Every business needs to make cybersecurity a priority. Criminals know how to exploit any gap in security measures and will do so as often as possible. Closing these gaps remains a challenge, as new holes crop up regularly. What should a company know about cybersecurity threats this year?
Working From Home
Today, cybersecurity for business extends beyond the workplace, as many people work from home. Remote working threats have been a concern for a while now, but the global pandemic amplified them. Cybercriminals look for vulnerable networks among those employees working from home. To prevent them from gaining access, a company must increase identity access management tools that oversee user activities and resource requests, among other things.
When a company does so, it must consider the larger ecosystem in which it operates. Many companies focus on their own systems, never stopping to consider the digital supply chain it relies on. The ecosystem is only as strong as the weakest link in this chain. Every company needs to recognize this and take measures to ensure all parties on the chain have security measures in place.
Phishing Attacks
Cybercriminals use two phishing methods when attempting to gain access to a network. Phishing involves the use of targeted emails to gain access. In contrast, spear-phishing is the use of mass emails to draw someone in. The cybercriminals send out numerous emails in the hope that one person will click on the email and provide them with this access. Phishing attacks require more effort than spear-phishing ones but are also more effective. They use any method available to them when executing this activity, including the use of customized malware payloads. Companies must watch out for this, as these payloads are increasing.
Cybercriminals continue to develop new ways to increase the odds of a phishing attack being successful. For example, they now have bots that identify conversations that led nowhere and retarget these individuals. Companies must train employees at all levels, including management, to detect these emails and avoid providing sensitive information.
The Use of Brute-Force
Brute-force attacks have been around for years but continue to increase in prevalence. Denial of service attacks remain commonplace. In fact, they increased by 12 percent in the last two quarters of 2020. Small businesses and government agencies were popular targets. Cybercriminals may slow a network’s response time or completely disrupt services. Every company needs tools in place to detect and isolate these attacks in real time.
Complex Regulations
The internet spans the entire globe. Cybercriminals operate in every country today, as they have countless targets. Companies find they need to comply with national and international regulations when it comes to protecting their organizations. The problem many companies encounter is these regulations can conflict and the priorities might be fragmented. This results in weakened cyber defense mechanisms. Every company must budget accordingly to ensure it remains in compliance while protecting the organization.
Cybersecurity must remain a priority at all times. Policymakers need to do more to address these concerns and help businesses combat attacks. However, it ultimately falls on the business owner to ensure their systems remain secure. Make this a priority today to protect the business from irreparable harm.
