Cybersecurity is a growing issue, affecting businesses of all sizes on a global scale. However, Houston in particular has risen in the ranks of most targeted cities for cyber attacks. As of 2019, Houston ranks number 2 in America’s most targeted cities for cyber attacks, coming in at second place behind Las Vegas.
The ranking is provided by Coronet’s ‘Cybersecurity in the City’ report, which has compiled a list of the cities most vulnerable to a cybersecurity attack. According to the 2018 report, Houston ranked as fourth, and the jump to second in 2019 highlights the growing need for cybersecurity improvements in the city.
The top 10 on the list of most targeted cities in 2019 are as follows:
- Las Vegas
- Houston
- New York
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale
- Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York
- West Palm Beach – Ft. Pierce
- Hartford-New Haven
- Birmingham
- Indianapolis
- Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto
The report was published after a year-long study which looked at SMEs and their devices, network structures, cloud applications, and email security. The results pose a great concern for Houston businesses, which are facing an ever-increasing number of cybersecurity threats that has caused them to become even more vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Houston is one of America’s fastest-growing cities for business, but the growing cybersecurity issues are leaving the city’s businesses vulnerable, with a potential for both reputational and financial damage. Meanwhile, cities like New York and Los Angeles have much more established business centers, making them better equipped to deal with cybersecurity threats and put the right precautions in place say the experts at The Law Offices of Scott D. Rogoff, P.C..
According to marcjblumenthal.com for Houston businesses, it’s important to take cybersecurity seriously and implement comprehensive cybersecurity solutions and defenses within your systems. These solutions can be implemented in house or outsourced to an Managed IT Service Provider. With new businesses opening every day, it’s important to establish strong security protocols from the start to protect the sensitive information you store.
Houston businesses need to be prepared to invest in more robust cybersecurity or face the costs—both financially and reputationally—that come with a data breach. For an emerging business hub like Houston that houses several SMBs, the consequences of leaked data for these businesses can be devastating. In fact, the average cost of a data breach is estimated to be $3.92 million. Costs involve ransomware fees, non-compliance fines, loss of customers, and even customer lawsuits.
As well as the financial cost of a data breach, there’s also the reputational impact to consider. A business that doesn’t do all in its power to protect itself and its customers will quickly lose trust, posing a serious threat to a business’s future.
While these findings might frighten Houston business owners, businesses can take the necessary steps to improve their cybersecurity measures and ensure they have the proper defenses put in place to prevent data loss. By taking these precautions, Houston businesses can safeguard themselves, helping to improve the city’s ranking and further establish Houston as a growing hub for business.
