Everyone is talking about cybersecurity and the need for it, but what exactly does this mean? How do you know if your company is secure and Why do you need to protect yourself from attacks on the Internet?
As technology has become an integral part of day-to-day life, the increased use of the Internet and advances in mobile technologies have opened up our lives to a number of new possibilities.
As well as these opportunities, there are also threats from cybercriminals who want to steal data from your company and take away your customers’ trust.
This article will help you to understand some of these questions and give you reasons as to why cybersecurity is important.
15 Benefits Of Cybersecurity For Companies
Cybersecurity is the process of protecting computer systems from different types of attacks such as spam, viruses, and unauthorized access.
If a company’s cybersecurity is compromised, it could result in the theft of trade secrets or even the loss of information that could potentially damage a company.
Here we will count down 15 different reasons that will show everyone why cybersecurity is important.
1. Cybersecurity Can Protect A Company’s Reputation
One of the most obvious reasons why cyber security is so important is because a breach in security can seriously hurt your company’s reputation or brand name.
If someone hacks into your system they could get access to your customer’s private information such as their credit card numbers, email addresses, and phone numbers.
They also could get more sensitive information like billing details which could include social security numbers. Information about your customers is a precious commodity and access to it could be used for identity theft or fraud, which can make people wary of purchasing from you in the future.
2. Cybersecurity Protects Your Revenue Stream
Hacking into your website and shutting it down can not only hurt your company’s reputation but also cause you to lose revenue. This took place during the “Anonymous” hack on Paypal that caused them to go offline for 24 hours.
3. Cybersecurity Protects Your Financial Details
If someone wants to damage your business, they could hack into your website and change the bank account number that payments are sent to.
This would stop customers from being able to purchase from you and stop you from getting payment from those sales. It could also take a lot of time and energy to track down where the problem is and fix it, which means money out of your company’s profits.
4. Cybersecurity Can Decrease Number Of Lawsuits
Not only will you lose money because of hacking, but someone can sue your company if it results in damages.
For example, if someone robs a bank using stolen information about an individual customer that was hacked from your company, then there is little that can be done to avoid the lawsuit.
It is important that your company have enough cyber insurance coverage in case you are sued because of a security breach.
Related Video – How Hackers Easily Gain Access To Sensitive Information
5. Cybersecurity Is Necessary To Avoid Government Notice
Another problem that can come from having a security breach is that someone files a complaint with the government, which will launch an investigation into your business.
If it turns out you are not compliant with federal regulations, then your business could be shut down until you are able to fix the problem.
6. Cybersecurity Helps In Maintaining Customers Confidence
If a security breach happens and you cannot provide information about what happened, how it was fixed, and who was affected then your customers may lose confidence in doing business with you.
They will question the security of your company’s website if they can’t get clear answers after a breach occurs. If this goes on for too long it could result in them losing complete confidence that you have their best interests at heart.
7. Cybersecurity Helps In Maintaining Company Image In Stock Market
If a security breach or other cyber issue takes place, people may begin to doubt whether or not your company is stable enough to keep going.
This can cause your stock price to drop as people sell their shares, which means that the total value of your company will drop and you may have to fight to maintain control.
8. Cybersecurity Helps In Promoting Your Product Or Service Quality
When a security breach or other cyber problem occurs, people often question whether or not the products and services you provide are safe to use.
If there is a history of your company having issues with its website, then some people may believe they should no longer purchase from you. You need to show customers that you can do what it takes to keep their information secure.
9. Cybersecurity Can Help In Lowering Negative Online Reviews
If someone has a negative experience due to a security breach then they may take to your company’s social media page and post negative reviews about the experience. This affects other’s point of view toward your company.
10. Cybersecurity Protects Customer Information
If someone’s information is breached and they believe it occurred because you were not following proper procedures, then you may be sued in court. You could end up having to pay a lot of damages if the suit is successful.
11. Cybersecurity Helps In Securing Business With Other Companies
There are some businesses that will want to work with other companies that can provide security or offer their customers additional protection.
If there is a history of security breaches with your business, these companies may not want anything to do with you.
12. Cybersecurity Is Expensive But Necessary
It costs money to hire people to provide security, which means that it also may reduce the amount of revenue you can bring in.
This is because it takes time to find new employees or train current employees on how to perform their tasks properly.
If you do not have sufficient funding for keeping everything secure, then you may end up having to cut back on certain expenses such as reducing staff hours until more funding becomes available.
13. Cybersecurity Maintains Website Performance
Sometimes a security breach can mess up how your website runs. This means that the customers who are trying to use it will have problems getting their information or completing other important tasks. If this goes on for too long, it could result in the loss of customers.
14. Cybersecurity Helps You Meet Industry Standards
Many industries have specific security requirements that must be met. If you do not meet these requirements, then you may be ineligible for selling your products and services to certain people.
For example, if your website does not use SSL encryption then many financial institutions will not allow customer data to be transferred through it or they may not accept credit card payments from customers who access your site.
15. Cybersecurity Focuses On The Future
Keeping up with changing technologies in cybersecurity makes it easier for you to spot new ways that hackers could gain access – which means you can be ready when these new approaches are used.
Securing your website now is much easier than having to do a major overhaul after attackers have already gained access and taken advantage of poor security practices.
The Importance Of Cybersecurity – Conclusion
If you run a website that offers products or services to people, then it is important for your business to take steps in order to protect customer information. This includes following proper security measures and making sure you have the right safeguards in place so that no issues occur.
Cybersecurity doesn’t come cheap but it offers a lot of benefits to a business, customers, and the economy as a whole. It gives security to a customer, builds trust for the company, and meets industry standards.
References
- https://www.ibm.com/topics/cybersecurity
- https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/business/trends-and-insights/articles/how-to-help-protect-your-customers’-financial-information/
- https://www.ifac.org/knowledge-gateway/preparing-future-ready-professionals/discussion/cybersecurity-critical-all-organizations-large-and-small