Botnets, ransomware and phishing attacks are the top threats to businesses, according to the latest Microsoft Security Intelligence Report. Although there is some overlap — ransomware, for example, is usually distributed through botnets and phishing attacks — these are nonetheless distinctive threats requiring multiple countermeasures.

Small to midsize businesses (SMBs) can improve market access, cash flow and profitability by more than 300 percent as a result of the “dexterity and flexibility” enabled by adoption of cloud technology, according to a new study from Microsoft and the Thought Arbitrage Research Institute.

The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect in May. Although it is widely considered to be among the most strict data privacy laws ever enacted, few organizations have made proper preparations. Ninety-three percent of global organizations surveyed in April by the business analytics company SAS said they are not yet fully GDPR compliant.

Email is perhaps the original “killer app,” an application so effective and easy to use that it sparked the rise of the personal computer and the spread of the Internet. Today it is the de facto standard for business communication with more than 4 billion email accounts worldwide generating nearly 200 billion messages every day.

In the digital age, myths and misperceptions are difficult to dispel. Bill Gates, Floyd Mayweather and Eminem aren’t giving away large sums of money on Facebook. A dying English boy doesn’t want your business card. A Nigerian prince isn’t going to transfer his family fortune into your bank account.

Email is a great business communication tool because it’ss fast, easy to use and inexpensive. However, its evolution into a de facto file-sharing application has also made email a potential liability.

It has become a globally common practice to share information with coworkers, partners and customers by attaching files to email messages.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding rapidly, with some analysts predicting the number of connected devices will reach nearly 50 billion in the next couple of years. Such massive connectivity is expected to drive new efficiencies in countless industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, energy and utilities, and more.

Internet risk isn’t limited to malicious websites. Hackers are placing dangerous links and content on popular, legitimate websites. Every time you visit a website, an average of 25 background sites are contacted to serve ads, collect data, and launch videos and other content.

Although signature-based antivirus solutions remain essential elements of network security, they are no longer adequate as standalone measures. As malware attacks become progressively more sophisticated, organizations of all sizes require additional lines of defense.

Most small to midsize businesses (SMBs) are aware of the dangers of cyberattacks, and many are purchasing security tools in an effort to beef up their defenses. But is that enough?

Suppose you decide to invest in a state-of-the-art firewall, encryption software and other security tools.