In September 2017, Equifax announced that its databases had been breached, and hundreds of millions of personal records had been stolen. Even worse, the hack had occurred months earlier. Experts wondered how such a major company—which controlled one of the largest repositories of personal data in the world—could have left itself so vulnerable.
As the story unfolded, we learned that Equifax had failed to take some basic precautions. We also found that company personnel had known before the event about the vulnerability that let hackers in.
We may never know what breakdown kept company IT teams from applying the patch that would have prevented the hack. We may not discover why they used ridiculously simple passwords, like admin, to provide access to crucial systems and data stores.
The fact is that they did, and so do a large percentage of businesses in the world.
Companies large and small can suffer from process breakdowns, inattentive personnel, and downright laziness, in all areas. Many times, it isn’t a big deal. With cybersecurity, that’s not the case.
Unfortunately, there is no magical potion to fix these security failings. The solution is hard work, specialized knowledge and training, and carefully crafted protocols that are followed to the letter.
Since it’s impractical for small business owners to handle such an effort in-house—but they no longer can ignore the issue—the obvious cybersecurity solution is outsourcing to a qualified provider. Outsourcing a variety of functions has become huge in the small business community because it is often more cost effective and efficient—and it results in better service.
To get business owners started with cybersecurity, Carmichael Consulting Solutions is offering a free assessment that will help determine what the firm needs. We’re committed to helping small business owners leverage the power of technology to succeed, and cybersecurity is a big piece of that puzzle.
To learn more or request a free assessment, click here or call 678-719-9671.
