Scams and phishing make up 82% of online threats for small businesses in the UK in 2023, yet many lack the budget and tools to protect themselves
Norton, a leading consumer Cyber Safety brand of Gen™ today announced Norton Small Business, the all-in-one cybersecurity solution to help ensure entrepreneurs and small business owners are equipped to protect their financial futures. While nearly 90% of businesses globally are small businesses[1] – 99.9% in the UK[2] – many lack the means to protect their digital environments the way larger enterprises do. Norton Small Business makes triple-lock protection accessible for small businesses to safeguard their team’s online activities, devices, and customer data in easy, all-in-one cybersecurity solution.
“Owning a very small business often means each member of the team wears different hats, and usually cybersecurity expert isn’t one of them,” said Massimo Rapparini, General Manager & Head of Small Business Safety at Gen. “Unfortunately, cybercriminals are aware of this and often target such businesses. For entrepreneurs and small businesses, falling for just one phishing email could have a devastating impact.”
Scams Taking Down Small Businesses
As consumers face a barrage of scams and phishing threats, small businesses are experiencing the same, and they are targeted more than large companies. According to data from Gen, cyber threats that rely on manipulating people account for 82% of attacks on small businesses in the UK. Of these threats, phishing – for example, emails trying to trick you into clicking a link or transferring money – is the most common way cybercriminals try to access small business systems, private data, financials, and intellectual property.
Businesses with under 10 employees often lack IT support, putting companies at great risk if cybercriminal attacks are successful – and many are. In 2022 alone, cyber-crime cost UK businesses an average of £4200[3]. Norton Small Business helps small businesses disaster-proof their critical data to minimize the risk of financial loss.
Entrepreneurs Pursue Financial Freedom
Entrepreneurs often start their own ventures in pursuit of financial freedom and invest significant time, energy and personal savings to build their business. Yet, small businesses are being heavily targeted by cybercriminals, leaving them at much higher risk of collapsing compared to larger firms when hit by a cyberattack.
The effects of a cyberattack extend beyond financial consequences, and it’s time cybersecurity is pushed to the forefront of small business priorities.
Kyle Frank, the small business owner behind London-based Frank’s Remedies, knows only too well the impact of falling victim to this kind of attack. In 2021, a phishing scam resulted in the loss of not only money but a sense of security.
“As a small business owner, I play many roles, and I’m always learning as I go. But in 2021, I learned firsthand how essential cybersecurity is. That phishing attack hit hard, not just financially, but it also threatened the business I work so passionately on. It was gut-wrenching to experience how vulnerable we were – and definitely a wake-up call that cyber safety needs to be a priority.”
Setting Up Your One-Person IT Department
Norton is your go-to partner to make small business cybersecurity simple with an all-in-one solution that provides 24/7 cybersecurity protection and a variety of features, including:
- Secure Browser, Password Manager and VPN (virtual private network) to help secure day-to-day online activities
- Automated PC cleaning and optimization to keep healthier PCs for longer
- Secure Cloud Backup to help reduce the risk of loss of business data
- Software and driver updaters to help keep software up to date, so there are fewer vulnerabilities for cybercriminals to exploit
- IT coverage and maintenance for up to 20 devices
- A 100% Virus Protection Promise[4]
“We’ve built our small business products and services with the same approach in mind as we do with our consumer portfolio so entrepreneurs don’t need to worry about becoming cybersecurity experts,” said Rapparini. “Norton is here to make cybersecurity accessible and easy so they can focus on building thriving businesses.”
Norton recommends these top 10 tips to protect your small business:
- Learn to spot signs of phishing and teach your employees
- Only click links or download attachments from known sources
- Avoid sharing personal information or private company data over email
- Always keep your operating system, applications, and drivers up-to-date
- Make sure your WiFi network is protected with a strong password
- Regularly back up your data
- Require employees to use a VPN when doing company work on a public WiFi network (think airports and coffee shops)
- Always use multi-factor-authentication for an extra layer of protection
- Don’t neglect mobile devices – make sure they are password protected and use security software
- Invest in a cybersecurity solution such as Norton Small Business
Norton Small Business is available now with prices starting at £39.99/year with options for 6, 10 or 20-device plans. For more information, please visit uk.norton.com/products/small-business.
About Norton
Norton is a leading Cyber Safety brand of Gen™ (NASDAQ: GEN), a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom through its family of trusted consumer brands including Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, AVG, ReputationDefender and CCleaner. Gen empowers people to live their digital lives safely, privately, and confidently today and for generations to come. Gen brings award-winning products and services in cybersecurity, online privacy and identity protection to more than 500 million users in more than 150 countries. Learn more at Norton.com and GenDigital.com.
