Cisco launches SMB assessment tool for cybersecurity preparedness
Cisco has launched a new cybersecurity assessment tool to enable small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Singapore to better understand their overall security posture.
The new online assessment tool assesses the cybersecurity readiness of an organisation through the lens of Zero Trust, the concept that all attempts to access an organisation’s network architecture are not granted until trust can be verified. When a user accesses an application using a device, both the user and device are verified, with that trust continuously monitored. This helps secure the organisation’s applications and environments, from any user, device, and location.
The tool assesses the organisation’s level of maturity in six areas of Zero Trust i.e., User and Identity, Device, Networks, Workload (applications), Data, and Security Operations. Once the organisation enters details of its security capabilities and policies, the tool assesses the overall security posture of the organisation based on industry and sector benchmarks.
A report is then generated indicating the organisation's level of maturity, challenges and opportunities in each of the six areas of Zero Trust. Where applicable, the tool will offer recommendations on the technologies and solutions that can help strengthen the organisation’s overall security posture and preparedness in a hybrid work environment.
According to Cisco’s Cybersecurity for SMBs: Asia Pacific Businesses Prepare for Digital Defense study, two in three (67%) SMBs in Singapore said they are more concerned about cybersecurity today than they were 12 months ago. The study also found that cyberattacks have a tangible impact on SMBs – from disruption in
operations and loss of revenue to negative impact on the organisation’s
reputation.
The study revealed for example that 40% of SMBs in Singapore had suffered a cyberincident in the last 12 months. About half (51%) said that these cyberincidents cost their business US$500,000 or more. The No. 1 reason highlighted as the cause of these incidents was cybersecurity solutions not being adequate to detect or prevent the attack.
According to Singapore SMBs surveyed for the study, phishing, unsecured laptops, targeted attacks by malicious actors, and use of personal devices are among the top threats to their overall security.
“Singapore’s digital maturity has been a source of strength for its innovation economy. As companies adopt and integrate Industry 4.0 technologies and accelerate their digitalisation journeys, they need to be conscious that this exposes a larger attack surface for bad actors waiting to find a security gap. Our zero-trust approach to security will be paramount in helping organizations secure their workforce, workplace and workload amid a cloud and application-first environment,” said Andy Lee, MD, Cisco Singapore and Brunei.
“As a first step to adopting this strategy, SMBs can use our new online assessment tool aimed at helping businesses improve their resilience by providing a better understanding of their cybersecurity preparedness, and the opportunities and gaps that require attention.”
Cisco explained that the mass shift to hybrid working, triggered by the pandemic, led to a sizeable proportion of employees connecting to organisations’ networks and accessing information from outside the office, with many using personal devices to do so. These practices have expanded the attack surface and increased cybersecurity risks beyond the perimeters that companies have traditionally built to protect the business.
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