Everything Businesses Need To Know About Staying Secure Online
Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue—it’s a business priority.
Whether you’re running a local shop or managing a growing enterprise, protecting your digital assets is essential to safeguarding your bottom line, customer trust, and brand reputation.
At High Touch Technologies, our team of experts helps keep businesses safe by implementing layered, proactive cybersecurity strategies. In this guide, we’ll walk through the most common questions we hear from clients about cybersecurity, covering what it is, how attacks can happen, and how you can better protect your business.
To make this guide easier to navigate, we’ve organized it into three categories:
- Cybersecurity Is Your Business. Understanding the “why” behind cybersecurity.
- Cyberattacks and Cyberthreats. Breaking down how attacks work.
- Building a Cybersecurity Solution. Practical steps to secure your business.
If you have any questions about cybersecurity and your business, reach out. Our team is happy to help.
Cybersecurity Is Your Business
1. What Is Cybersecurity, and Why Does It Matter?
Cybersecurity is a broad term that includes securing data and the technology systems responsible for moving, storing, and authenticating data. For businesses, cybersecurity encompasses the technology that’s in place to help keep your business safe, the people and processes that ensure your business stays safe, and the education to ensure your employees remain vigilant against potential cyberthreats.
It’s more than just installing anti-virus software—it’s about building a comprehensive, layered defense strategy. Think of cybersecurity like stacking layers of Swiss cheese. Each layer has holes, but when stacked together, they reduce the chance of threats slipping through. This is the concept behind a multilayered cybersecurity approach.
When properly implemented, cybersecurity helps protect your business from financial loss, legal consequences, downtime, and reputational damage.
2. Are Small Businesses at Risk for Cyberattacks?
Absolutely. In fact, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, yet only 14% are adequately prepared. Many smaller businesses lack dedicated IT staff or robust security protocols, making them easier targets.
Cybercriminals know this, and they often find success exploiting weak passwords, outdated systems, and untrained employees.
3. What’s One of the Biggest Cybersecurity Challenges Business Face Today?
Employee awareness. Most breaches start with a simple mistake, like clicking a phishing link or using a weak password. Hackers don’t usually “break in”—they trick someone into opening a door.
That’s why Security Awareness Training (SAT) is one of the most effective tools in your cybersecurity toolkit. It helps employees recognize suspicious activity before it becomes a problem.
4. Are Organizations Doing Enough To Prevent Cyberthreats?
In most cases, the simple answer is no.
Many companies underestimate how fast threats evolve. Cybersecurity isn’t a one-and-done effort. Keeping your business secure requires ongoing education, updated tools, and executive buy-in.
Especially in hybrid or remote work environments, businesses need multilayered solutions that include firewalls, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and constant monitoring.
Cyberattacks and Cyberthreats
5. What Are the Most Dangerous Cyberthreats Right Now?
Cyberthreats are continuing to grow in sophistication and frequency. According to IBM, the average global cost of a data breach in 2024 was $4.88 million. Some of the most prevalent current threats include:
- Ransomware. Malicious software that locks your data and demands payment to restore it.
- Phishing. Fraudulent emails that trick employees into revealing login credentials.
- MFA Fatigue. After gaining access to compromised login credentials, a hacker tricks a user into granting access to an account by repeatedly sending push notifications to approve the login.
- Malware. A broad cyberattack category that includes viruses, spyware, and trojans.
6. What’s the Difference Between a Virus and Malware?
Malware is the umbrella term for all types of malicious software, including viruses, ransomware, spyware, and trojans. A virus is a specific type of malware that replicates itself and spreads to other systems.
7. What Is Ransomware?
Ransomware is a specific type of cyberattack where the attacker forces you to pay a ransom fee to regain access to your system or files. Common types of ransomware attacks include scareware, lock-screen ransomware, and encryption ransomware.
We outline everything you need to know about ransomware here, including how to protect yourself from ransomware attacks and what you should do if you fall victim to ransomware.
8. How Do Phishing Attacks Work?
Phishing attacks often start with a convincing email. A hacker might pose as a vendor, coworker, or executive and request sensitive information or ask you to click a malicious link. Once clicked, attackers can steal credentials, access networks, and spread malware.
In more advanced cases, cybercriminals will hijack email accounts and trick others within your organization. This is why email protection tools and regular employee training are crucial.
9. Are There Risks With Using Text Messages (SMS) for Multifactor Authentication (MFA)?
Yes. SMS MFA is vulnerable to SIM swapping, phishing (aka “smishing”), and network outages. Hackers can intercept text-based codes or trick users into revealing them. While better than nothing, SMS MFA is no longer the most secure method.
10. What Is MFA Fatigue?
MFA fatigue happens when attackers bombard users with push notifications, hoping they’ll accidentally approve a fraudulent login. Number-matching and user training can help reduce this risk.
11. What Are Safer Alternatives to SMS MFA?
App-based MFA, hardware security keys, and biometric authentication are all stronger options. These methods are more resistant to phishing and don’t rely on mobile carriers or vulnerable SMS messages.
Building a Cybersecurity Solution
12. What Should a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Solution Include?
A smart cybersecurity strategy isn’t just one product—it’s a layered system built to detect, prevent, and respond to threats. Typical elements include:
- Firewalls
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
- Security Awareness Training (SAT)
- Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
- Email and DNS filtering
- Secure VPNs
- Regular patching and updates
- SIEM (Security Information and Event Management)
- Data backup and disaster recovery
13. What Is a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment?
A cybersecurity risk assessment is one of the smartest places to start if you don’t know where your risks lie. By conducting a cybersecurity risk assessment, we can help you evaluate your systems for vulnerabilities and give you a clear roadmap for improvement.
14. What Should I Do if I Suspect a Cyberattack?
Your organization should have a cyberattack remediation process in place. If you’re unsure, ask your IT provider or someone in your internal IT department—it could save your business money and its reputation if a cyberattack occurs.
15. How Much Does Cybersecurity Cost?
As much as we’d love to throw a perfectly round number out there, it’s tough. Cybersecurity solutions really depend on your organization’s individual needs. Once we determine your specific security requirements, we can help design the perfect multilayered solution to help keep your business safe.
High Touch is well-equipped to design, implement, and support cybersecurity requirements ranging from basic firewall installations to advanced HIPAA and PCI-compliant solutions.
We Help Keep Your Business Safe.
With more than 40 years of experience, High Touch Technologies helps businesses of all sizes—from local shops in Wichita to growing companies nationwide—protect their people, data, and future.
Our cybersecurity experts will work with you to:
- Evaluate vulnerabilities.
- Train your team.
- Monitor your network.
- Implement secure, scalable technology.
Contact us to learn more about how High Touch can help keep your business safe.