Whether you have a small company or you are in charge of a large organisation, you run the risk of cyber security threats. While no business wants to suffer a data breach, unfortunately this does happen to companies on a regular basis. Not only can this lead to financial loss, but it can damage your reputation and affect your customers’ trust.
There are many factors, which may make some businesses more susceptible to breaches than others. This is why, it is important to do research on security protocols and ensure your business is protected. Within this article, you will find some of the most common data security risks and actionable tips on what you can do to address them effectively.
Lack Of Awareness
The biggest risk businesses face nowadays is the lack of awareness and failure to cover cybersecurity basics. As an international standard for information security, ISO 27001 can help you demonstrate best practice and proactive management.
If you check out https://hightable.io/ , the team at High Table can provide you with ISO 27001 Templates, which are easily customisable to the scope of your organisation. Having an ISO 27001 certification can also increase customer confidence and improve your reputation. It will also show your customers that you have had an independent audit conducted by a quality professional, which negates the need for customer audits.
Data Loss
In today’s data-driven world, data loss can be a major issue, especially when it comes to large amounts of sensitive information. Therefore, data loss prevention should be a top priority for all companies. Keep in mind that even the slightest error can lead to serious problems, which can prevent systems from working properly.
A data loss prevention strategy includes a set of tools and best practices, which aim to protect an organisation from corruption and unauthorised access by someone from outside the network. This can help security teams attest confidently to the safety and privacy of consumer data.
Insecure Applications
Applications tend to store and transmit confidential data, which can increase their chances of being attacked significantly. Insecure applications are the reason for the majority of cyber attacks. Therefore, it is important to eliminate application vulnerabilities and ensure safety practices are in place.
For example, it may be useful to arrange an application security audit, which will help you get an independent perspective of your app. Additionally, security professionals will be able to identify both the obvious and subtle issues. If you are a young organisation, this can give you a baseline from which to grow.
Phishing Attacks
One of the biggest and most damaging threats many businesses face are phishing attacks. This can occur when an attacker pretends to be a trusted person and convinces a user to click on a malicious link. As a result, the attacker can gain access to sensitive information, such as credentials or account details.
Phishing is a dangerous problem, as it can be difficult to combat. However, there are some technological defences you can implement to address email phishing attacks. For example, antivirus software, firewall programs and regular data backups are quite effective at safeguarding data.
Malware Attacks
Malware attacks encompass a range of cyber threats including trojans and viruses. This usually involves the creation of malicious code used by hackers to gain entry to networks and steal important data. It can usually come from malicious downloads, spam emails or infected devices and machines.
They are particularly damaging, as extensive repairs and replacements may be required to fix systems. You can protect your business from malware attacks by keeping all systems and software up to date, making email monitoring a top priority, and educating customers and employees on the warning signs.
Cloud Jacking
Cloud jacking occurs when a third party infiltrates a company’s cloud computing. When a hacker gains access to your company’s cloud, they can reconfigure the code and manipulate sensitive data. Cybercriminals may also use this information to create phishing scams. For example, spam emails may be sent from company email addresses.
In these cases, hackers may also upload fake memos or other files to the company’s cloud. Then, employees may download these files believing they are legitimate. Some useful actions you can take to protect your business include limiting access to sensitive data, encouraging the use of VPNs, enabling multi-factor authentication, and contacting cybersecurity services.
Deepfakes
Deepfakes have been used against many individuals and companies across different industries. A deepfake involves manipulating an existing image or video using artificial intelligence to falsify someone’s actions or speech. This type of scam has been utilised in politics to damage a candidate’s reputation.
In the business world, deepfakes may be used to impersonate members of the organisation and gain access to private information. Most organisations are not aware of what deepfakes are, so it is crucial to develop a security-minded company culture. You can set up measures against deepfakes, such as implementing AI-powered detection software, adopting security protocols, and ensuring proper employee education.
Insider Threats
At times guarding the perimeter may not be enough, as the real threat may be hidden inside your network. This means that you will need to pay attention to all insiders including employees, third-parties, partners, or anyone else who might have access to confidential information.
All of these groups know your business secrets, so it is vital to ensure that they do not misuse their access privileges. To curb insider threats, you should look at installing specialised tools to detect unauthorised logins and new devices on restricted networks. In addition, be sure to provide cybersecurity employee training to minimise mistakes made out of negligence.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a serious challenge for businesses, as it can have detrimental consequences. The term relates to malicious software which can infiltrate a company’s system and block access to it by encrypting the data. Then, the company risks losing the data or having it published publicly, if they do not pay a ransom.
One of the most effective solutions to this problem is performing regular backups. It is key to have a full offline backup of the system, which is separate from the main network. This will allow your company to access data, should it be blocked.
Mobile Malware
Many professionals are now moving from desktops to laptops and smartphones for most of their work. As a result, Â the risk of mobile malware has increased significantly, making it one of the most pertinent cybersecurity threats to businesses. This type of malware is used specifically on mobile devices for malicious purposes.
For example, it is common for malware to pose as a well-known app, which makes it difficult to tell the difference. Therefore, it is recommended to ensure that mobile devices are part of the holistic IT security strategy. Also, you should prepare a set of guidelines that outline what employees can and cannot do with their smartphones at work.
Internet Of Things (IoT) Devices
While Internet of Things devices are usually personal and smart home devices, many businesses have also begun to use them as part of their day-to-day operations. For example, many companies have incorporated voice assistants, smart locks, connected security cameras, smart lights, and others.
As company information that passes through them increases, more cybercriminals are likely to start targeting these devices. To maintain the security of IoT devices, you should get visibility into the exact number of connected devices to the network and keep a detailed inventory. Then, it is important to apply network segmentation for better control and adopt secure password practices.