2023 has already proven to be a challenging year for network security. The first half of the year has seen an alarming surge in cyber-attacks of all types.

During Cybersecurity Awareness Month we are reflecting on what we’ve learned, and whether more needs to be done. For small business network security specialists, and especially the communication service providers (CSPs) who serve them, October is a time to learn, update, and strategize.

Watch out for more initiatives and campaigns that CSPs can and should leverage to improve the cybersecurity they offer their customers. To kick things off, we’re taking a look at what the cybersecurity landscape looks like for SMBs right now, focusing on the crucial role of forward-thinking CSPs.

Why Your SMB Clients are the Most Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

SMBs are an attractive target for malicious actors. They’re considered low-hanging fruit for a number of reasons:

Limited security infrastructure

Many SMBs lack the financial resources to invest in advanced security solutions, making their systems easier to breach.

Work From Home (WFH) increases their attack surface

Very few SMBs train employees on security best practices, even the basics like strong passwords and multi factor authentication. WFH makes this problem even more acute, because it means sensitive data and even customer information are accessed on multiple mobile devices at different locations. This drastically increases the risk of data breaches – a lesson that 22%  of small businesses have already learned the hard way.

Small gains add up

It’s true that each individual attack on a small business generates a relatively small amount of money (although there are exceptions). But these attacks are also easier to pull off, and there’s a much lower chance of getting caught. All in all, attacking a number of poorly defended SMBs makes more sense than going after a larger, potentially tougher target. Cyber criminals think about scalability, too.

The Most Common Cyber Security Threats Faced by SMBs

All of these factors make SMBs particularly vulnerable to phishing. It’s relatively low-tech for criminals, and it exploits companies at what is often their weakest point: employees.

For Q1 of 2023 alone, our research revealed an alarming 27% jump in the number of unique domains and IP addresses associated with phishing attacks, with SMBs bearing the brunt of this surge.

But it’s not just phishing that SMBs and their CSPs need to worry about. In the same period, Allot Secure blocked 86% more connections linked to Command and Control (C&C) attacks than in the 6 months prior.

With some attacks causing up to $200,000 worth of damage, improving cyber defense is now a matter of survival, especially for small businesses.

The Crucial Role of CSPs in Protecting SMBs

Against this backdrop, CSPs are taking a more prominent role in shielding businesses and entire digital ecosystems. It’s a role they’re well suited for, due to their position and the resources they’re able to deploy.

A Unique, System-Wide Vantage Point

From their position in the network, CSPs can easily provide cybersecurity protection that does not require any hassle for the subscriber. All the subscriber needs to do is accept the service. After that, it is automatically activated, delivering immediate and comprehensive defense against threats.

Technical Expertise & Resources

CSPs are the only ones that can provide a network-wide solution for the SMB mass market. As we noted earlier, SMB security infrastructure, where it exists at all, is usually porous and easy to breach. CSPs can bridge this gap by offering robust, tailored security solutions that do not require any technical expertise for the subscriber, and which cater specifically to SMB vulnerabilities and needs.

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities

CSPs have an ethical duty to protect their customers, who entrust them with their data and rely on them for secure communication. For some SMBs, this may be the only line of defense they have.

As a result, the SMB market responds favorably to CSPs who show that they’re taking small business network security seriously. 82% of them rate security offerings as an important part of their purchasing decisions, according to IDC data. This represents an opportunity for CSPs to gain a significant competitive advantage as SMBs seek out providers who can offer the additional security they need.

From Awareness to Action: CSPs Must Take the Lead

As we head into Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the picture is a somewhat sober one. But there’s a lot that CSPs can do to step up their efforts to secure their SMB clients. First and foremost – CSPs can and should endeavor to increase awareness and offer solutions.

Most importantly of all, CSPs can actually provide the robust cyber protection that their SMB clients need, and effectively shield them from the growing threats they face.

Partnering with Allot to Drive Awareness and Build Lasting Solutions

At Allot, we’re gearing up for a busy month, rolling out a range of collaborative campaigns to help CSPs understand the cybersecurity threat landscape. We’ll also be raising awareness about tools CSPs can leverage to safeguard the businesses who are increasingly looking to them for answers.

NetworkSecure: Comprehensive Coverage with Mass-Market Scalability

Allot NetworkSecure empowers CSPs to deliver expansive network-based cybersecurity protection, content filtering, and a straightforward firewall to their SMB clientele, all from the network without the need for application installation or on-premise equipment. Requiring no application installations and offering clientless operation, it’s the optimal choice for CSPs providing mass-market security offerings.

NetworkSecure stands out for its mass service activation capabilities and high adoption rates. It’s more than just a protective shield; it’s a proven revenue generator and a tool to help reduce churn, enhancing the value proposition CSPs offer to their SMB customers. It can also be offered to other subscribers on Fixed, FWA, and Mobile networks.

Be sure to follow us in the weeks to come as we unpack 2023’s most urgent cybersecurity challenges and effective strategies to overcome them.

BusinessSecure: Streamlined Security for the Modern SMB

Allot BusinessSecure is a game-changer for CSPs aiming to elevate their service offerings for connected businesses. This tailored solution integrates with existing business routers via a remote security agent, complemented by the Allot Secure cloud.

With BusinessSecure, CSPs can offer businesses intuitive management, robust protection from a myriad of threats, and enhanced content filtering. This not only ensures security but also simplifies the experience by focusing on user and group-based policies rather than individual devices.

BusinessSecure provides robust protection to the business network, connected devices, and the router itself. A lightweight security agent is deployed remotely on the CSP router and protects the business network from different types of internal and external threats. The solution also gives visibility into the devices connected to the business network, including mobile devices, IoT, computers, and more. It can be deployed as a standalone security module or in combination with additional security modules supported by the Allot Secure platform, such as NetworkSecure.