Cyber security is a growing concern among small- and medium-sized business owners. Representative Chris Collins, chairman of the House's Subcommittee on Health and Technology, believes that SMBs are not adequately prepared for digital threats. 

"Small businesses generally have fewer resources available to monitor and combat cyber threats, making them easy targets for expert criminals," Collins said during a hearing, according to Entrepreneur Magazine. 

SMB owners must implement strong cyber security standards to avoid financial losses. Additionally, hackers can easily obtain customer data, which entrepreneurs must go to great lengths to protect. 

The Federal Communications Commission recommends installing a firewall for your internet connection. The program prevents hackers from accessing your server from remote locations. Most operating systems have a firewall that you can use. Alternatively, you can use third-party software that has been optimized for business security. Research your options to find the best security program for your company. Additionally, if you have a work-from-home program, your employees need to have firewalls on their personal devices. Ensure that workers have access to the same applications used in your establishment to keep data safe. 

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Small- and medium-sized businesses are so reliant on technology that small malfunctions hurt day-to-day productivity. According to a survey conducted by the Brother International Corporation, 75 percent of SMB owners stated that computer crashes are more disruptive than absent employees. Additionally, 77 percent of respondents said that technical problems led to missed deadlines or opportunities. Perhaps the most telling statistic is how many SMB owners are willing to sacrifice their personal time to eliminate the issues altogether. Approximately 31 percent of entrepreneurs would trade a week of vacation for no technical malfunctions. 

The survey highlights how dependent SMBs are on technology, and how unprepared some companies are for inevitable issues. Every system is prone to the occasional glitch or malfunction, so it's important for entrepreneurs to have contingency plans. Solutions like a backup server or a cloud service can eliminate some headaches until the primary system is fully functional. 

Cloud storage can be particularly beneficial in the event of network connectivity problems. If your establishment loses internet access, you can send your workers home and they'll be able to access their work files from the cloud. This ensures that productivity isn't adversely affected by technical failures. 

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