Cyberattacks against small businesses are on the rise. According to Symantec’s 2016 Internet Security Threat Report, 43% of all attacks worldwide were targeted at small businesses with less than 250 employees.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri confirmed that 861 cyber incidents were handled by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) just over the past six months through March 19. Included were identity theft, scheme to defraud, criminal use of ID, and fraudulent use of a credit card.
Identity theft is the most prevalent cyber incident, with the PCSO offering a special Tips Flyer “Protect Yourself from Identity Theft,” available online at www.pcsoweb.com with topics including Red Flags, Password Security, Protect Your Information and Using Debit vs. Credit Cards.
With computer hacking another common cybercrime, Ryan Ploger, Paradise News IT consultant through his Pellitech.com firm, has some key advice (see accompanying sidebar).
Florida SBDC Campaign
The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance based in Pensacola, recently announced a new cybersecurity service available to small businesses.
SBDC Workshops across the state are introducing the Byte-Size Small Business Cybersecurity Program. It provides small business owners with a sound understanding of the risks of cyberattacks, common cybersecurity threats, and strategies to safeguard their business.
The no-cost workshops cover four topics: basic cybersecurity threats, security, remediation, and cybersecurity resources. Locally, a one-day workshop is set for Friday, June 8, at the USF Port Tampa Bay Building in Tampa (see accompanying sidebar). A key takeaway and the foundation for these workshops is a new in-depth resource guide, which offers user-friendly information to help businesses become more cyber-secure.
The Florida SBDC Network partnered with Ridge Global LLC, a globally- recognized risk management cybersecurity firm, to launch the program statewide. Last December 14, the Network was joined by Florida International University, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce to host the Florida Cybersecurity Conference in Miami. It brought together cybersecurity experts both locally and nationally from government, law enforcement, and the private sector to help businesses develop, evaluate, and strengthen their cybersecurity programs.
Among highlights for the overflow crowd was a cybercrime panel moderated by Ridge Global President Chris Furlow, with Florida SBDC CEO Michael Myhre and Adam Sedgewick, Technology Policy Advisor, U.S. Dept. of Commerce Office of Policy & Planning.
Local Pinellas Expert Tips
EJ Liggieri, founder and CEO of Pinellas -based Quarterdeck Technologies, told Paradise News, “We believe one of the best ways to build a sound defense against cyber threats is user education. You can start with improving your technology defenses. Equally, if not more important, is helping educate all users – your employees and associates – of the threats and methods that support your company’s Computer Usage policy.
“Your organization’s defenses are only as strong as your weakest link. End-users are routinely identified as one of the prime attack targets. We’re not saying you can’t trust your employees, but without proper education, they‘re a prime target for a hacker. For your employees, it’s not only investing in skills needed at work, but also needed in their private lives. We get great feedback from our clients that our anti-cyberattack training also positively affects their employees on a personal basis. Training sessions are short, to the point, and many also include videos that make them easy to understand.
“Examples of ‘attack surfaces’ in the real office world from the SANS technology institute include ‘open’ website ports; inside firewall services; processing code for incoming data, email and office documents, etc.; and an employee with access to sensitive information that is socially engineered.
“However, many businesses focus their defense efforts at the top of the list and never end up with the last item — the employee. And often the owner get fatigued with trying to keep up, looking at expensive technology to help with the problem. We like to think of educating your employee as ‘installing a human firewall’ — an investment with great payback.
“Quarterdeck Technologies provides a simple solution to address this gap with some main points: Provide even the smallest business a simple, self-administered risk assessment process that they can complete on their own; Provide an easy way to perform a ‘dark web scan’ that can point to which employees are most at risk, and need more training; Provide base policy templates that a client can edit; Provide a way to track which employees have read the policies and acknowledge their understanding; and provide continued ongoing assessment, and follow-up training.
“We find many small businesses are too busy to invest the time and resources needed to fully understand and adequately train staff on their own, or they are overwhelmed with technology. We invested in a program designed for the small business community, in conjunction with other terrific safeguards such as our business continuity services. It’s all part of our #keepdatayourdata initiative. We help firms understand where they should focus first and offer an initial free consultation.
“The cost of a data breach or outright loss of data could not only be large, but also potentially a business-ending event, and it’s our mission to put the necessary tools and services within the reach of all small businesses.”
Florida SBDC History
For over 40 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development. Its mission is to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.
Since 2011, Florida SBDCs have provided 513,107 hours of professional business consulting to 74,669 client businesses, resulting in 252,955 jobs created, retained, or saved; $33.3 billion in sales growth; $2.6 billion in government contracts awarded; $1.4 billion in capital investments acquired; and 4,159 new businesses started.
A statewide network of over 40 offices, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida and other private and public partners. With Headquartered at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, the Network is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a 2016 recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service.
Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.
[Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Dianne Gross Hafleigh and Stacey Dadd at the Florida SBDC; Deputy Jessica Mackesy, PCSO; and EJ Liggieri, Quarterdeck Technologies.]
[Steve Traiman is President of Creative Copy by Steve Traiman in St. Pete Beach, offering freelance business writing services. He can be reached via email at traimancreativecopy@gmail.com]
Story by STEVE TRAIMAN