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Expert advice from Analycys CEO Andrew Glaz: A firm like Analycys can help small businesses with security.
Interviewer: Welcome to today's our to The Cyber Security Podcast for Small Business Owners. We are going to talk about a hot button for most small business owners: data security management. Our guest today is Andrew Glaz, CEO of Analycys, a managed service provider from Wellington, Florida. They secure small businesses in the South Florida metro area. Analycys services healthcare, legal, real estate, and other small businesses that value their data. Most of their clients are in healthcare, legal, retail, and other professional services. Our conversation will be about how small businesses can protect their data and what to do without an IT team, that's in-house. Andrew Glaz, thank you for joining us today!
Andrew: Thank you for having me! This is an important topic for Analycys. We all of the time that Small businesses want data management services, but don't know where to begin. Sadly, they have the same security risks as the bigger companies.
Table of Contents for the Interview:
Introduction to Data Security Management7d
Why data security is essential for small businesses.
Businesses face new problems all the time with tech and data.
Data Security is easy to implement with a few simple steps.
Knowing Who Your Adversaries Are
Most common threats: ransomware, phishing, and insider threats.
Why small businesses have a bullseye from Threat actors.
Why industry regulations make it (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, etc.) difficult.
Using Best Practices for Data Security
Simple approach: Firewalls, encryption, antivirus, and monitoring.
The importance of proactive security measures.
What can a small business do now to fortify their environment?
Benefits of Outsourcing IT Services
The easy choice for most small businesses is outsourcing their IT
Safer with 24/7 monitoring and support.
How do MSPs, like Analycys, create custom solutions for clients?
Custom IT Strategies that are Tailor Made for Small Businesses
How MSPs assess business needs and create custom strategies.
Balancing cost with effective protection.
Solutions for healthcare, legal, retail, and professional services. They're industry-specific.
Client Success Stories and Use Cases
Examples of data breaches that MSPs prevented or reduced.
Examples of Analycys helping clients in South Florida avoid security disasters.
Lessons learned from these case studies that can benefit other small businesses.
Future Trends in Data Security and IT Consultancy
Threats that are growing.
Stay ahead with preventative measures.
AI, machine learning, and automation will be easy to use, but a key component to Data Security Mangement7d
Extended Interview Script
1. Introduction to Data Security Management
Interviewer: Let’s start with the basics. What is data security management, and why is it crucial for a small business? I'm a small business owner and not stop what I am doing, and stary fixing tech issues or making sure I am compliant. I just want to focus on what I do best.
Andrew: Great question! Data security management aims to protect an organization's data. It involves managing policies, procedures, and tools. They should stop unauthorized access, theft, and corruption. For a small business, this means securing everything. It includes customer payment info and internal emails. Many small businesses overlook security. Most small businesses assume they are too small and the bad guys won't go after them. And know you know what happens when you assume?
Interviewer: Why do you think small businesses make that assumption?
Andrew: Many believe cybercriminals target the big corporations. And that what they want you to think. Small businesses are actually the easier targets. They lack the security resources of larger firms. Hackers know this. So, they exploit these vulnerabilities. In fact, according to a 2022 report, nearly 50% of cyberattacks, were small business attacks. After experiencing a data breach, the costs to recover might be too much. The attacks can be existential to a business, from financial losses to reputation damage.
Interviewer: That’s a scary statistic. What can a small business do now to secure their data?
Andrew: Really, the start with a Cyber Security Assessment, know where your weaknesses are before the the threat actors do. No business is too small to be attacked. Next, implement basic security measures. Use 20 character passwords, I know lol, configure firewalls, and encrypt your privileged data. But for many small businesses, the key is to bring in outside help. An MSP like Analycys can be a small business's entire IT department. It can handle everything from daily monitoring to emergency response.
2. Understanding Your Threat Adversaries
Interviewer: Let’s dive a little deeper into the types of threats small businesses face. Tell us, what the most common threats are today?
Andrew: There are a number of threats that are particularly dangerous for small businesses. The easiest are ransomware, phishing, and insider threats.
Interviewer: Let’s take them one by one. What is ransomware, and why is it so easy to use?
Andrew: Ransomware is malware. It will encrypt your data, your data will be unavailable until the ransom is paid, usually in the form of cryptocurrency. It can hit any business, regardless of size. After encryption, you face a tough choice. Hopefully, but not always, the data is recovered, after the ransom is paid, but this is also not guaranteed. Or, refuse and risk losing it forever. The scary part is that paying the ransom may not get your data back. Ransoms are becoming more and more expensive, going as high as millions of dollars, and sometimes billions.
Interviewer: And phishing? That seems to be something we hear about constantly.
Andrew: Absolutely. Phishing attacks happen when the criminal pretends to be legitimate, like a bank or invoice from a vendor. They usually do this by email. They want to believe this is common, so they can obtain sensitive information, like passwords or credit card numbers. Phishing is very effective because, because only one employee has to click on a malicious email. Employees, who are well-versed in cyber attacks, can still fall for an convincing email scam. That's why, continuous employee training and email security are critical.
Interviewer: What about insider threats? That seems like something most people wouldn’t expect.
Andrew: Exactly. Insider threats are usually employees of the company. Employees or contractors can leverage their access to sensitive data. Sometimes, this is intentional, like stealing company secrets. Other times, it happens by accident. For example, an employee unknowingly might click on a phishing link. In small businesses, fewer staff and less oversight, these insider threats can be critical to the operations
Interviewer: How can small businesses protect against these threats?
Andrew: Protection starts with awareness and education. Employees must learn to recognize phishing scams. They should understand the need for strong passwords. They must know how to act if they suspect a security issue. But, businesses need a strong security infrastructure. They need firewalls, encryption, updates, and data backups. An MSP like Analycys ensures these protections are in place and monitored.
3. Implementing a Layered Approach to Data Security Interviewer:
Interviewer: You've mentioned a "layered approach" to data security management7d several times. Can you explain it more?
Andrew: Sure! A layered approach uses multiple security measures. Each layer targets a specific threat. Together, they ensure complete protection. Imagine a medieval castle. You wouldn't rely on one wall. You'd also need moats, archers, drawbridges, and extra walls. That's how layered security works.
Interviewer: What kinds of layers are we talking about?
Andrew: Every small business should have several key layers. First, you have perimeter defenses, such as firewalls other common systems. They are your first line of defense, blocking unauthorized access. Next, you need endpoint security. It protects devices, like computers and smartphones, with antivirus and encryption. Then there’s network security. It aims to secure your company's network by monitoring traffic for threats.
Interviewer: Are there other layers beyond that?
Andrew: Yes. Data encryption is vital. It keeps data safe from hackers without a key. Access controls are also crucial. They limit information to authorized users. Don't forget backups and disaster recovery. They're often ignored. But, they let you restore systems after a breach. This avoids ransoms and downtime.
Interviewer: How often should backups occur?
Andrew: Ideally, businesses should back up data continuously or daily. More frequent backups mean less data loss during a breach. It's vital to store backups offsite or in the cloud. This keeps them safe from attacks.
4. The Benefits of Outsourcing IT Services
Interviewer: It must be overwhelming for a small business to manage all these layers, especially without a dedicated IT team. Is this where outsourcing can help?
Andrew: Yes. Small businesses often lack the resources for IT and security. That's where we, Analycys, come in. We act as your IT team. At Analycys, we will monitor systems, respond to incidents, and back up data 24/7.
Interviewer: Why Should a Small Business Outsource their IT services?
Andrew: First, you gain peace of mind. Experts protect your data 24/7. We monitor for threats and updates. Second, it saves money. Full-time IT staff is costly. Outsourcing is cheaper. Finally, it lets you focus on your business. We handle IT, you serve customers.
Interviewer: Do Managed Service Providers offer different service levels?
Andrew: Yes, we do. At Analycys, we have packages tailored to needs. Some clients need full management. Others just need help with backups or cybersecurity. Outsourcing is flexible and can grow with your business.
5. Adapting IT Strategies for Small Businesses
Interviewer: How do you create custom IT strategies for different clients?
Andrew: We start by understanding each client's unique problems. We review their systems, rules, and budgets. An example would be, healthcare providers follow HIPAA guidelines. Retailers, should meet PCI-DSS standards.
Interviewer: So, each strategy is unique?
Andrew: Exactly. For a law firm, we focus on securing emails and files. For a retailer, we prioritize payment security. We ensure customer information is safe. The aim is to balance security with costs. Many small businesses believe strong security is unaffordable. We show them it is possible.
Interviewer: Are there any quick, cheap solutions for small businesses?
Andrew: Definitely! Easy common-sense strategies can be effective. Another example, using two-factor authentication (2FA), makes it more difficult for a cyber criminal to breach your network. Regularly updating software is also key. Hackers often target outdated systems. So, keeping software current is vital. Teaching employees about phishing is another important step. It can prevent many breaches.
6. Client Success Stories and Use Cases
Interviewer: You've helped many small businesses. Can you share a success story? Did your services make a difference?
Andrew: Of course! One example is a school district. They were breached previously multiple times. Analycys came in, and immediately we found the IT Systems Administrator username and passwords on the DarkWeb. Within days we found over 2000 of the kids passwords also on the DarkWeb. Then we found IP's communicating with countries like China and Russia. Not sure why kids need visit sites hosted in China and Russia?
Interviewer: That’s a great example of how important being proactive is. Those students were lucky to have you on their side!
Andrew: Absolutely. But it’s not just luck—it’s about being proactive. Many small businesses consider data security only after an attack. Preparation and cyber hygiene are usually the best methods to prevent a cyber security breach.
Interviewer: Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest trends in data security and IT consultancy?
Andrew: AI and machine learning in cybersecurity are the new buzzwords. Believe it or not, AI is our friend, because it can help us analyze data faster, and find anomalies that may indicate a cyber attack that humans might miss.
Interviewer: That sounds like a game-changer. What about for small businesses?
Andrew: For small businesses, AI can level the playing field. Now small businesses can use these advanced technologies like AI and machine learning for their security.
Interviewer: Are there any new threats on the horizon that small businesses should be aware of?
Andrew: Definitely. A new threat is the rise of supply chain attacks. In these, hackers target a company's suppliers or vendors to access their systems. This is concerning for small businesses. They often use third-party vendors for key services, like payment processing and cloud storage. The key is to vet your vendors. Ensure they have strong security.
Interviewer: So, it’s not just about securing your own business—it’s about making sure everyone you work with is secure, too.
Andrew: Exactly. Cybersecurity is a collaborative effort. Small businesses must work closely with their vendors, employees, and IT providers. They need to create a strong security strategy.
Podcast Description
In this episode, we talk with Andrew, a South Florida managed service provider. We discuss how small businesses can protect their data. We cover three topics. First, the need for a layered security approach. Second, the benefits of outsourcing IT. Third, examples of businesses that avoided costly data breaches with Analycys' help.
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