Importance of cybersecurity for small companies or freelancers

Cybersecurity has become an essential element for companies seeking to prevent cyberattacks. However, there are still some sectors and markets that continue to believe that IT security is only for large companies.

• "My information is not relevant to cybercriminals."
• "My projects are not important or interesting enough."
• "Cybersecurity is too expensive for my business."
• "I already have antivirus, I'm protected."

These are very common, especially among microenterprises and freelancers, where cybersecurity is not usually a priority. However, with the arrival of the NIS2 Directive, every company, regardless of its size, will need to meet certain IT security standards to prevent cyberattacks that could jeopardize their business activity and information.

Cybersecurity is a pending issue for any company, whether large, medium, small, or a microenterprise, that wants to guarantee not only its operational continuity but also its brand image and reputation.

Cybersecurity for small companies or freelancers: Why is it important?

Cyberattacks can have serious consequences for any company: disrupting business operations, fines and penalties, financial losses, etc. However, for microenterprises and freelancers, these consequences can be devastating. Their limited ability to respond could even lead to the closure of the business.

Microenterprises typically do not have IT departments or cybersecurity specialists, which means that in the event of a cyberattack, they lack the resources to respond quickly. This can result in an attack paralyzing their operations for days or weeks, severely impacting productivity and finances. For a microenterprise or freelancer, losing just a few days of business can have a significant financial impact.

And although investing in cybersecurity may seem expensive, the economic consequences of not doing so can be much greater. Attacks can lead to recovery costs, fines, legal claims, and lost income due to activity disruptions.

Often, cybercriminals see microenterprises and freelancers as easy targets because of their lack of robust defenses, taking advantage of their limited knowledge of IT security to launch attacks such as phishing, ransomware, or credential theft.

Reasons why a small company should invest in cybersecurity

• Prevents data breaches.

• Complies with legal regulations such as the NIS2 Directive or the GDPR.

• Avoids financial losses by preventing business disruption due to cyberattacks.

• Protects the company’s reputation and brand image.

• Maintains customer trust.

• Ensures business continuity.

• Saves long-term costs from economic losses due to a cyberattack.

• Increases investment opportunities: a microenterprise that demonstrates a commitment to cybersecurity can gain the trust of customers and partners, who may be interested in investing in it.

• Prevents financial fraud.

Outsourcing the cybersecurity department

For microenterprises, one way to have cybersecurity solutions when there is no internal IT department is to rely on external providers by outsourcing IT security.

At ESED, for example, we work with fixed rates, rather than hourly charges, to be more proactive and adapt to the specific needs of each user.

Additionally, we are consultants affiliated with the Digital Kit and Consulting Kit, making cybersecurity accessible to microenterprises and small and medium-sized businesses.

We offer:

• Endpoint system with XDR and MDR included (advanced antivirus)

• Threat monitoring and response 24/7 (MDR)

• Comprehensive incident response: threats are completely eliminated (MDR)

• Threat containment: attacks are interrupted and their spread is prevented (MDR)

• Root cause analysis

• Constant threat hunting

• Phishing protection (anti-phishing systems)

• Device encryption

• Phishing simulations

• Cybersecurity training

• Advanced mobile device protection and management (MDM)

For more information about our services and pricing, you can contact us at the following link.

Investing in cybersecurity is undoubtedly a future-proof investment. Suffering a cyberattack can not only result in enormous financial losses but also lead to the closure of the business.