You Could Be a Victim Without Even Knowing It! 🚨 Why Cybersecurity is More Crucial for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs)?

Hello! The world is changing so rapidly these days, isn't it? Especially with technological advancements, cyber threats seem to be relentless.

Recently, I stumbled upon news of successive cyberattacks in the UK retail industry, and I couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Even Famous Brands Were Not Exempt 😥

Did everyone see the news that well-known brands like M&S, Co-op, and Harrods have recently become targets of cyberattacks? It almost feels like they were targeted due to their prominence. However, what's even more important to note is that this isn't just a problem for large brands.

Other Victims Around Us 🛒

The UK retail sector attacks also included the food distributor Peter Green Chilled. The reason this company was targeted was to disrupt the operations of the large supermarkets supplied by Peter Green Chilled. It's an example that shows how one issue can spread to many others, like dominoes, isn't it?

Adidas was also subjected to a cyberattack. Interestingly, the customer information was leaked not by directly trying to steal customer data, but through a third-party breach. The damage spread through unexpected channels, like a chain reaction.

Third-Party Security, This is Truly the Key! 🔑

While these attacks primarily targeted the retail sector, many analyses point to 'third-party security' as the biggest issue. According to a Wall Street Journal (WEF) report, 54% of large organizations cited 'supply chain issues' as the biggest obstacle to achieving cyber resilience. This means that it's not enough for our company alone to be well-prepared; we must also pay attention to the security status of all partners we deal with or collaborate with.

A More Difficult Battle for Smaller Businesses 💪

N-able's Adlumin General Manager pointed out, 'Security is a challenge for businesses of all sizes, but it is even more so for SMEs and small businesses that find it harder to secure the same security budget as large corporations.' In fact, as of 2024, there are 5.45 million small businesses operating with fewer than 50 employees, accounting for 99.2% of the entire business population. It's regrettable that so many small businesses are left in a blind spot regarding cybersecurity. 😔

So, What Should We Do? 🤔

It is a time when interest and investment in cybersecurity are more desperately needed to protect our valuable businesses and maintain the trust of our customers. I hope the discussions we've had today have been of some small help to your business. If you have any experiences with cybersecurity in your workplace, please share them in the comments, as it would be very helpful to many people!

I wish you all the best in building safe and robust businesses! ✨