Forty-four percent of small businesses reported being the victim of a cyberattack, with an average cost of approximately $9,000 per attack.*
Suspicious cyber incidents could be an attack on your business. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security encourages you to review the following questions. If you answer “yes”, you could be the victim of a cyber attack.
- System failure or disruption – Has your system or website’s availability been disrupted? Are your employees, customers, suppliers, or partners unable to access your system or website? Has your service been denied to its users?
- Suspicious questioning – Are you aware of anyone attempting to gain information in person, by phone, mail, email, etc., regarding the configuration and/or cybersecurity posture of your website, network, software, or hardware?
- Unauthorized access – Are you aware of anyone attempting (either failed or successful) to gain unauthorized access to your system or data?
- Unauthorized changes or additions – Has anyone made unauthorized changes or additions to your system's hardware, firmware, or software characteristics without your IT department’s knowledge, instruction, or consent?
- Suspicious email: Are you aware of anyone in your organization receiving suspicious emails that include unsolicited attachments and/or requests for sensitive personal or organizational information?
- Unauthorized use: Are unauthorized parties using your system for the processing or storage of data? Are former employees, customers, suppliers, or partners still using your system?
Report an incident to the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team Incident Hotline – 1.888.282.0870 /www.US-CERT.gov
*(2013 Small Business Technology Survey, National Small Business Association)
