Cyberattack – Are You Prepared? – No matter your size or industry, cyberattacks are the biggest threat to your businesses. With ransomware strikes becoming more elaborate and critical infrastructure such as security centers, hospitals, and utility providers becoming prime targets, cybersecurity experts warn it’s no longer if an attack happens to your organization, but when.
Last year alone, cybercrime increased 69.4%, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center – likely due to more people working remotely due to the pandemic. One of the most significant ransomware attacks occurred just months ago when oil company Colonial Pipeline was targeted and forced to pay $90 million in bitcoin. Cyberattacks are becoming so prevalent that Cybercrime Magazine estimates one will occur every 11 seconds in 2021.
However, there are many things you can do to protect your business from cyberattacks. Join the New DICE Corporation and millions of organizations around the United States in observing National Cybersecurity Month in October and follow these five tips to stay cybersafe.
Cyberattack – Are You Prepared? 5 Steps That May Help
Conduct a Cybersecurity Audit
One of the most important things you can do to ensure your organization is protected from online threats is to conduct an annual cybersecurity audit. A comprehensive audit should include an analysis and review of the IT infrastructure of your business, including the cybersecurity software and management solutions you are currently using. The ultimate goal of this annual exercise is to detect vulnerabilities and threats, address weak links in your organization, and identify high-risk practices that need to be corrected. Involve key members of your IT and leadership teams to outline your goals and create a checklist before you begin to ensure you’re making the most of your efforts.
Back-Up Regularly
Regular backups are one of your strongest defenses against data loss from ransomware, hardware failure, and unauthorized changes made by an intruder, allowing you to restore your original data and avoid catastrophic disruption to your business. The cloud is a consistent and reliable resource for backing up your data and gives your organization the ability to access your files instantaneously. Using offsite storage, adding encryption to deliver an extra layer of security, and creating standards for employees using personal/mobile devices are important topics your organization should consider when protecting your data.
Use Password Best Practices
Living in a digital world, we’ve grown accustomed to creating usernames and passwords for just about every aspect of our lives. Unfortunately, we rarely consider how these two fields are our only line of defense to prevent illegitimate access to our private information. Keep your accounts safe by following simple password best practices such as updating passwords routinely, not using the same password for every account, avoiding easily guessed passwords, and opting in for two-factor authentication whenever possible. Cybersecurity experts suggest that your passwords are complex by choosing words not in the dictionary, using unusual symbols like brackets, and misspelling words
Related Reading: Cloud Technology Promotes Business Growth
With a rapidly evolving economy, growing competitive pressures, and changing customer demands, many organizations are finding their tried-and-true ways of doing business are no longer dependable. One of the biggest hurdles keeping them back is reliance on outdated technology that can’t keep up with the pace of today’s ever-evolving connected world. Fortunately, fast, secure, and affordable cloud technology options are now available to meet the demands of almost any industry. Through connected cloud solutions, including software-as-a-service (SaaS) and internet of things (IoT) tools, businesses can simplify operations, establish new efficiencies, and transform their organization from top to bottom. Here are some of the ways cloud technology can help you drive business growth and meet the needs of today’s consumers. Read more.
Think Like a Hacker
To beat hackers, you have to think like them. With the knowledge, you have of your business and the results of your cybersecurity audit, take a step back and think about why a hacker would target you and ways they could break through your defenses. One of the best ways to discover your deficiencies is to hack yourself by employing an “ethical hacker.” These experts use the same techniques as criminals but provide valuable insight into your vulnerabilities and ways to make improvements. Even something as simple as leaving a password on an unattended desk could give a hacker an entryway to important data, so be mindful of all the ways someone could gain unauthorized access to your information.
Make Cybersecurity Part of Regular Training
Your employees are your best defense against cyberattacks. Still, most organizations provide minimal training on the latest threats, best practices, and ways everyday actions can lead to a breach in cyber defense. Whether it’s through emails, videos, or informal training before shifts, remind your team what they should be doing to stay cybersafe and that it’s everyone’s responsibility to be vigilant. Also, provide a line of communication where employees can ask questions or report a problem.
There is no foolproof way to prevent cyberattacks from impacting your business, but there are things you can do to plan ahead and minimize the impact if one should occur. If you have questions about cybersecurity or would like to discuss opportunities to protect your security operations, the New DICE Corporation can help. Contact us to schedule a virtual demo with our cybersecurity team.
Author: Avi Lupo, Co-President Dice Corporation
Copyright 2021