With cyberattacks ramping up in numbers lately, an effective cyberdefense strategy has never been more urgently needed.
Smaller businesses are often under the misconception that it’s the larger companies that constitute a bigger target, due to increased visibility. Yet small businesses are far less likely to have invested in a solid cyber defense strategy, and may even lack a dedicated IT department altogether!
Companies that believe they don’t have the funds to hire an IT crew may develop a DIY mentality, leaving critical vulnerabilities in their network and systems.
Ransomeware Crippling Operations
Ransomeware involves cybercriminals stealing or encrypting your data and charging a fee to give you back access. This kind of attack is frequently carried out with malicious software known as malware.
After the ransom is paid, you may or may not regain access.
If you don’t have additional data backups to restore your files in a secure location, there may be little that can be done. For this reason, many cybersecurity experts suggest backing up company data in three places: on-site, in the cloud, and at a remote location.
If backups are automated, don’t forget to regularly test them for integrity!
With the proliferation of many smaller hacking outfits, no target is too small. Furthermore, many attacks originate in countries with governments that are unwilling or unable to deal with the problem. Demanding payment in cryptocurrency further obscures efforts to trace a crime in progress, making small business hacks incredibly lucrative.
With operations often crippled to a halt, paying the requested ransom sum may quickly become the less costly option. In addition, the success rate of these digital thieves has caused their activity to expand and with increasing complexity and efficiency.
Remote Back Doors
In the US, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) offers some suggestions for cybersecurity. The FCC says that even if your only cloud computing tools are email and a website, you still need a cybersecurity plan.
Employees who wish to work remotely need to be trained to safeguard company data. Ideally, a secure company computer or laptop should be issued to prevent the vulnerabilities introduced with home equipment.
Staff who are working from home should be instructed to connect to company data with a virtual private network (VPN). Unencrypted data is vulnerable to interception, requiring the protection of a secure VPN. Home Wi-Fi networks may also have insecure connection requirements, so insist that employees use a wired connection.
Open Wi-Fi in public places like cafes poses even more of a threat to sensitive data and should never be used. If your employees frequently travel, consider issuing a secure mobile hotspot or a cellphone with a data plan that can be shared with the laptop.
Internet of Things (IoT) devices include gadgets and technologies that connect to the internet. These can provide an opening into your company’s IT systems and enable a cyberattack.
Fake Phishing Scams
Phishing describes the action of distributing bogus emails to trick a victim into handing over sensitive information. It sounds like fishing because the cybercriminals sometimes cast a wide net with bulk emails and reel in their victims.
The malicious party will often pose as a large organization that has a trusted reputation to relax your guard.
Spear phishing is an even more tailored attack that is sent to a specific target, often an employee within a business. The hackers may pose as colleagues, senior staff, or sometimes a company client. If they successfully fool their target, they can gain what they need to know to extort a business or otherwise cause harm.
Sometimes, all it takes is a single click, so a business should have a Secure Email Gateway (SEG) that prevents these communications from arriving in the inbox.
Creating A Cyberdefense Strategy
A reputable firewall and up-to-date antivirus software are essential but don’t forget to keep your operating system and all your other software up to date. Security vulnerabilities are discovered frequently in all kinds of programs, so schedule routine patches and updates promptly.
The best strategy for cyber threat detection is to use a continuous network security monitoring system.
In this way, an attack can be detected before it is fully underway, and damage can therefore be halted or limited in scope. Internal theft may also be discovered, an activity that could facilitate a later attack.
Remember that if you fail to secure sensitive data, you may be putting your clients at risk as well!
Never use simple, predictable, or universal passwords, and don’t save them to a file on your computer. Strong passwords have 10+ characters, including a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Educate your entire workforce on cybersecurity best practices and have policies in place that ensure these rules are followed.
Multifactor authentication requires multiple forms of evidence for access to be granted. This may include a security code being sent via email or text. Sometimes this is called two-factor authentication (2FA), which is the minimum number of protections you should opt for, to secure data beyond a password.
Encrypt data in both storage and transmission so that if it is compromised it’s harder to decipher.
If your business doesn’t have the resources to onboard a cybersecurity specialist, hire the services of an IT consultant. A risk assessment should be performed first, to find out your current threat level. Outsourcing system security to a managed IT service provider is a good way to monitor and address vulnerabilities effectively as they arise.
