While it would stand to reason that large enterprises are at a bigger risk for security and data breaches because of their sheer magnitude, small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are just as vulnerable to security risks as their bigger counterparts, if not more so.

In fact, hackers find SMBs a more attractive target, according to Entrust (News - Alert) president and CEO Bill Conner, who recently led two workshops to discuss the security threats businesses can encounter.

“A small to medium-sized business may think it is not at risk because of its size; however, these organizations are a favorite target of hackers as many do not have the proper tools, policies or knowledge to defend against cyberattacks,” Conner explained. “Today’s cybercriminals are no longer just trying to prove a point, but aiming to do legitimate damage through the theft of money and intellectual capital, or disrupting networks.

SMBs are often more vulnerable to hackers because they don’t have the resources to adequately protect their networks – and the stakes are greater because it can mean the difference between keeping their doors open or having to shut down the business operation, he added.

In fact, Osterman Research found that data breaches lead to direct financial losses, but there’s also a high cost of direct or indirect data loss. Last year alone, more than $1 billion was stolen from small and midsize bank accounts.

While security solutions can often be costly, cloud communications has changed that paradigm for SMBs, which need to take a layered approach to their security strategy.

For example, GFI Software provides cloud-managed antivirus and anti-spyware for businesses of all sizes. VIPRE Business Online, for example, provides real-time threat protection against viruses, spyware and other malware without impacting the performance of your computers.

Additionally, GFI’s Web-based dashboard allows businesses to manage and configure antivirus software on all workstations and servers in 10 minutes or less – and because it scans on the endpoint, no potentially sensitive data leaves the network.

Earlier this month, GFI rolled out the latest versions of its VIPRE line of antivirus products, TMCnet reported.

In a news statement, GFI announced that VIPRE Antivirus 2013 and VIPRE Internet Security 2013 incorporate the exceptional detection rates, typically found in all VIPRE products. Ensuring low impact on PC performance, VIPRE Antivirus 2013 and VIPRE Internet Security 2013 ensure that users’ PCs are protected from malware and also identify and fix any vulnerability that is present.

In an effort to eliminate the installation challenges, VIPRE 2013 has been equipped with VIPRE Easy Install feature that removes the conflicting AV program completely, allowing for a trouble-free installation.

Further, VIPRE does not impact system performance, rather in many cases, improves PC performance by detecting and removing malware that slows it down.

To learn more about GFI’s offerings, visit www.gfi.com.