Every company has data that is valuable to someone, and that means every company is at risk for data theft. It isn’t a question of “if” – it is a question of when the next attack will occur. Unfortunately, the most common method of gaining access to sensitive information is through your employees.

Small business owners have to wear a lot of hats, from handling core operations to managing staff members. It is easy to let IT concerns fall by the wayside, especially when making needed updates requires time and money. However, ignoring the need for business IT support costs far more in the long run than completing tasks on-time - and the true impact is often broader than the initial cash outlay required for repairs.

Each year, organizations of all sizes become victims of a data breach, and the financial losses are staggering. A recent study sponsored by IBM puts the total expenses per incident at $4 million, with a per-record cost of $158. This is an increase from previous years.

Digital technology has transformed the business world, allowing companies of all sizes to take advantage of greater speed and efficiency. Advanced data gathering tools make it possible to compile detailed information on consumer preferences and production capabilities, so leaders can deploy resources in a strategic, cost-effective way.

Technology is a major investment for companies of every size, and it can be tempting to cut corners to keep costs down. However, making cuts in the wrong places often results in greater expenditures over time because security breaches, poorly managed systems and IT inefficiencies rapidly drain resources.

Though new hire background checks are standard in many industries, the truth is that it can be difficult to predict whether specific employees pose a risk. A long list of internal security breaches at the most secure government agencies in the world prove that any business can fall victim.