Early computer commentators assumed there would never be more than a few hundred viruses. And in 2006, Bill Gates promised that spam would soon be totally eliminated. Yet computer threats continue to pose serious risks to businesses and individuals alike. Hackers and criminals exploit any opportunities for financial gain – and clearly, they’re creative enough to continue to do so, regardless of what new security products Microsoft or any other large company throws at them.
We will never be truly free of IT security threats. Indeed, as much as we might like to pretend otherwise, it’s practically impossible to predict what threats will appear next. Fortunately, leaders of small and medium businesses can successfully protect themselves through education. Partnering with an IT consulting firm and staying up to speed on current security protocols is the best way to protect your small business.
To boost your IT security knowledge going into 2013, we’re passing on a handy guide to IT security: Threatasaurus, the A-Z guide to computer and data security threats, from SOPHOS. Every IT consultant would approve of this guide’s accessibility; it’s written in plain language anyone can understand. Reading this IT security dictionary will help you get a grip on how your SMB is at risk and what you can do to protect it.
Self-education is invaluable in IT (and really in any field), but SMB leaders often lack the time to read the latest white papers. Here’s where an IT consultant comes in. Your IT consulting firm will be able to supplement your ongoing IT education with a ground-game understanding of what security threats are currently plaguing SMBs. An IT consultant often advises dozens of companies, giving him or her a good understanding of the security landscape and best defense tactics. With this big-picture view, along with a lifetime of study and experience, an IT consultant can expertly recommend what security approach will best protect your company.
[ Photo by: greeblie, on Flickr, via CC License ]