Can your company survive a cyberattack? Your first instinct might be to say yes — “of course, we could make it through a cyberattack!” — but in actuality, the truth may not be so bright. In our current digital landscape, cybercriminals utilize advanced methods that continue to change and adapt constantly. Just when you think you’ve figured out the potential threats that exist, new systems and strategies emerge to continually wreak havoc on businesses and their data. Unfortunately, 43% of all current attacks target SMBs, or small and midsize businesses, because of their comparatively weak cybersecurity measures in contrast to their larger counterparts. With all of this being said, you might be wondering, “What exactly can my business gain by upgrading our cybersecurity?” We’ll walk you through six of the countless advantages you can gain from high quality, managed cybersecurity solutions. Keep reading to find out!

1. Enhanced productivity

One advantage of cybersecurity that you may not anticipate is enhanced productivity. How do cybersecurity solutions accomplish this? When a company faces a cyberattack or breach, any number of systems can be negatively affected or even entirely compromised. This results in downtime that cannot be reconciled until everything is up and running and has resumed regular status. Depending on the severity of the attack and how long it takes to restore standard operation, this can make a large dent in the productivity of the company and the amount employees are able to accomplish. With cybersecurity measures that properly anticipate potential threats and prevent issues before they occur, employee workflow isn’t compromised, allowing for a much higher rate of productivity on a consistent basis.

2. Improved finances

An increasingly common and nefarious form of cyberattack involves ransomware. What does this mean? Ransomware is a malicious software that locks access to files and data, only restoring access upon receiving payment. This is why such a huge aspect of cyberattacks is the financial element. For some businesses, large sums of money are paid to cybercriminals, but for others, the data never ends up being recovered. Either way, this can result in major financial losses that can ultimately result in a company’s demise in the worst case scenarios. By having systems in place that can detect ransomware attacks, companies can protect their intellectual property and avoid being placed in precarious financial dangers.

3. Better reputation and credibility

Unfortunately, even though cybercrimes aren’t the fault of the victim, they can be difficult to bounce back from in terms of company reputation. Customers, clients, and partners can often feel a lot less trusting of a business following a cyberattack. After all, if their data was compromised, they can easily feel like their personal information is in a poor position, leaving them feeling exposed and vulnerable. This can greatly affect a business’s reputation and cause them to lose credibility. Instead, cybersecurity can prevent these breaches and allow companies to maintain a positive reputation among clientele and partners. This is critical for sustained success and for the growth of a business, keeping the company in good standing.

4. Protected data

For almost every company, their data is what keeps the business operating at their highest capacity and providing the best service possible at every moment. This is the part of a business that holds the keys to the kingdom, the information that powers all cylinders of the company. When this data is unprotected, there are a lot of risks for information to be stolen and misused or exploited by bad actors. Leaving this information in a vulnerable position, even if you believe the likelihood of a cyberattack is low, can put you and your business in harm’s way, as you keep your data exposed. Taking the necessary precautions to ensure your data has the utmost security is in the best interest of your company — plus, it can give you confidence and peace of mind knowing your information is safe.

5. Proactive approach to potential threats

One of the most detrimental mistakes a business can make is only thinking about cybersecurity threats once they occur. This reactive approach leaves companies extremely vulnerable, making it very easy for cybercriminals to exploit their weaknesses and compromise easy access points that have been left unprotected by the company’s fragile cybersecurity standards. On the other end of the spectrum, a proactive approach to cybersecurity has been proven to provide much better results that effectively prevent attacks. After all, detecting threats and working to prevent breaches based on warning signs is an exponentially more effective strategy than working to resolve issues once they have already happened. A managed cybersecurity system will have systems in place to detect risks and respond accordingly, placing the business in a positive position moving forward.

6. Educated workforce

Finally, one of the best things you can gain from enhanced cybersecurity is the advantage of an educated workforce that holds awareness of the potential threats cyberattacks can hold. Promoting end user security awareness goes hand in hand with enhanced cybersecurity tactics, which is extremely valuable. Why? Human error causes 92% of data breaches — usually due to the fact that employees aren’t properly trained on the red flags to look out for as they utilize company technology systems. Engaging training sessions and readily-available information can make all the difference in the world for employees, as they can continue to improve their technology practices and become more informed users. Make no mistake — the vast majority of users don’t have all the knowledge they need on how to protect themselves from cyberattacks, not by any fault of their own, but simply because the information isn’t always provided. By giving employees what they need to empower themselves, you can enhance your cybersecurity even more.

Invest in your business with enhanced cybersecurity

With all these advantages, what’s holding you back from upgrading your cybersecurity measures and ultimately upgrading your business? Investing in your company’s tech to improve security results in improved stability, better productivity, and an overall better business. If you’re seeking a managed IT service that can provide your company with all the cybersecurity measures you need to achieve excellence, trust GoodSuite with all your needs. At GoodSuite, we’ve taken cybersecurity seriously for 25 years, and our dedicated staff works diligently to provide customers with solutions that are tailored to their individualized needs. Interested in discovering more about what GoodSuite can do for your company? Request a consultation today, and unlock the door to upgraded cybersecurity!