IT Governance SA recommends that all SMEs should strengthen their Information Security Management Systems to avoid data breaches and cyber crime.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, SOUTH AFRICA, March 24, 2014 /EINPresswire.com/ -- IT Governance SA, the global leader in information security and ISO27001 compliance expertise, recommends that all small and medium enterprises in South Africa should pro-actively strengthen their Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) and comply with ISO27001 to avoid data breaches and cyber crime.

According to the Symantec Internet Security Threat Report 2013, global cyber attacks on smaller business are increasing because small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) don’t have the budget or resources to protect their IT infrastructures. Often, they wrongly assume that wealthy multinational organisations are a more attractive target for hackers. In South Africa, Symantec reports, one in 178 emails is malicious. Malicious code includes programs such as viruses, worms and Trojan horses, which are secretly installed on computer systems to steal a company’s confidential information, such as clients’ credit card numbers, bank account numbers, passwords etc.

IT Governance says that hackers aren’t concerned about the size of the organisation they attack, as long as there is a vulnerability within the system and sensitive data to steal. Small firms make ideal targets. SMEs may lack the resources and budget to secure their IT infrastructures, but they should take into consideration the greater financial losses they may incur as a result of cyber crime.

IT Governance strongly recommends that SMEs start looking into implementing ISO27001, the globally recognised information security standard, to alleviate the risks of cyber attacks and data breaches. Among the benefits of compliance with the standard are that it:

* helps to win new business opportunities and retain the existing customer base;
* safeguards the business and company’s valuable intellectual property rights;
* complies with business, legal, contractual and regulatory requirements;
* differentiates the organisation in the market as being standard-compliant; and
* helps to avoid large financial penalties (both contractual and regulatory fines).

The ISO27001 ISMS Standalone Documentation Toolkit provides pre-written documentation to help with the implementation of an ISO27001-compliant information security management system. It ensures that all the ISO27001 documentation is drafted in line with the requirements of the standards. The templates and policies included in the toolkit will save you time, work and money.

The toolkit is available to purchase here: www.itgovernancesa.co.za/p-961-iso27001-2013-isms-standalone-documentation-toolkit.aspx

Ilenia Vidili
IT Governance
448450701750
email us here

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