Security Staff Acquisition & Development

Closing the SMB cybersecurity skills gap: Key steps

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face a growing cybersecurity crisis, exacerbated by a severe shortage of skilled professionals.

A global survey commissioned by Sophos highlights the pressing nature of this challenge: For organizations with fewer than 500 employees, the lack of in-house cybersecurity expertise is the second-most significant threat, surpassed only by zero-day attacks. The report sheds light on the impacts of this skills gap and offers actionable strategies, including leveraging resources like the Cybersecurity Best Practices Toolkit, to mitigate these risks.

The Two-Headed Challenge

SMBs are hit hardest by the cybersecurity skills shortage due to two critical factors: lack of expertise and lack of capacity.

  1. Lack of Expertise: Cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, yet SMBs struggle to maintain the expertise required to address these evolving risks. The survey found that 96% of SMB respondents face significant challenges with at least one aspect of security operations, such as identifying malicious signals, prioritizing alerts, and remediating incidents. Unlike larger organizations, SMBs have fewer opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and professional development.
  2. Lack of Capacity: Maintaining 24/7 security monitoring is a daunting task for SMBs with limited resources. Alarmingly, SMBs have no active security responders for 33% of the time, leaving them exposed to attacks that typically occur outside business hours.

    3. The High Stakes for SMBs

    The skills gap translates into real-world consequences. SMBs are more likely to suffer devastating ransomware attacks, with 74% of incidents resulting in data encryption compared to 66% for larger organizations. This heightened vulnerability not only increases the risk of data loss but also escalates the potential for business disruption and financial strain.

    Moreover, stretched resources and mounting cyber threats contribute to burnout among cybersecurity teams. A separate Sophos study revealed that 85% of IT professionals experience burnout, with 90% reporting that the problem has worsened in the past year. This vicious cycle of stress and turnover compounds the skills gap, further reducing organizational resilience.

    Bridging the Gap: Practical Steps

    Closing the cybersecurity skills gap requires SMBs to adopt a multifaceted approach that includes external partnerships and smarter use of technology:

    1. Leverage Third-Party Security Specialists:
      • Managed Detection and Response (MDR): Engaging MDR services provides 24/7 expert-led monitoring, threat detection, and response. These services address capacity gaps and can often be funded through savings from cyber insurance premiums. For example, a non-profit organization in North Carolina offset nearly all the cost of its MDR subscription through insurance savings.
      • Managed Service Providers (MSPs): MSPs can complement or fully outsource cybersecurity operations, offering scalable support tailored to SMB needs.

        • 2. Adopt SMB-Focused Security Solutions:

        • Choose platforms designed for ease of use, like Sophos Central, which consolidates endpoint protection, firewalls, and email security into a single interface.
        • Opt for tools that offer automation and recommended configurations to reduce manual effort and misconfiguration risks.

          • 3. Implement Proactive Cyber Hygiene:

          • Regularly update and patch systems to close known vulnerabilities.
          • Use intuitive security dashboards to monitor real-time threats and maintain optimal defenses.

            • 4. Leverage Toolkits and Training Resources:

            • Sophos’ Cybersecurity Best Practices Toolkit provides actionable guidance to bolster defenses.
            • These resources are designed to empower SMB teams to make the most of limited staff and budgets.

              • Turning Challenges into Opportunities

              While the skills gap presents significant challenges, SMBs can turn the tide with the right strategies and resources. By partnering with third-party experts, adopting user-friendly cybersecurity solutions, and focusing on proactive measures, SMBs can build a robust defense against modern threats.

              Bill Brenner

              InfoSec content strategist, researcher, director, tech writer, blogger and community builder. Senior Vice President of Audience Content Strategy at CyberRisk Alliance.

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