The way people work today is fundamentally different than it used to be. The workplace is dependent on technology, and most companies store their sensitive data in locations that are vulnerable to hackers. In addition, as more devices join the Internet of Things, possible points of attack multiply quickly. Cyber criminals have adapted to this new normal. They now have more opportunities to do what they do best, and they are taking advantage of every weakness. Even though cybersecurity tools and strategies are always improving, breaches are still occurring on a regular basis and the privacy of our information continues to be questioned.

What’s the #1 reason to create (and enforce) a small business cybersecurity policy? Getting hacked poses a serious risk for your business, if it hasn't already happened. Hacking, viruses, phishing, malware, worms, Trojans—cyber attacks go by various names, but the common denominator is that everyone has the potential to be attacked. Seriously, everyone—from the well-publicized 2016 hacking of the Democratic National Committee to the daily cyber attacks of more than 25 million small businesses in the US, it happens to everyone. So what’s a small business owner to do—throw up his hands (and his customers’ financial info) and give up? Far from it.

Kelser President & CEO Barry Kelly was recently interviewed by Kate L Harrison for an Inc. article titled "Who will get hacked in 2017?" With so much news surrounding cybersecurity and cyber attacks in 2016, it's a great question!

The New England Journal of Higher Education has published an article titled "For Colleges and Universities, Complex Networks Require a Layered Approach to Security" written by Kelser Vice President of Professional Services Matt Kozloski.

Companies creating strong cybersecurity policies should focus less on generalities and more on specifics. What exactly can we do to block intrusion and monitor our systems to keep our data and our customers’ data safe? Adopting a proactive approach will help companies adapt to the changing nature of hackers. They’ve evolved from individuals out to cause mischief to part of larger, better-funded criminal enterprises.

“Faster, sneakier and more creative” is how CNN Money described the new breed of hackers in early 2014, while discussing how too many companies are leaving themselves open to electronic intrusion by not taking security seriously. With reports from Verizon and Symantec showing a jump in malware – 317 million new types in that time period -- the article warned that hackers are working faster than companies can defend against them, and suggested that smart businesses should put extra resources into everything from patches to better employee security practices.

Matt Kozloski, Kelser's Vice President of Professional Services, was recently invited to speak as a cybersecurity expert on WNPR's Where We Live along with FBI Special Agent Judy Eide.

Kelser Vice President of Professional Services Matt Kozloski was a guest on WNPR's "Where We Live" this week for a show about cybersecurity.