Protecting your business from cyberattacks is already a big challenge, and having to be familiar with security jargon makes it even more so. Many people may not be familiar with terms such as malware, viruses, identity protection, and firewalls, which may result in poor business security practices.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught Americans to prioritize health above everything else. We learned the importance of washing our hands regularly, wearing masks in public, and staying at home to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

But the pandemic has also taught us a few things about cybersecurity.

Although COVID-19 cases are surging in California, some businesses are starting to open. This means employees have to report to work again. Not only do they have to face a new normal by following new health and safety protocols, but they also have to experience the usual office stress again.

Many businesses today struggle to make the most of technology. They deploy computers, communication and accounting systems, and cybersecurity solutions, but these are rarely maximized. Sometimes, technology can even prevent business owners from focusing on more important matters, which can result in reduced productivity.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is used in many business processes such as behavioral advertising, customer service, and social networking. According to a study by research firm Gartner, leading organizations are expected to increase the number of their AI-based projects in 2021, with 40% of them planning to deploy AI solutions by the end of 2020.

But what does AI have in store for small businesses in the San Francisco and San Jose areas? Here are some of its benefits:

1. Improve sales and marketing
Customer relationship management applications are built to gather customer data across different platforms like email, telephone, and social media.

Phishing attacks are more dangerous these days. Cybercriminals are smarter at crafting scams, and have even used the COVID-19 pandemic to trick unwitting businesses in California into giving out sensitive information.

You’ve probably read about phishing protection in security blogs and heeded their advice.

Cyberthreats are more dangerous than ever. Back in the day, malware attacks were a small nuisance that slowed down computers. But nowadays, they have the ability to lock up files and demand money from victims, which could shut down small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in California for good.

Back in the day, many companies hesitated over adopting a remote working policy, as it put their confidential data at risk. But because of the rapid spread of COVID-19 in America, businesses have allowed their employees to work from home and are reaping its benefits.

The coronavirus pandemic is the most important issue Americans are facing today. As of this writing, there are over 2,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the San Francisco and San Jose areas combined. This has forced many employees to take their work home to avoid the virus and slow down the rate of infection

Online scams are rampant
With the panic that the pandemic has created, cybercriminals are exploiting the situation to launch social engineering attacks to steal confidential data and money from unsuspecting victims.

Cybercriminals continue to steal data from unwitting businesses and individuals for their own gain. According to the FBI, the total cost of reported cybercrimes in 2019 was in excess of $43.5 billion. A growing number of cyberattacks also target small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), so it’s a good idea to regularly conduct security awareness training sessions for your employees.