Watch: Why SMEs need zero-trust cyber security

As we find ourselves in the ever-evolving age of digital transformation, achieving ‘zero trust’ is no longer a framework for the larger enterprises to work towards. We sat down Pierrick Prévert from SonicWall to explore why SME leaders need zero–trust cyber security – scroll down to watch. 

What is zero trust cyber security?

‘Zero trust’ isn’t a product or service, it’s a security concept akin to ‘never trust, always verify’; an approach in designing and implementing core security principles.  

For SMEs, it’s a strategic investment, making sure that everything is in place to maximise cyber security and build customer confidence. Zero trust ensures that you have strict security measures in place for anyone trying to access resources in your organisation, encompassing both internal and external stakeholders.  

This is more than just good practice – it’s critical to your resilience: 50-60% of small businesses close within six months of being hacked. 

How can SMEs introduce zero trust?

Assess your vulnerabilities

Identify areas of the business that are ‘high-risk’ through a vulnerability assessment. This is particularly important for SMEs who are working in the cloud and remotely. 

Prioritise zero-trust initiatives

Act on the results of your vulnerability assessment and get an idea of prioritising and launching different initiatives for protection. Define which users and devices need access to resources.

Adopt multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Build strict security measures, including strict identification, to access resources inside or outside the network perimeter. 

Monitor and respond

Device posture will be monitored, always against the policy, detecting threats in real-time. 

How does zero trust empower SMEs?

Cloud-ready security

Zero trust allows SMEs that operate in the cloud with hybrid working will have secure access to applications and data, regardless of location.  

Achieved compliances

A zero-trust approach to cyber security helps SMEs to align their posture with regulatory standards such as GDPR and Cyber Essentials, due to its strict access controls and monitoring. 

Better resource allocation

SMEs operate on limited budgets, including in their IT teams. Zero trust helps with prioritisation, focusing on protecting what matters most and reducing spend.

Watch our video on zero trust

With 31% of SME leaders saying they lack the critical cyber security skills required, partners like Thinc can fill that gap. Through our 30+ year partnership with SonicWall, we can bring some of the world’s leading cyber security services and deep understanding of how they can secure and empower businesses. 

In our latest video, we sat down Pierrick Prévert from SonicWall to explore why SME leaders need zero-trust cyber security. You can watch below. 

Watch: Why SME leaders need zero trust cyber security with Pierrick Prévert, SonicWall