Information Security for Small Businesses

This assignment delves into the crucial topic of information security for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). It examines the unique challenges SMEs face in protecting their data, highlighting the importance of effective cybersecurity measures. The document discusses various risk factors, analyzes existing information security models, and proposes practical strategies for implementing robust security policies within SME environments. Furthermore, it emphasizes the significance of employee awareness and training in bolstering overall information security posture.

Running Head: Risk Management
Risk Management

Risk Management
“Effective Information Security and Management Strategy for Small and
medium Enterprises”.
Information Security Management is an important aspect of every organization by taking
into consideration the recent scenario of business globalization. The huge amount of information
is available in the database that should be protected by the hackers and it is in the form of spams,
malware. So the organization keeps the database safe by considering the latest security measures
that ensure the privacy of the data. It is seen that with the help of internet technology the dream
of mankind is turned into a reality. The organization has opted the internet based strategy that
assists to reach a large mass of audience easily. It is very important for every organization to
secure the information or the database that is available so that it cannot give negative impact on
the working operations of the business (Cagno, Micheli, Jacinto and Masi, 2014).
In the recent scenario, the information is considered as an important asset, by which the
organization can enhance and safeguard the image of the company. Small and medium-sized
enterprises cover a major part of the global economic activity. It is evaluated that the internet is
used by every organization so that the operations of the business can be conducted in an effective
manner. The small and medium-sized enterprises invested a huge cost that creates the presence
globally (McCormac, Zwaans, Parsons, Calic, Butavicius and Pattinson, 2017). The information
is stored or converted into the digital format and is transferred by various interconnected
networks. By enhancement in the usage of internet has brought a drastic change in the
communication pattern and also in the operations of the business. Information security and
management is a common aspect among the stakeholders. It is set off policies and procedures
that manage the data of the organization in a systematic manner. Information security
management minimizes the risk and focuses on the continuity of the organization (Lebek, Uffen,
Neumann, Hohler and Breitner, 2014).
For expanding the business it is essential that the enterprises should adopt effective
strategies of maintaining the database. The effective information security and management has
given opportunities to the small and medium enterprises that improved the productivity level and
helped them to compete with the large firms. The investments of resources are made by the

Risk Management
enterprises that maintain the information security policies and strategies. If the information
security is not proper then it can lead to lack of proper information by the enterprises (Tsohou,
Karyda, Kokolakis and Kiountouzis, 2015).The organization makes continuous planning by
giving focus on the security and risk management procedures that are set within the organization.
To secure the information it has become a complex activity, so it is essential to take into
consideration security strategies that need to extend to mobile platforms, cloud systems, and
social ecosystems. The significance of developing information security strategy is often
overlooked. A strategy that is related to the security of information acts like a roadmap that
creates the security practices that should be taken into consideration to survive the challenges
that occur in future. The strategy will help the organization to attain the long-term safety
objectives by considering the practices that will assist the company in accomplishing the future
security state (Gordas, 2014).
It is analyzed that the enterprises should implement effective information safety strategies
so that the risk can be minimized in a proper way. If the small and medium enterprise takes into
consideration effective information safety strategies, then the information can be secured on the
long-term basis. To enhance the security of the organization on a long-term basis, the company
should consider and understand the security status and the goals that are related to the long-term
strategic security road mapping (Siponen, Mahmood and Pahnila, 2014).
Information security and management gives emphasis on maintaining confidentiality,
integrity and also the availability of the information data. The responsibility of the management
is to take care of the effective implementation of the information security system in the
enterprises by establishing information security committee. The committee consists of the
representatives from the different departments (Kines, Andersen, Andersen, Nielsen and
Pedersen, 2013). The representatives are from the background of information security, internal
audit, and risk management. Effective information security and safety is important so that the
information that is obtained can be maintained as it is valuable for the organization. It is
essential to think of the safety in financial terms. In order to understand the significance of
information in the organization, the employees must have a proper concept of the security of
information in the organization. The enterprises should give emphasis on the fake posts that are

Risk Management
given on the social media sites that affect the goodwill of the organization (Alshboul and Streff,
2015).
It is very important to give concentration on the information security, as it is considered
as a main element of the organization. If the organization lost its information then it can be a
great loss and there are various drawbacks that can be faced. The first drawback is related to the
confidentiality of the organization. The confidential information of the organization can be
leaked and it can give negative impact on the financial position of the company (Peltier, 2016). It
gives an unfair advantage to the competitors and damages the goodwill and even bankrupts the
organization. The digital information of the enterprise that consists of confidential information
should also be protected from misuse. As, it is a challenge to protect the information that is sent
and exchanged electronically with the use of the internet, but there are certain precautions that
should be taken into consideration by the organization. The precautions are:
The enterprises should create a passcode entry on the files in which the sensitive
information is included. The rules should be designed for the transfer or copying the information
from the internet. The security system should be uploaded in the computer like firewall so that
the threats can be easily detected.
There are many security incidents that are concerned about malicious code like worms,
viruses, and Trojans that have given negative impact on the operations of the organization. The
virus gives direct impact on the files and also on the software of the computer. It can delete or
erase the file; and also various challenges are faced by the organization. So the company should
emphasis on enhancing the information security so that the information cannot be leaked. To
create an effective information security in the enterprises it is important to give training to the
employees so that the valuable information can be secured (Smit & Watkins, 2012). The
customers are also an important aspect of every organization. With the loss of customer database,
it can also give impact on the sales of the business. The information that is leaked is used by
other business and by this the competition level is enhanced and faced by the company. Also to
give focus on enhancing the information security, it is important to find an expert who can
manage the information. If the organization maintain the information in a secure manner, then it
is very easy to attain success and objectives of the organization. It is important that everyone
should need to secure the information of the company. Every employee of the organization

Risk Management
should make effort to implement and carry out effective information security and management
strategies in an organization (Alton, 2016).
So, the enterprises should make effective information security system. There are various
organizations that are spending a lot of money to safeguard the information of the organization.
The small and medium enterprises should plan in an effective manner, strategies that should be
taken into consideration. If the enterprise makes efforts then it can be possible to maintain and
handle the data by using effective software and hardware to secure the data of the organization
(Legg, Olsen, Laird and Hasle, 2015).

Risk Management
References
Alshboul, Y and Streff, K 2015, ‘Analysing Information Security Model for Small – Medium
Sized Businesses’, Americas Conference on Information Systems, vol.58 no.1, pp.1-9.
Alton, L, 2016, How to Protect Your Small Business as Cybersecurity Threats Rise, Small
Business Trends, viewed 14 May 2017, retrieved from: <
https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/06/cyber-security-strategies.html>.
Cagno, E., Micheli, G.J.L., Jacinto, C. and Masi, D., 2014. An interpretive model of occupational
safety performance for Small-and Medium-sized Enterprises. International Journal of Industrial
Ergonomics, 44(1), pp.60-74.
Gordas, V, 2014, 'Implementing Information Security Management System in SMEs and
ensuring Effectiveness in its Governance,' London,
Kines, P., Andersen, D., Andersen, L.P., Nielsen, K. and Pedersen, L., 2013. Improving safety in
small enterprises through an integrated safety management intervention. Journal of safety
research, 44, pp.87-95.
Lebek, B., Uffen, J., Neumann, M., Hohler, B. and H. Breitner, M., 2014. Information security
awareness and behavior: a theory-based literature review. Management Research
Review, 37(12), pp.1049-1092.
Legg, S.J., Olsen, K.B., Laird, I.S. and Hasle, P., 2015. Managing safety in small and medium
enterprises.
McCormac, A., Zwaans, T., Parsons, K., Calic, D., Butavicius, M. and Pattinson, M., 2017.
Individual differences and information security awareness. Computers in Human Behavior, 69,
pp.151-156.
Peltier, T.R., 2016. Information Security Policies, Procedures, and Standards: guidelines for
effective information security management. CRC Press.

Risk Management
Siponen, M., Mahmood, M.A. and Pahnila, S., 2014. Employees’ adherence to information
security policies: An exploratory field study. Information & management, 51(2), pp.217-224.
Smit, Y & Watkins, J 2012, 'A literature review of small and medium enterprises (SME) risk
management practices in South Africa', African Journal of Business Management, vol. 6, no. 21,
p. 6324.
Tsohou, A., Karyda, M., Kokolakis, S. and Kiountouzis, E., 2015. Managing the introduction of
information security awareness programmes in organisations. European Journal of Information
Systems, 24(1), pp.38-58.