New tool estimates how much your business could lose in cyberattack — and how you can protect yourself

This piece is presented by SDN Communications.

A lot of small and midsize companies are just a cyberattack away from being put out of business. For many, cybercrime and cyberattacks are bigger, ongoing threats to operations than armed robbers or natural disasters.

Often, businesses victimized in cyberspace don’t immediately realize they have been attacked. That unfortunate reality becomes evident later when it’s too late to do much about the situation.

SDN Communications recently launched a service to help companies assess and improve their cybersecurity readiness. It’s called CyberRx.

A Maryland company created the software. Certified SDN coaches help businesses review, assess and improve their ability to protect themselves against cyberattacks and cybercrime.

“The great capability of this software is that it first guides a company through the evaluation process. Then it reveals where a company is doing well and where there’s room for improvement,” said Jake VanDewater, a certified CyberRx coach at SDN.

VanDewater is also SDN’s director of network operations.

An initial on-site review with the CyberRx software and an SDN coach helps a business identify gaps in network protection and manage risks better, VanDewater said.

“This is a great starting point,” he said. “It could be a tool for a company just starting a cybersecurity program or those trying to improve an already mature, robust program.”

The platform was developed after the federal government released guidelines to help protect the nation’s critical business infrastructure. That includes industries such as telecommunications, financial services, health care, energy, transportation, food and agriculture.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, a nonregulatory agency within the Department of Commerce, worked with business leaders, government officials and academic experts to develop the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. This series of voluntary, flexible guidelines are scalable to the size of the companies using them.

Working through the best practices in the framework helps companies think critically about operations, vulnerabilities and needs.

SDN worked its way through the framework and went looking for a tool to help track and measure its cybersecurity progress. It not only chose CyberRx, but also recognized the impact it could have on other businesses and became a licensed reseller.

Today, several SDN employees are certified coaches to help businesses review their security practices. They’ve led six member telecom companies in South Dakota through a CyberRx review and have helped others in neighboring states.

The initial cybersecurity fitness review takes about three hours, VanDewater said. But it can immediately help a company identify strengths and weaknesses in its practices and suggest where more attention or resources might be needed.

To find out how your business can estimate potential losses and your ability to recover from a cyberattack, visit the CyberRx web page and fill out the form.

Want to stay in the know?

Get our free business news delivered to your inbox.



New tool estimates how much your business could lose in cyberattack — and how you can protect yourself

Often, businesses victimized in cyberspace don’t immediately realize they have been attacked. That unfortunate reality becomes evident later when it’s too late to do much about the situation. This new service can help.

News Tip

Have a business news item to share with us?

Scroll to top