As summer winds down and businesses shift gears for fall, it’s easy to think the slower pace of vacation season means fewer risks. But in the world of cybersecurity and data protection, the opposite is often true.
Cybercriminals don’t take summer vacation. In fact, transitional periods like the end of summer and the start of the fourth quarter are prime time for attacks. Why? Because businesses are distracted. Teams are returning from time off, planning for year-end and juggling budget decisions. That’s when vulnerabilities get missed, and threat actors strike.
At Rea Information Services, we call this the “resilience gap.” It’s the moment when your systems are most exposed and your team is least prepared. That’s why now is the perfect time to assess your cyber resilience.
What Is Cyber Resilience?
Cyber resilience goes beyond firewalls and antivirus software. It’s about your organization’s ability to anticipate, withstand, recover from and adapt to cyber threats. It’s the difference between a minor disruption and a major breach.
For growing businesses like yours, cyber resilience isn’t optional. A single breach can cost an average of $4.45 million according to recent reports. For mid-sized companies, that figure can represent a significant portion of annual revenue.
Three Ways to Boost Cyber Resilience
- Review Your Incident Response Plan: If a breach happened tomorrow, would your team know what to do? If not, it’s time to revisit your playbook. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports that companies with tested incident response plans reduce breach costs by an average of $2.66 million.
- Update Your Security Stack: Threats evolve constantly. Make sure your tools, especially endpoint protection and email filtering, are up to date. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends quarterly security stack reviews to address emerging vulnerabilities.
- Train Your Team: Human error remains the number one cause of breaches, accounting for 95 percent of successful cyberattacks according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). A quick refresher on phishing awareness can go a long way toward protecting your organization.
Stay Protected Year-Round
At Rea Information Services, we help businesses across Ohio build cybersecurity and data protection solutions that last through every season. Whether it’s a comprehensive security risk assessment, managed IT support or planning for the future, we’re here to help you stay protected and prepared.
Let’s make sure your business is ready for what’s next. Reach out today to schedule a complimentary Microsoft 365 Security and License Assessment to help you get started.
