Another new kind of phishing attack is on the rise and itโs coming from an unexpected source: QR codes. Like with other kinds of phishing, this kind of attack leverages ...
A Cybersecurity Context
Small-to-Medium Business Security
Cybersecurity knowledge is essential for governments, enterprise organisations, Small to Medium Businesses (SMBs) and individuals alike, as the increasing prevalence of digital threats poses significant risks to financial stability, data integrity, and operational continuity. For SMBs, a lack of awareness can lead to devastating consequences, such as data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage, which may be harder to recover from compared to other organisations.
How Cyber-Safe Is Your Small-to-Medium Business?
Cyber-safety is vital for small businesses but is often overlooked due to limited resources or a belief they are less likely to be targeted. In truth, small businesses are attractive to cybercriminals because of weaker defences, making them easier to exploit. A single attack can lead to financial losses, reputational harm, legal issues, or even closure of the business. Safeguarding sensitive data, maintaining customer trust, and ensuring business continuity are critical reasons to prioritise cyber-safety.
Common threats include phishing scams, ransomware, malware, and unauthorised access. Phishing emails trick employees into clicking malicious links or sharing sensitive information, while ransomware encrypts data and demands payment for its release. Outdated software, weak passwords, and limited cybersecurity awareness create vulnerabilities that attackers exploit.
A major weakness is the lack of a formal cybersecurity strategy. Many businesses assume basic IT measures or antivirus software are enough, compounded by insufficient employee training. Without adequate preparation, such as data backups or incident response plans, recovery from breaches becomes challenging.
Exploring this issue further, KBI recently did some ‘vox pop’ interviews in the heart of Melbourne CBD to see how many people knew how to stay cyber-safe when working inside a small business.
The results were more than a little unnerving, so we teamed up with Cisco to prepare some resources to help organisations with their cybersecurity awareness and operations. We were lucky enough to sit down with Kelly Sabo – the Head of SMB and Commercial Mid-Market, ANZ at Cisco – to really dig into how Small-to-Medium Businesses (SMBs) can best prepare themselves and tackle their security challenges head-on.
“…and at its most basic, you need to take accountability potentially for updating your own software, backing up your information regularly, and running a risk assessment to understand what the gaps or, you know, vulnerabilities are in your business.”
~ Kelly Sabo,
Leader, Small & Medium Business and Commercial Mid-Market,
Cisco Australia & New Zealand
Cisco on SMB Security
In this episode, we sit down with Kelly Sabo, Head of SMB and Mid Market ANZ at Cisco, as she discusses cybersecurity essentials for small and medium businesses (SMBs). Kelly delves into the misconceptions SMB owners have about their vulnerability to cyber attacks, the alarming statistic that up to 60% of SMBs risk going out of business within 6 months post-attack, and the critical need for a comprehensive approach that goes beyond IT. We also explore how SMBs can tackle these challenges with limited resources, the benefits of outsourcing cybersecurity to experts, and the role of AI in automating security tasks to enhance protection.
Additionally, Kelly emphasizes practical steps SMBs can take, like implementing multi-factor authentication and conducting risk assessments, to bolster their security without incurring enterprise-level costs.
With over a decade of experience in the technology sector, Kellyย is dedicated to empowering small and medium businesses (SMBs) and commercial mid-market enterprises to thrive in todayโs digitalย backdrop. As theย leaderย for SMB andย mid-market sized customersย at Cisco ANZ,ย Kellyย is deeply committed toย leveragingย Ciscoโsย cutting-edgeย technologies to drive growth,ย efficiency, and competitiveness for businesses of all sizes.
Kellyโs expertise lies in understanding the unique challenges and opportunities faced by SMBs and mid-market enterprises, particularly in an environment where the adoption of cloud and software as a service solution has reshaped the industry landscape. She is passionate about helping organisations harness the power of cloud managed networking, security, and collaboration to meet the demands of the modern business world.
Kellyโs experience covers multiple technologyย companies includingย Oracle, NetApp and nowย Cisco,ย ย fromย sales leadership, managing partners, distributors, account management and sales operations.
Since joining Cisco in 2015,ย Kellyย has held various leadership, channel, and sales roles, gaining valuable insights into the dynamic nature of the technology ecosystem. Her extensive knowledge of the channel space provides her with a unique perspective in helping partners adapt and evolve in a rapidly changing environment.
As a leader in the industryย whoย canย distil complexity and boil it down to clear actions,ย Kelly isย frequentlyย sought after to share her insights andย expertiseย at industry events and conferences.
Your Free Guide to SMB Security
Working with Cisco, we’ve created a free quick reference guide for Small to Medium Businesses to understand and better approach their cybersecurity.
From spotting phishing attempts through to specific steps smaller organisations can take to improve their overall security, this guide will help.
Slide the Handle on the image above to see the differences!
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