In 2021, 62% of small businesses reported being a victim of some form of cyberattack. The total damages caused by these have exceeded ₹3.5 crores. How can you protect your small business from cyberattacks and avoid such financial losses? Let’s explore.
Digital transformation for the MSME sector in India
In India, the MSME sector comprises more than 6.33 crore enterprises which contribute to the employment of 11 crore people. The sector has been contributing to nearly ~30% of the country’s nominal GDP and has been growing at an 18.5% CAGR.
This dynamic sector, also known as the “engine of growth in India”, is slowly shifting its presence online after realizing the benefits that selling online has. Their digital growth will no doubt play a huge role in achieving the $5 trillion economy target.
The Indian government is also helping push digital transformation through various initiatives like –
- Make in India
- Atmanirbhar Bharat
- ECGLS scheme
- Digital university
- Desh Portal
Related read: Budget expectations 2022: What do DTC brands and small businesses want?
The current technology adoption rate for the Indian MSME sector is 37%. Even though there are efforts to accelerate the pace by the government as well as private sectors, there are multiple reasons why this transition has been slow.
- Lack of understanding of digital platforms
- A sense of distrust for digital services
- Creating digital identities is a task
What are cyberattacks and why are small eCommerce businesses vulnerable?
Once MSMEs have set up digital assets like their own eCommerce website, connected their bank accounts, and started online transactions, the work doesn’t stop there. They also need to then ensure their digital assets are protected from cyberattacks.
A cyberattack is an attempt by hackers to damage or disable your computers. They can block, delete, manipulate and steal sensitive data. This data can then be used to either harm your business or to directly steal your money.
MSMEs are often vulnerable to cyberattacks because of the lack of awareness that most business owners have, especially in rural areas. These businesses often operate at a very low scale. For them, the loss of even a single day’s earnings is a setback.
Related read: What is an emergency fund and how to build it for your eCommerce business?
Protect your small business from cyberattacks
A cyber attack has financial, emotional, and psychological repercussions for a small business that had already taken a huge risk when it started its business online.
The most common types of cyberattacks faced by small businesses are:
- Password targeting
- Advanced Persistent Threats (Apt)
- Crytpojacking
- Phishing
- Ransomware
- Man in the Middle Attach
- Denial of Service Attacks
- DNS Attack
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Here are 7 ways you can protect your small business from cyberattacks:
Gain awareness
Understand the different types of sensitive data that you have. Your credit card details, payment details, one-time passwords, account details, phone numbers, etc. are valuable and can be manipulated by hackers. Take extra care to keep these hidden from public view.
Take care of your hardware
Phones and computers can be stolen easily and then accessed. Take extra care of these assets.
Smart passwords
Keeping a simple and easy to guess password is the easiest way to get hacked. A lot of people keep their birthdates or the names of their children. These are a big no-no.
Always try to have passwords that are 8 characters long, and have numbers and special characters(@ # $ % *).
Update your system regularly
The software that you use on a day-to-day basis usually offers updates. These updates help the software become more secure and efficient.
Be on the lookout for these updates regularly. There should be a notification or alert that informs you whenever the latest update is available.
Check the security of your platform
If you have your own eCommerce website, you should check if your eCommerce website builder fulfills the following security requirements :
- A firewall that’s been put in place to protect your website [💡 Firewall: A firewall is a type of shield that you can place digitally. It stops malicious software or viruses from invading your sensitive data. You can place a firewall in the hardware or in the software.]
- The eCommerce platform is compliant with PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) to protect your entire payment network
- The host of your eCommerce website conducts regular security checks that can reduce the probability of such cyberattacks
Instamojo checks all three of these boxes.
Once you create an online store for free on Instamojo, your eCommerce business along with your payments are safe and secure. You can also talk to our customer support executive to understand the security measures in detail.
Start your online journey with Instamojo without worrying about losing sensitive data.
