Global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has unveiled a four-step framework designed to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) mitigate the risk of financial and operational losses caused by cyber incidents.
The recommendations follow a global survey of 1,800 industry professionals, including 616 SMB representatives across 18 countries highlighting the growing vulnerability of smaller enterprises to sophisticated digital threats like malware and ransomware.
To address the unique operational constraints of smaller firms, Kaspersky emphasizes the need for flexible, purpose-built tools that scale alongside business growth.
“Kaspersky Next Optimum, our flagship offering for this segment, is engineered to bring expert and flexible security within reach for growing businesses. With the new suite of customisable, add-on Security Modules, users can further extend capabilities of its core products and strengthen defences as new needs or challenges evolve,” said Ilya Markelov, Head of Unified Platform Product Line at Kaspersky.
Four steps to mitigate risk
- SMBs should select tools matching their budget, size, and industry requirements. Micro-businesses can leverage entries like Kaspersky Small Office Security Premium for straightforward endpoint defense and basic awareness training. Mid-sized firms requiring early detection and incident response capabilities are advised to adopt advanced platforms like Kaspersky Next Optimum.
- Organizations must integrate daily data backup routines into standard operations to secure critical information against system emergencies and extortion attempts.
- Companies need clear protocols restricting access to cloud services and internal assets. IT departments must instantly revoke access permissions during employee offboarding to prevent insider threats or credential leakage.
- Technical safeguards should be backed by ongoing education around password hygiene, safe browsing, and software authorization policies. Automated training platforms, including simulated phishing exercises, help cultivate sustainable cybersecurity habits across staff.