Although it seems obvious that cybersecurity is essential for an operating business in today’s society, there are some major, clear costs for these businesses as well as huge benefits. For cyber criminals, there are businesses that are more susceptible to cyberattacks and attack due to their lack of comprehensive cybersecurity. Small businesses are the businesses most attractive to these criminals. Because these businesses are smaller and may just be starting off, they often do not have the resources and capital to support and sustain cybersecurity programs that can effectively protect personal data and information systems. Because of this, “small businesses often have more to lose” as one small breach or hack can put them out of business without the proper defense (Paulsen and Toth, p. 6). Because they have so much to lose, it is actually a benefit of them having cybersecurity. Although it is expensive and requires resources and continued maintenance to stay safe, if is worth it if it can prevent a business-ending cyberattack. All businesses can perform risk assessments to determine the likelihood of adverse events from taking place so they can determine the level of security they need. Even considering cyber-insurance is a good idea for some businesses who are at a higher potential of being attacked. These attacks also don’t just have to be by individual criminals, but can also be natural disasters as discussed in this reading assignment and previous chapters on risk assessment. Customers put a high value on the protection of their personal information and privacy. Any small business must be able to weigh out the costs and benefits of cybersecurity programs for the overall benefit and continued loyalty of the consumer if they wish to remain in business.

Work Cited Toth, P. R., & Paulsen, C. (2018, November 10). Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals. Retrieved September 30, 2019, from https://www.nist.gov/publications/small-business-information-security-fundamentals.