SMBs must embrace cyber resilience after Crowdstrike outage

What was the crowdstrike outage

The July 2024 CrowdStrike outage refers to a significant disruption in the services provided by CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity company known for its advanced threat detection and response solutions. During this outage, some of CrowdStrike's customers experienced issues with accessing or using its cybersecurity tools, potentially leaving their systems vulnerable to threats. The outage brought to light the risks associated with relying heavily on a single cybersecurity provider, emphasizing the need for organizations, including SMBs, to have robust backup plans and diversified security measures in place to maintain protection even when primary systems go down.

The CrowdStrike Outage: A Wake-Up Call for Small Businesses

The CrowdStrike outage significantly impacted small businesses by exposing them to increased cybersecurity risks and operational disruptions. This challenge is heightened by the fact that many SMBs lack a dedicated IT department, leaving employees or owners scrambling to address these issues themselves.

The outage left SMB's vulnerable to cyber attacks, unable to access critical security tools, and without real-time protection against threats. This situation underscored the vulnerability of depending on a single cybersecurity provider, leading to data breaches, financial losses, and compromised customer trust for some businesses. The incident highlighted the importance of having backup security measures and a comprehensive incident response plan to mitigate such risks.

In light of this event, many SMBs will need to focus not only on protecting themselves from future outages but also on enhancing their cyber resilience. Given that many lack fully staffed IT departments, partnering with a consultative expert like Iron Mountain becomes essential.

Steps for Building Cyber Resilience

1. Diversify Cybersecurity Solutions: Relying on a single provider for cybersecurity can be risky. SMBs should consider using a mix of tools and services to protect their data. This might include using different providers for antivirus software, firewalls, and threat detection.
2. Implement a Robust Backup Strategy: Regular backups are essential to ensure that critical data can be quickly restored in the event of a cyberattack or outage. SMBs should implement automated backup solutions and ensure that backups are stored securely, both onsite and offsite.
3. Develop an Incident Response Plan: Every SMB should have a clear and actionable incident response plan. This plan should outline the steps to take in the event of a cyber incident, including who to contact, how to contain the breach, and how to communicate with customers and stakeholders.
4. Educate Employees: Human error is a leading cause of cybersecurity breaches. Regular training for employees on best practices, such as recognizing phishing attempts and using strong, unique passwords, can go a long way in preventing attacks.
5. Regularly Test and Update Systems: Cyber resilience is not a set-it-and-forget-it approach. SMBs should regularly test their systems for vulnerabilities, update software and security patches, and review their cybersecurity policies.
6. Engage with Cybersecurity Professionals: If possible, SMBs should consider working with cybersecurity consultants or managed service providers (MSPs) who can offer expert guidance and support tailored to their specific needs.

The Path Forward

The CrowdStrike outage, while significant, is just one of many events that underline the necessity for SMBs to take proactive steps toward cyber resilience. By diversifying their cybersecurity strategies, developing comprehensive response plans, and educating their workforce, SMBs can better protect themselves against the evolving threat landscape.

Cyber resilience is not a one-time effort but a continuous process of adaptation and improvement. As the digital world grows more complex, SMBs must remain vigilant, ensuring that they are not only prepared to defend against cyber threats but also equipped to recover swiftly should an incident occur.