The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a new website—ftc.gov.SmallBusiness—providing articles, videos and information to educate and assist small business owners to detect scams and protect their computers and networks.
According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), there are more than 28 million small businesses in the United States, employing nearly 57 million people. Cyberattacks can cripple small businesses because they may lack the personnel and resources to identify quickly and respond fully to evolving threats directed at them. Symantec Corp’s 2016 Internet Security Threat Report states that spear-phishing attacks targeting small businesses increased from 18 percent to 43 percent between 2011 and 2015.
The website provides information specifically designed for the networks and data typically utilized by small businesses. Its Small Business Computer Security Basic Guide addresses best practices to protect files and devices, train employees on when and how to share business account information, maintain network security and respond to a data breach. Small businesses can also become better educated on the growing and evolving threats of ransomware and phishing schemes.
Small businesses should review the FTC’s new website regularly to protect themselves against scammers who suspect them to be particularly vulnerable. Both the FTC and SBA are continuously publishing updated information and guidance to help small businesses against cyberthreats.
Steven M. Richard is counsel at Nixon Peabody. Read more Nixon Peabody blogs here.
