4 Reasons Data Security Should Be a Priority for Small Businesses. Data security shouldn’t only be a concern for Fortune 500 companies. In fact, if you run a small business of your own, now’s the time to start taking it seriously.

In the age of the Internet, data security is one of the biggest issues to deal with in business. Many of the largest corporations in the world spend a significant portion of their resources addressing this issue. But it’s not only an issue for only major companies.

You might think your small business doesn’t have the resources to worry about data security, but you’re wrong. In fact, the price tag will be much bigger if you choose to ignore data security. Every small business must make data security a top priority.

If you’re still not convinced, let the statistics tell the story. 

No one is safe from cybercrime.

In 2018, 67 percent of small businesses experienced a cyber attack, and 58 percent experienced a data breach. It’s important to emphasize that this was over the course of just one year. More than half of all small businesses have data breaches, not just over the course of decades, but rather over the course of just one year.

If you are lucky enough to not be targeted one year, the odds are you will be targeted the next year. The threat is growing more common due to the increasing ability of criminals to break through defenses.

Dido Harding, the former CEO of TalkTalk, said in a 2018 talk, “Teams that say their cybersecurity is really good are the ones to worry about. After our breach, the most difficult issue was deciding when it was safe enough to come back online.”

Security is something that must be constantly maintained, and no business is exempt from this requirement. Some people put a security system in place, and then put security in the back of their minds. But as technology evolves, your methods for protecting data must evolve, as well.

PUPs are a growing threat.

Ever heard of a PUP?

No, it’s not a friendly house pet. PUP stands for “potentially unwanted program.” PUPs are currently a major threat to data security, especially for small businesses. Many small businesses receive bundled software with the purchase of new tools.

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