The Top SMB Cybersecurity Challenges

According to information that I’ve gathered from various industry sources, most SMBs share a common set of cybersecurity challenges.

They are a target

61% of all SMBs have reported at least one cyberattack during the previous year.

Work From Home (WFH)

22% of small businesses have suffered a WFH-related breach.

Ransomware is a top threat

55% of ransomware attacks involve companies with under 100 employees.

No skills

65% of SMB owners have no choice but to manage their own cybersecurity, which is not their expertise nor part of their core business activities.

Any of these cybersecurity challenges can knock an SMB out of business. One ransom attack can spell the end because many SMBs do not recover from such attacks. (Statistics indicate that 60% of attacked SMBs are closed after six months.)

The top 3 SMB cybersecurity threat vectors

From what we see in the field, there are 3 main cybersecurity threat vectors, all of which pose significant threats to SMBs.

External Attacks: Malicious Sites

Malware, phishing, adware, botnets, ransomware are delivered/accessed via domains, URLs, IPs, and DNS.

Internal Attacks: SMB Network

Weak device passwords, unauthorized devices connecting to the business network, brute force attacks, port scanning, port forwarding configuration, devices without additional antivirus protection, and vulnerable IoT devices causing connection attempts to other internal network devices.

Attacks on Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE): Router

DNS spoofing by tampering with DNS settings, Wi-Fi password exploitation and gaining access to the business network, and Man-in-the-Middle attacks intercepting traffic and rerouting it to C&C servers of malicious actors.

An Opportunity for CSPs

Threats keep increasing in sophistication and volume, and SMBs are prime cyberattack targets due to a perceived lack of protection.

Trends that include the rise of the hybrid workplace, a lack of security training, BYOD, increasing amounts of vulnerable IoT devices, and a growing number of other unprotected mobile devices represent just a small part of some of the reasons why SMBs need help.

Because it is too difficult to secure all the different kinds of devices, a better security solution would be to secure the connectivity. Such network-native solutions simplify provisioning and management, and provide protection to all connected devices.

Network-based cybersecurity solutions present a huge and unique opportunity for service providers. Regardless of whether the access is fixed, fixed wireless, or mobile, the service provider can secure the connectivity for the SMB from within the network.

This class of network-based cybersecurity solutions comes in two main forms: router-based and pure mobile solutions. With router-based solutions, a software-based agent running on the router gives extra visibility, for more granular protection. On the other hand, network-based solutions provide the ease and flexibility of providing “zero-touch” protection to all devices on the mobile network. With BusinessSecure and NetworkSecure, Allot is able to provide both kinds of solutions.

Allot BusinessSecure

Allot BusinessSecure guarantees a simple, reliable, and secure network for the connected business. This is achieved through a small security agent remotely installed on the existing business router provided by the CSP, supported by the Allot Secure cloud. In addition, a simple-to-use management and reporting interface for the SMB owner can be integrated into the CSP’s customer care app or offered as a separate web portal.

These elements, working in concert, provide unprecedented visibility into the SMB network and block both external and internal attacks. Additionally, the solution provides content filtering capabilities allowing the SMB owner to prevent employees from accessing inappropriate content while working.

This is all accomplished via an intuitive user-centric approach, based on policies and reporting per user and groups, instead of having to define independent settings for each and every device in the network.

CSPs can easily provide an effective, fixed cybersecurity solution to their SMB customer base with Business Secure. For even more comprehensive protection, BusinessSecure can be deployed to interoperate seamlessly with other Allot Secure products, such as NetworkSecure, the world’s largest deployed network-based security service from Allot.

Allot NetworkSecure

Leading service providers around the world select Allot NetworkSecure to provide network-based cybersecurity protection to their SMB customers to defend them against a broad range of cyber threats. NetworkSecure can be used to protect mobile connections as well as fixed and FWA connections where the CSP does not provide BusinessSecure.

NetworkSecure is a network-based cybersecurity service platform that offers zero-touch, clientless operation, requiring no application installation. It enables CSPs to protect their subscribers from the latest cybersecurity threats, including different types of malware, such as ransomware, trojans, adware, viruses, and bots as well as phishing attacks.

The NetworkSecure solution also provides content filtering, which can be configured to define what content types should be restricted for employees.

Designed for CSPs to deliver security services to the mass market, NetworkSecure supports mass-informed service activation for both opt-in and opt-out customer onboarding, resulting in very high rates of service adoption.

NetworkSecure has proven to generate significant revenue, reduce churn and increase value in existing deployments by securing millions of customers.

A way to get “up to speed” on Cybersecurity for SMBs

With BusinessSecure and NetworkSecure from Allot, you can create brand differentiation and increase revenue by 10-15% via premium security services.

Allot is sharing more information about SMB cybersecurity challenges, approaches, concerns, and the CSP opportunity at a webinar the company is hosting on July 12th. Register to learn more and get some additional resources that might help you in your business endeavors.