Integrating AI Solutions for Small Business Cybersecurity

Information from LinkedIn shows that 43% of online attacks target small and medium businesses. When attacking, cybercriminals look for weak entry points. These are areas where they can easily go through into your small business system.

They look for poorly configured accounts, non-encrypted information, and weak logins. A lot of small businesses nowadays use AI to protect themselves better. AI scans big volumes of data to identify possibilities of attacks. It learns patterns of attacks, entry points, and ways to prevent them. Using AI for your business safety improves efficiency. Several solutions can help your small business cybersecurity improve.

Areas that cybercriminals target in small businesses

Planning about your cybersecurity as a small entrepreneur is important. As you plan, you need to know how online criminals enter into your business systems. You also need to know which areas they target most. Cybercriminals mostly enter into your business through these areas.

Gadgets. These are devices used to connect your business online. Examples are phones, laptops, and desktops.
Servers. Servers store all your IT management solutions, user permissions, security information, and software.
Workstations. A workstation is a network of computers joined to help your workers with their daily tasks.
Websites. A website is a platform that connects your business with the rest of the world.
Browsers and cloud storage services. Browsers connect you to the World Wide Web. Cloud storage allows you to store your information away from your small business.

The security of your gadgets needs to be prioritized to enhance the security of your entire business. If you are using an iPhone in your business, you can activate an iOS security alert to boost your gadget’s security.

You will rarely get an Apple security alert from Apple. However, if the company notices you are individually targeted, they could send you an alert. Turning on your iOS security alert helps you get notifications from your phone’s system. They are sent to you when the system detects abnormalities in your security network.

You can get information about the latest threats and safety tips from Moonlock. You can also choose to get software which is simple but powerful to detect all potential threats.

When you are planning for AI Security solutions, keep these entry points in mind. Choose solutions that will help protect these areas and the areas criminals target most. The target areas in your small business are mostly the financial information storage area. This is the place where you store your credit cards, banking, and sales information. They also often target the place where you store your data and backups. They may target your communication channels too. These could be email channels, social media channels, and internal communication channels.

Common types of attacks small businesses experience

Deploying small business cybersecurity should be based on your type of business. It should also be based on the common types of attacks many micro-enterprises face. In your small enterprise growth path, you may experience any of these attacks.

Phishing. You are likely to get phishing attacks 88% of the time. In this attack, an online criminal impersonates a genuine person or entity.
Social engineering. Your small business is likely to get this attack 350% more times than bigger enterprises. Cybercriminals use manipulation to gain entry into your system.
Malware and ransomware. The possibility of malware attacks in your small business today stands at 43%. Ransomware attacks stand at 83%. Malware attacks harm your connection devices and networks. Ransomware denies you access to your business online.
Denial of Service (DoS). You are likely to experience DoS attacks 20% of the time. The criminal renders your system unavailable.

Effective AI cybersecurity startup solutions that work

The type of small business network security software you use should be able to protect you from all these types of attacks and more. If an attack happens, the solutions should be able to help you recover quickly.

AI cybersecurity investigation solutions

New types of threats come up all the time. You need to know where the threat is coming from. You need to know how likely an attack might happen and how to prevent it. Investigation tools help you do three main things. They identify the threat, analyze it, and prevent it. Here are some of the cost-effective AI tools you can use.

Network analysis software. This software uses AI to monitor your network activities. It checks how information is flowing and whether there is any suspicious activity. Examples of these tools are Datadog, Wireshark, NetSpot, and GraphMatcher.

Social media analysis software. This software checks all activities on your social media accounts. Examples of tools are Buffer, Google Analytics, and Sprout Social.

Malware analysis software. This software checks for malware and reverses it. Examples of tools are PeStudio, REMnux, Hybrid Analysis, and Any. run.

Password analysis software. This software checks compromise on passwords and recovers them. They check all password databases and encrypted files. Examples are Passware Kit, Recover My Password, and Trinity Rescue Kit.

Launching AI threat detection and response (TDR) software

Small business operators need to protect their enterprises against threats. They need to protect their workers and customers from attacks. Early detection can help you take quick action. Unfortunately, many small enterprises never know when threats are coming. They often get caught unprepared. TDR software helps you know when threats are coming and the best action.

AI-powered TDR for your small business cybersecurity ensures you are protected. The software not only detects but also prevents the attacks. You will be safe from malware, phishing, DDoS, and all other types of attacks. Before you implement a TDR program, consider these points.
Understand the areas the program covers and know its goals. Know what it will cost you and have a plan for collecting and analyzing all information. Have a plan on how the information collected and analyzed will be shared. Have a plan for continuous monitoring and updating. Important areas that you need to cover for detection include the following. Endpoints, identity threats, networks, cloud databases, and local databases. Examples of TDR solutions you may implement include the following.

IBM Qradar. The tool detects threats against your IT environment. It uses AI to detect threats, send warnings, and take action.
Snort. Detects all forms of intrusion. The tool filters all information flowing inside and outside your systems. It detects all major types of threats and prevents them.

ESET PROTECT Enterprise. This is a security tool containing many tools within it. It uses AI to scan the entire network. The software responds to any type of threat and prevents them.

Rapid7 Threat Command. The tool offers proactive defense in your entire system. This tool analyzes thousands of both internal and external threats. Once detected, it uses AI automation to mitigate the threat.

McAfee Enterprise Security Manager. The tool uses AI to offer real-time cyber security situations in your network. It has scaling capabilities to allow quick and intelligent responses against threats.

Integrate AI solutions for endpoint protection and management

An endpoint is any device or point that connects to your small business’s main network. Each of these points is important to cybercriminals. They can use them as doors to access your critical business network. Endpoint security and management means using software to protect and manage them.

They could be access points for your workers, customers, and service providers. All these points need to be unified for protection. Your IT team should manage the endpoints in a way that no unauthorized access is allowed. AI solutions for end-point protection and management may include the following.

AI password management

AI uses automated settings to manage user passwords. Access passwords can offer criminals an easy way to access your accounts. With AI, the system detects any abnormal patterns in password use. You can use AI to detect the authenticity of users. AI-powered measures such as scanning the eye, fingerprint, or voice can help. Examples of password managers include 1Password Business, Dell Password Manager, and NetIQ Identity Manager.

Using AI to protect email entry and exit points

Phishing attacks come through emails and it is crucial to use AI for email protection. It analyzes email behavior, attachments, URLs, and threats. AI is powered to actively detect and remove the threats before they get to you. Some of the email protection tools include Proofpoint, Microsoft 365, Mimecast, and Cisco Secure Email.

Antivirus management

Antivirus management means using AI to launch and monitor your antivirus software. AI uses automation to do these tasks and to keep the software updated. This ensures the tools detect, prevent, and remove all forms of virus attacks in real-time. Examples of software are Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, ThreatDown, and FortiClient.

Apps security management

You may not have the power to manage app security at the code development level. However, you can manage all the security of your apps at the network level. This action helps keep the code safe from being changed. It keeps the files and data of the apps safe. AI-powered tools can help you manage and protect your apps within your network. Examples of tools include Arxan Application Protection which protects against code tampering. Web Application Firewall for protecting website-based apps. Static Application Security Testing for testing the entire structure of an app to detect anomalies.

Network access and control

Network access and control means managing who gains access to your network. The control determines how the people who access the network use it. This involves creating policies and enforcing them. It includes the use of security measures at the access points and ensuring visibility.
AI scans a lot of information to detect patterns and suspicious behaviour at the access points. It helps to proactively solve issues and limit network downtime. AI also blocks illegal access to your network and protects your information. Network access and control AI solutions include the following. NordLayer Nac, Aruba ClearPass, Barracuda CloudGen Firewall.

Conclusion

Your small business cybersecurity is important. The use of small business network security software can improve your security. Determine the types of AI security solutions that your company needs. Your protection should include the access points, applications, devices, and storage. Include a system that detects any suspicious activities and responds in real-time.

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Author: Bennett Moore