Don't let cyber-attacks take your business down

By Johannes Groenewald

You may think that cybersecurity threats are not a significant concern for you or that cyberattacks only happen to big companies with large volumes of valuable data. This is far from the truth. These security attacks can happen to any business, any time, regardless of size or industry, and they can cause significant harm to your business.

Covered in this article 

Here are five reasons why you need to take cybersecurity seriously:

Financial loss

Reputation damage

Legal liabilities

Business disruption

Competitive disadvantage

1. Financial loss: One of the most significant threats that cyber-attacks pose to your business is financial loss. A cyber-attack can cause your business to lose money in several ways. For example, a hacker could steal your customer's credit card information, resulting in chargebacks and lost revenue. Additionally, cyber-attacks can cause costly downtime, which can lead to lost sales and productivity. In South Africa, the average cost of a data breach is R36.5 million.*
   
   
2. Reputation damage: In today's digital age, your business's reputation is more important than ever. A cyber-attack can damage your reputation, either through negative publicity, public scrutiny or damaging customer confidence leading to a loss of trust among your customers and partners. It can take years to build up a good reputation, but it can be destroyed in a matter of minutes or hours. Tarsus Distribution and our channel partners can help you protect your business's reputation by implementing strong security measures and responding quickly to any cyber threats.
   
   
3. Legal liabilities: Cyber-attacks can also result in legal liabilities for your business. For example, if your business suffers a data breach and you fail to inform your customers, you could be held liable for any financial and reputational damages they suffer. In South Africa, the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act requires businesses to protect their customers' personal information and inform them of any data breaches. Failure to comply with this law can result in significant fines and legal action.
   
   
4. Business disruption: A cyber-attack can cause significant disruption to your business operations. For example, if your business relies on computer systems to operate, a cyber-attack could cause downtime and disrupt your ability to serve customers. A cyber-attack may also result in the loss of critical data, which can make it difficult or impossible to run your business and meet your client’s needs. Cybersecurity awareness is crucial to ensure your employees understand the importance of security measures, which can help prevent such attacks.
   
   
5. Competitive disadvantage: Finally, a cyber-attack can give your competitors an advantage over your business. For example, if a hacker steals your proprietary information, your competitors could use that information to develop similar products or services or they could leapfrog your offering. Additionally, if your business suffers a data breach, your customers may choose to take their business elsewhere, giving your competitors an advantage in the market.

Cybersecurity threats pose a significant risk to your business, and it is essential to take them seriously. By partnering with cybersecurity companies and implementing strong security measures, you can protect your business from financial loss, reputation damage, legal liabilities, business disruption, and competitive disadvantage.

Don't wait until it's too late – prioritise the importance of cybersecurity for your business today. Click here to learn more about our vendors, CheckPoint, Kaspersky, Sophos and TeamViewer and how Tarsus Distribution can bring our cybersecurity solutions to your business.

References:

* https://www.itweb.co.za/content/mKWEBvpYQWb7X9l8