced a cyber-attack closed within six months. The good news: simple preparations can make your business a less vulnerable target for cyber criminals.
The reasons that a cyber attack can kill your business are both financial and reputational. A data breach can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in recovery costs and close your doors while you solve the issues. Once you or your customers’ records have been hacked and exposed, your reputation may never recover.
Cybersecurity insurance may help you recover financially from a cyber-attack, but your company’s credibility and trustworthiness may not be repaired. Your best defense against cyber attacks is knowledge and preparedness.
The Wyoming SBDC Network’s Cybersecurity for Small Business Program can help your business put simple measures in place to make you less attractive to hackers and a difficult target to attack. The program provides no-cost, comprehensive advising in a variety of areas to help your business build a cyber readiness shield for your business:
- Complete cybersecurity situation assessment
- Hardware/software inventory
- System configuration review and suggestions
- Employing training and ongoing maintenance strategy
- Incident response plan creation
- Administrative and personnel policy creation/review
The program, funded fully by the U.S. Small Business Administration and staffed by highly trained Cybersecurity Business Advisors, requires some of your valuable time, but none of your money. Throughout a series of meetings and independent work, you will put a complete cyber readiness plan in place as quickly as you’d like to move through the program. Some clients work with us for months; others move through in a few weeks.
Over the last two years our Cybersecurity Program for Small Business has assisted over 80 Wyoming small businesses with various cybersecurity issues, and over 25 have completed our comprehensive advising program.
If you’re interested in working through our complete program or need assistance with a specific cybersecurity issue, contact our Program Manager, Paul Johnson (pjohns45@uwyo), or visit wyomingsbdc.org/cybersecurity-program. We’ve assisted companies with Facebook hijacking, phishing attacks, and staff cyber readiness training. We’ve also provided advising and assistance to companies who need to be cyber compliant to apply for government contracting.
The most basic cyber readiness practices do not require a great deal of technological expertise and can make your company much less of a target for cyber criminals. The best way to protect your business is to be prepared.
All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
