4 Security Issues SMBs Should Watch In 2012

Webroots CTO looks ahead and shares security predictions that will matter to small and midsize businesses.

10 Important Cloud Apps For SMBs (click image for larger view and for slideshow)
Thanksgivings almost here, with the winter holidays close on its heels. That means a rash of overeating, last-minute shopping, and--of course--bold predictions for the coming year.
On the security front, Webroot CTO Mel Morris read his crystal ball and came up with
seven predictions
for 2012. Its a reasonable list, in blog form, and its tough to take major issue with the calls. (Well, maybe his second prediction, which suggests that 2012 will be
the
year that security firms gain the upper hand on the bad guy--that one seems a tad self-serving.) But four of the predictions on Morriss list really apply to small and midsize businesses (SMBs).
1. Masses will migrate to cloud platforms.
This prediction seems to lean a little hard on retrospect--except that Morris is talking about John and Jane Doe--not businesses. Morris tied his prediction to Apples recent
iCloud
launch and said it will make online applications the public norm rather than a trend. Continued consumerization will, in turn, force IT pros to deal with cloud applications--and any inherent security concerns--whether they want to or not.
Morris isnt talking about things like Web-based email--already somewhat old-fashioned in 2011--but file sharing, storage, and a much broader range of tools. Many
tech-savvy SMBs
are well ahead of this curve, but there are no doubt firms that have stayed away for security or other reasons. A potential silver lining: If a broader range of cloud platforms goes mainstream, then (hopefully) therell be more onus on vendors to invest in security--if for no other reason than the increasing cost of a breach and the ensuing PR fallout.
2. Your smartphone will be a target.
If youre placing bets, this one is easy money. Morris gives a general pat on the back to the security industry here, saying that because it has done a good job of protecting traditional endpoints, the bad guys will gold-rush the mobile frontier. We will see an increase in Android and iPhone attacks: rogue apps, malicious links, and spyware targeted at
smartphones
and tablets, he said. Its all about data, and business users and consumers alike store an abundance of highly sensitive and poorly guarded information on their mobile devices. SMBs need a mobile arm to their security plans that deals with both the devices themselves and the apps that run on them. Speaking of which...
3. Legitimate applications will be used for illegitimate activities.
The cynic might say: Duh. Just this week, Facebook--how many of your employees arent using it?--got hit with a widespread
porn attack
. Morris is more concerned about the vast, growing universe of mobile apps in use on employee smartphones and tablets--whether those are company-supported or not. A simple glance at an application like
Plane Finder
illustrates the vast amount of data that is at anyones fingertips, he said.
[For more on smartphone security, check out
Dark Readings
Pocket Guide To Securing Mobile Devices
.]

4. Our weakest link will be strengthened.
Morris has faith in humanity: He thinks well get smarter about security practices in 2012: Indifference toward security will diminish. Thats an interesting one for SMBs--their innate agility and leaner staff should make it easier to educate users on both the
fundamentals
and evolving problems. Yet SMBs--just like much
larger concerns
--run into problems all of the time, often as the result of
human error
. But its not like this will just magically happen once the ball drops at midnight on January 1. It requires a
philosophical shift
--one that need not depend on a big budget. Is Morris right--will we get smarter next year? Lets hope so.

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4 Security Issues SMBs Should Watch In 2012