What’s the Difference Between a Data Breach and Security Incident?

If you think a data breach can’t happen to you, think again: According to the Ponemon Institute’s Fifth Annual Benchmark Study on Privacy and Security of Healthcare Data, criminal attacks are up 125 percent compared to five years ago. And that’s just in the healthcare sector. Now more than ever, organizations need a primer on how to protect sensitive data. With cybercrime attacks on the rise, it’s critical to understand what a data breach is, how it differs from a security incident and how to plan a data breach response.

Incident vs. Data Breach

 

Think of a security incident as a pesky cold that may sideline you for a couple days, but clears up fairly quickly. It’s any event that violates an organization’s security or privacy policies around sensitive information like Social Security numbers or confidential medical records. This can be anything from a misplaced drive to missing paper files. A data breach, on the other hand, is like the nastiest flu bug ever — a whopper of a virus that will knock you off your feet.  The folks at ID Experts define it as a security incident that meets specific legal definitions per state and federal laws. Specifically, data breaches require notification to the affected individuals, regulatory agencies, and sometimes credit reporting agencies and media.

 

Security Incidents Are Status Quo

 

Security incidents are, sadly, part of the status quo — with 65 percent of healthcare organizations reporting having experienced electronic information-based security incidents over the past two years, according to the Ponemon study. While not all cybersecurity incidents escalate into data breaches, there’s a regulatory obligation to complete an incident risk assessment when PHI (protected health information) or PII (personally identifiable information) is compromised.

 

Responding Effectively

 

When an incident does escalate into a data breach, a quick and effective response is critical. This requires close collaboration across the company or organization, not just IT security. Stakeholders in legal, marketing, public relations, the C-Suite and other functions have to be prepared to own a piece of the incident response and work together in a fairly seamless manner.

The first two, vital steps following a data breach are 1) Quantify the damage; and 2) Determine your response. To address the first, quantifying damage, it helps to know at any point in time what information requires the most protection, where it’s stored and how it’s protected. At SpartanTec, Inc. in Fayetteville NC we recommend performing periodic cyber threat assessments to develop this understanding for:

• managing enterprise risk
• quell fears, especially when the breach is more serious than initially thought
• credit monitoring isn’t enough
• media interest is high.
• It requires data breach agility.

Organizations with high data breach agility are more likely to have cybersecurity platforms that optimize visibility and the sharing of actionable threat intelligence between prevention and detection tools and across endpoints, data centers and the cloud.

This is one of the advantages of the security fabric. Based on open APIs, it links together different security sensors and tools to collect real threat data, enabling technology and people to more effectively coordinate and respond to potential threats.

To ensure your company’s data is secure, Contact the team at SpartanTec, Inc. to learn more.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence, Charleston

Cybersecurity 101: The Top 5 Reasons It Happens

A data breach can spell doom for many businesses. A cybersecurity breach can result in the loss of customer and business information, as well as internal business data like transaction history and inventory lists. This is something that businesses do not want to have to deal with.

The loss of customer trust can have a devastating effect on a business, not only in the immediate financial consequences of fraudulent orders and bank transfers but also the long-term economic impact.

The first step to preventing data breaches is understanding the causes. What are the top causes of data breaches?

Here are some of the most common causes of cybersecurity breaches.

Reason #1: Unpatched Security Vulnerabilities

Data security professionals have been collecting information for years on exploits hackers have used to attack companies in many countries. To identify these exploits for future reference, they are divided into hundreds of Common Vulnerabilities (CVEs).

Many of these security flaws remain unfixed for long time. According to Verizon’s 2015 Data Breach Investigations Report (PDF), “99.9%” of exploited vulnerabilities were compromised within a year following publication of the CVE.

These security holes are still open to hackers, so don’t leave them unfixed.

Cause #2: Human Error

Unfortunately, the greatest source of computer security breaches is not some forgotten security bug or unknown vulnerability, but human error.

Shrm.org cites statistics from CompTIA that show human error is responsible for 52 percent of security breaches. While the exact nature of an error can vary, some scenarios include:

• Use of weak passwords
• Not sending sensitive information to the right recipients
• Sharing password/account information
• Don’t fall for phishing scams.

It is possible to prevent many of these human errors by making sure that employees are familiar with basic data security procedures. According to the SHRM article, experts often recommend that employees receive more training in order to address the “human firewall” issue.

Cause #3: Malware

Malware isn’t just a problem on personal computers, but it can also be a threat to your company’s systems. According to Verizon DBIR 2015, 5 malware events are reported every second.

Although many of these “malware incidents” are minor, they can still be alarming.

There is also a lot of variation among malware samples.

According to the Verizon DBIR, “We found that 70 to 90% of malware samples (depending upon the source and organization), are unique to one organization.”

Many malware programs are not derived from one “family” but a handful of other families. Verizon estimates that 70% of malware activity came from “20 families.”

Why? Why?

Cause #4: Insider Misuse

Although closely related to human error and company data, it is much more dangerous. Human error can be described as an innocent mistake or accident. Insider misuse is, however, the intentional abuse of the company’s systems and data by authorized users, usually for personal gain.

According to Verizon’s DBIR report, “it’s all in the grabbing of some easy Benjamins by these mendacious malefactors with financial gain or convenience being the primary motivators (40%)

This is because the malicious actor could be someone your company has trusted. Even worse, Verizon’s report points out that “catching insider abuse is difficult… In many of the incidents reviewed, the insider abuse occurred during forensic examinations of user devices after individuals had left a company.”

Although it is almost impossible to prevent insider abuse, you can limit damage by compartmentalizing information on your network and cloud. It is more difficult for one user to access files or systems that are not restricted. It can make it more difficult to share the data.

Cause #5: Physical theft of a data-carrying device

The physical theft of sensitive company information is last on the list. These can be laptops, desktops and tablets as well as smartphones, tablets, hard drives and thumb drives.

A stolen device’s data can lead to a serious cyberattack. This is dependent on the type of information on the device. If the device is not wiped, more sensitive information will be considered a data breach.

Verizon reports that “most thefts occurred within the victim’s work area (55% percent of incidents), but employees-owned vehicles (22% incidents) are also common locations for thefts to occur.”

These thefts are often opportunistic and difficult to predict. It is important to limit the chances of data-storing devices being removed from the workplace.

There are many data breach threats, but these are the most serious.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you need the help of experts in securing your network against online threats.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence, Charleston

Managed Firewalls: First Line of Defense Against Cyber Attacks

Managed firewalls can be used to provide protection in depth and visibility by blocking malicious traffic and allowing organizations to block large amounts of it before they reach the network perimeter. We will discuss the reasons why an intelligent, modern firewall is the very best line of cybersecurity layer or defense against various kinds of cyberattacks.

Managed Firewalls : Stopping Inbound Threats

Even though firewall network security could be placed at different locations inside a corporate network, the excellent spot to place the is the network perimeter. A firewall that is placed within the network perimeter will create as well as enforce a boundary between the public internet as well as the internal network protected and safe.

The network firewall could also make the most out of the fact all kinds of traffic coming in and out of the corporate network flows through one point of connection to the public Internet. This location allows for complete visibility of data flows across the network boundary by placing a firewall.

Proactive protection against cyber threats is also possible with a perimeter-based firewall. Next-generation firewalls with threat prevention capabilities can detect and block attempted attacks before they reach the corporate network. This significantly reduces the cyber risk that these attacks could cause for the company and its employees.

Protecting the Depths of Defense

Firewalls can be used to provide protection in depth for threats that cross the network boundary. An organization can use network firewalls to segregate the network to gain greater visibility into its internal traffic and make it harder for malicious insiders or attackers to move laterally within the organization’s network.

A next-generation firewall installed within a corporate network is not only capable of protecting against core threats but also benefits from identity-based inspection and application control. Application control allows a firewall to identify which application is causing a flow of network traffic. This allows the firewall enforce application-specific security policies which reduce risk associated with insecure apps and allow the organization to block unauthorized programs from their network.

An identity-based inspection adds context to an analysis of network flows. A firewall can identify the user who is performing a specific action and enforce access controls based on employee job roles or permissions. It is crucial to have visibility over the actions of these accounts as 74% of data breaches are caused by abuse of them.

Meeting Unique Security Needs

The next-generation firewalls, aside from IT services Fayetteville NC, can also be used to secure an organization’s entire network infrastructure. Corporate networks evolve and include a variety of endpoints. These can include traditional workstations and servers as well as mobile devices and cloud-based infrastructure and Internet of Things devices. It can be very difficult to secure a heterogeneous network that is growing quickly.

Because it protects all devices at an organization’s network level, a firewall is able to do so. Unified Security Management (USM) is a new-generation firewall that integrates all security data within one console. As a result of the current shortage in cybersecurity skills, many organizations are having difficulty finding enough talent to staff their security departments.

A next-generation firewall can also be deployed as a virtual appliance in the cloud. This allows you to provide cloud support, which allows you to secure multi-cloud hybrid cloud environments. This allows organizations to deploy IT support Fayetteville NC wherever they are needed, and take advantage of the flexibility of cloud-based infrastructure. Cloud firewalls are able to grow with the organization’s security needs, unlike hardware-based security appliances that require additional hardware to scale.

Security Individualized

Different sizes of companies have different security needs. While traditional firewalls were “one-size fits all” in the past. Modern firewalls can be tailored to meet specific cybersecurity requirements.

Organizations that operate critical infrastructure and industrial facilities face different threats. They also have different operating environments. Choosing an industrial firewall capable of operating in extreme environments will ensure that cybersecurity is not compromised.

A strong first line of defense

It can be hard to choose a firewall because there are so many options and not all firewalls are the same. Firewalls can be small gateways or large-scale network security solutions. There are many differences between traditional firewalls as well as next-generation firewalls. Understanding these differences and their importance is an important step in the procurement process.

A next-generation firewall must possess a few core capabilities to adequately protect your network from modern cyber threats. This guide will help you to choose the right firewall for your company and provide the required level of network security. To learn more about how a firewall can help improve your organization’s cyber defenses, you can request a demo and contact us.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you are interested in having managed firewalls to improve the cybersecurity of your business.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence, Charleston

A Cybersecurity Threat That Comes From Within

Nowadays, it’s not unusual for teams to concentrate on protecting a company from external threats. However, if you look a bit closer, you might realize that there’s a threat that comes from within. Research into cybersecurity threat behavior noted that about 60% of data breaches come from your employees. Are you scared? You have to be especially since insider threats could be among the most dangerous things that can happen to a business.

Without a specific focus, there’s a real possibility that security teams may be overlooking something pretty obvious – a threat that is much closer, probably within your network perimeter, office, or building. A person that may just be the biggest threat to your company’s security. So what are the possible motivations of an insider threat? What can push an individual to wreak havoc from within your organization? Here’s what you need to be looking for.

Cybersecurity Threats From Inside Your Company

Not every internal threat is malicious

Data breaches usually come from human error or negligence. The CERT Insider Threat Database has more than 1,000 incidents where insiders may have harmed their company, stolen sensitive information, or changed or deleted data for identity threat or personal financial gain. Out of these cases, only 33 involved a disgruntled staff member. It’s a fact that cyberattacks that are linked to insiders through staff credentials could have a significant impact. Among the recorded incidents in the database, the most common results of cybersecurity breaches are copied data, blocked access to systems, and data deletion.

The orphaned account risk

Several companies do not decommission privileged users effectively once they get another role or when the leave the organization. Also known as orphaned accounts, these provides malicious actors from accessing confidential information. The problem is that getting rid of forgotten and lost orphaned accounts isn’t as easy as it seems. It’s easy for accounts to fall into the cracks especially since there are so many systems, applications, and identity directories that have to be managed.

Lost data and damages

Some of the CERT database cases involved data deletion, which range from deleting source code to deleting specific records that corrupted a crucial system that the company and its clients depended on.

Exploited Vulnerabilities

If left unchecked, problems in IT security can result in a data breach. The CERT database showcases different incidents wherein data was stolen, copied, or manhandled maliciously thanks to the unresolved vulnerabilities in the system. One of the biggest threats to your company’s security is unsecure password. Whether it’s a weak, old, generic, or shared password.

Honest Mistake

Even the most well meaning and earnest user could click on a bad file or link accidentally. The problem is that phishing attacks have become much more complicated, and can easily pretend as a legitimate email from a well known colleague or source sharing a link to a word document or invoice to download. That specific link could be hiding a dangerous crypto virus or ransomware which could possibly freeze systems, destroy data or cause problems to your IT infrastructure.

Cybersecurity does not have to be scary. Call SpartanTec, Inc. in Fayetteville NC now and let us help you protect your network through our managed IT services.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
https://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

 

Considering Managed IT? Ask These 6 Questions

If you don’t adapt to the changing IT landscape, your company could be at risk. Smart executives partner with managed IT services providers to manage their hardware and software requirements, so they can focus on the company’s growth.

You might also consider managed IT. A managed IT provider can handle most services, including data protection, cloud computing, enterprise software development, network security and enterprise software development. We make it easy for you to find the right provider for you. Here are some questions to ask about managed information.

6 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK IF YOU ARE MANAGED IT SERVICES

What are your areas of expertise in the company?

It is important to understand how the provider fits in with your company’s size and goals. Your managed IT provider should have experience working with clients from your industry and work with businesses similar to yours. It is important to have confidence in your managed IT provider’s ability to meet compliance requirements, especially if you work in highly regulated industries.

Is your company a supplier?

Managed IT services offer the opportunity to tap into the expertise of the provider. Managed IT services can serve as a strategic partner and help you plan for the maintenance and upgrading of hardware and software. When they have many clients to support, outsourcing IT staff may not be as committed to your company. Your needs should be the focus of your provider’s IT staff.

What is your response time?

Downtime in the network can reduce productivity and, over time, cut into profits. You should consider a managed IT provider if your company cannot afford downtime. Ask about their support process, including the staff and systems used to log and resolve problems.

What is preventive maintenance?

You can be confident that your potential provider will take proactive steps to replace and upgrade IT assets if you believe in the “an ounce is worth a pound cure” philosophy. You can expect the right provider to look 12-24 months ahead and offer their recommendations and advice on what you will need so that you can plan and budget accordingly.

Who will have access?

In 2018, Facebook revealed that up to 87million of its users had had their data harvested. Managed IT support providers may collect behavioral data to help improve their services. This might not be something you are comfortable with. In the worst case, they might be selling it. Managed IT providers should be able clearly to articulate their data-handling policies.

What are your data protection methods?

Look out for words such as firewalls, encryption and advanced firewalls. Before you start looking for a provider, it is important to understand the meanings of these terms and what protections they offer. Learn about the provider’s backup practices and how they approach disaster recovery. Run if they claim they use floppy discs!

These six questions will provide a framework for your discussion. These questions will also give you information about the managed IT provider as well as their ability to meet your requirements. It’s a good idea to speak with multiple potential providers.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you’re thinking getting managed IT services for your business.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Network Security: Can Your Business Survive a Cyber Attack?

A number of Twitter accounts have been hacked on July 15 to start a cryptocurrency fraud. Twitter uses a network security level that’s suited for enterprises. So how did hackers get access to these accounts? Twitter claimed that hackers gained access to the accounts by using an internal admin tool. The company tweeted that a “coordinated social engineering attack” was carried out on employees, giving a hacker access to “internal systems and tools.”

Cybercriminals are skilled at exploiting the weaknesses of mobile devices and laptops. Businesses of all sizes are experiencing record-breaking data breaches and interruptions. Is your company able to recover from identity theft, malicious email, or compromised vendor information?

Cybersecurity threats to Network Security

A research by NCSA or National Cyber Security Alliance discovered that:

1) Nearly 50% of SMEs were by a cyberattack.

2) Small businesses are the target of more than 70% of the attacks.

3) After six months, up to 60% of hacked medium and small-sized businesses are bankrupt.

Symantec, which is behind NortonLifeLock security software, monitors cyber threats using a global network with 98+ million sensors. In 2020, it discovered over 375,000,000 new malware combinations, including 98million bots and 1.1billion compromised identities. Surprisingly, 76% of all web sites scanned had vulnerabilities that made them vulnerable to attacks.

Symantec says that “Perhaps the most amazing thing about these numbers is that they no longer surprise me.” Cybercrime is now a regular part of our lives, as real-life and cybercrime are inextricably linked. Cybercrime is so common that attacks on businesses and countries are regularly in the news. We’ve become completely blind to the speed and volume of cyber threats.

Blogs from I.T. companies are a great resource to keep up-to-date on cybersecurity trends and protect your business.

What is a Disaster Recovery Plan?

It is not a question of “if,” it’s a matter “when” your company will be under cyber-attack.

Disaster recovery and backup are two different things. Both serve different purposes to keep your company in operation during a crisis. Backup is the act or making copies of your data. Multiple copies of your data will allow you to quickly access important information in the event of data corruption, accidental deletion, or server problems.

Your I.T. network can be restored to normal after an emergency. A disaster recovery plan will help you do this quickly. Forbes also reports that one third of businesses are at risk due to a lack of a current or adequate managed services plan. FEMA reports that 90 percent of companies without a plan fail after a cyberattack.

Emergencies in Essential Technology

Data disasters can take many forms: hardware and software malfunctions, cybersecurity breaches, natural disasters, and even natural catastrophes. These natural disasters can cause downtime which can result in your company losing money. Gartner estimates that I.T. downtime can cost a company an average $5,600 per hour.

As companies continue to do more work online, it creates more opportunities for data breaches and other cyberattacks–Verizon’s “2019 Data Breach Investigations Report,” 43 percent of breaches involved small businesses. Hackers can use ransomware to prevent access to computers and data, copy your data, or use spyware to steal credit card numbers and passwords using phishing methods.

Will you be prepared if your company is hit with a data catastrophe? Companies need to prepare for the worst by having a disaster recovery and backup plan. These steps will help you to keep your company in control and minimize downtime.

Identify the attack’s scope.

It is essential to have an incident management team that can quickly respond to a cyberattack. To limit damages, it is important to respond quickly. Ponemon Institute research shows that incident response teams have significantly reduced the cost to recover data breaches, which in turn has saved affected companies almost $400,000 annually. These are the most important steps that your company should take.

• Identify compromised systems.
• Check IP addresses that have been used in the attack.
• Determine the kind of cyberattack (e.g. virus, malware or unauthorized access).

Once you have the information about the threat, other network users can be notified immediately. Let them know what kind of attack you are looking for and how to prevent it.

Apply damage control.

Do not panic and close down your entire network. You could miss deadlines, upset customers and cause damage to your reputation. Instead, you should get to work repairing and identifying the problems.

Notify customers and other stakeholders immediately about the attack. It’s better to disclose a data breach immediately than to keep it secret. If the news spreads that you tried to hide a security breach in your company, it could cause serious damage to your business’ integrity.

Quarantine infected computers and impacted applications from the network. You can stop any viruses or malware spreading by identifying the affected systems. The incident response team should also be looking for possible backdoors hackers might have created to gain access to your system in the future. Until you have resolved security issues, close all accounts that may be accessible to vendors, customers, and suppliers.

Secure your network by implementing best practices in cybersecurity and working with IT support professionals.

For access to affected systems, change company-wide passwords. Install clean data backups and software backups. You should ensure that there are no default credentials which could allow hackers to get back in.

Spread the word. Make sure to train your employees on cybersecurity policies and procedures. You should review how to keep passwords secure, avoid sharing your personal information, and avoid downloading emailed links.

Attacks on notebooks and desktops have increased by 132 per cent in 2020, making them the most popular target. It is therefore essential to improve endpoint security. You can protect your company’s data assets by updating insecure, old or obsolete devices with multiple levels of protection.

Cybercrime is a real threat, with estimates putting the annual financial loss to U.S. businesses at $500 million to $1 trillion. It will happen to you. Your company will be at risk if a company as safe as Twitter is attacked by hackers.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you need the help of experts in protecting your business against cybersecurity threats.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence, Charleston

5 Cybersecurity Threats for Businesses and Tips to Avoid Them

Nearly 70% of all full-time workers in the United States switched to working remotely during the COVID-19 epidemic. In the post-COVID era, approximately 58.6% of U.S. workers continue to work remotely without the possibility of ever returning to an office space. While remote jobs offer many benefits, they can also be a breeding ground of cybersecurity attacks and expose companies to greater risk.

Right Scale’s 2019 State of the Cloud Report found that 91% of businesses use public cloud while 72% use a private one. Nearly every aspect of an organization’s day is digital, including company-run platforms and data-sensitive accounts. These drastic migrations create a host of new and increased risks.

It’s becoming more important than ever to evaluate your company’s vulnerability as cybersecurity threats keep evolving. We’ll be walking you through five common cybersecurity Fayetteville NC threats that businesses face, as well as three tips for avoiding them.

Five Cybersecurity Threats to Businesses in 2021

1. Phishing

Phishing refers to a hacking technique that tricks users into downloading malicious messages. The scheme looks like regular email and includes legitimate links, attachments, business names, logos, and business names. The email convinces users to click a link or download an attachment. The subject line of phishing emails may be clickbait. Whale phishing, another type of email phishing, is targeted at executives. Spear-phishing is another option that sends emails to specific employees of a company to steal information.

Email phishing is the most common form of phishing. Smishing is a form of phishing that sends SMS messages to encourage clicks on dangerous links. Vishing, on the other hand, sends fake phone calls and voice messages posing as legitimate businesses. Phishing via search engines is a more recent form of phishing. This involves hackers creating fake websites that rank high in search engine results to steal customers’ information.

According to Cisco–2021 Cyber security threats trends, phishing and crypto topped the list. 86% of organizations had at least one user connected to a phishing website in a recent survey. A wrong click by an employee could expose a company to huge risk.

2. Malware

Malware, also known by malicious software, can slow down or stop computers from functioning completely. Malware can cause computer systems to be destroyed by trojan malware, spyware and viruses, ransomware and adware, as well as worms.

Clicking an infected link can allow malware to be downloaded onto your computer. Hackers can access your company’s passwords and banking information, as well as files and personnel files, once malware has been installed on a computer system.

Companies reported that 35% of all malware attacks they faced in the past year used previously unknown malware or methods. This percentage will likely rise as more workers work remotely.

3. Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts user’s computer systems. Users are unable to access their files or systems after a ransomware attack is launched. Users will need to pay ransom to cybercriminals in order to be able to access their systems again.

Bitcoin is often used to pay ransom payments. Cybercriminals might also ask for other payment methods, such as Amazon gift certificates. Ransom charges can vary greatly from hundreds to thousands of dollars, or even more. Many ransom payment organizations don’t have access to their systems.

Ransomware can be spread via a malicious download sent in an email. Attacks can be directed at individual employees or whole organizations. A notable 58% of US businesses reported revenue loss as a direct result of ransomware attacks during the pandemic.

4. Data Breach

Data breach is when sensitive data are stolen from a system that does not have authorization. This includes, but is not limited to, credit card numbers and social security numbers. It also includes names, home addresses, email addresses, passwords, and user names.

Breaches can be carried out through point-of sale (POS) systems, or via a network attack. Cybercriminals will likely launch a network attack if they find a flaw in an organization’s online security system, and then use that weakness to penetrate the system. Hackers can also use social attacks to trick employees into giving access to the network. They may fall for tricks such as downloading harmful attachments or giving out login credentials.

A data breach analysis by the Identity Theft Resource Center, (ITRC) shows that the number of data breaches reported in the United States has risen to 38% during the second quarter 2021. Businesses must immediately take action to stop data breaches and fix the problem. Failure to act quickly could result in a damaged reputation and possible fines of thousands to millions.

5. Compromised Passwords

Most often, compromised passwords are caused by users entering their login credentials on an untrusted website. Accounts that have the same username and password combination are more susceptible to hackers. Multiple passwords can make your system more vulnerable to hackers. This puts multiple accounts at risk.

Always use unique passwords that are difficult to guess when creating passwords for company accounts. For maximum security, tell your employees that 51% of respondents use the same passwords to access their personal and work accounts.

Three Tips to Avoid Cybersecurity Threats

1. Build Your Expertise–Internally and Externally

Small- and medium-sized companies, especially, can struggle to hire the right people to protect them from cyber threats. It can be costly to hire a security manager or engineer, and it might be difficult to assess the hard skills of an individual. An in-house team will provide you with the best long-term accountability.

Many companies choose to hire an outside firm or freelance an IT support professional. UpCity, a company that helps small businesses find cybersecurity companies they can trust, can also help them with hiring a cybersecurity company. Working with an outside company has two advantages. They can provide 24/7 monitoring of attacks that could occur at any moment and are experts who keep up to date on the evolving landscape of cyberattacks.

2. Educate your team

While some of the best cybersecurity practices might seem obvious, it is important to inform your entire team about them and make sure everyone is on the same page. Discuss with employees the importance of strong passwords and how to use shared networks safely. Also, discuss your internet use guidelines and how to protect customer data.

Your team should be able to identify phishing attacks. This includes looking for URLs and email addresses that are very close, but not exact. Also, using language that is unclear or misspelled. Be cautious about asking for passwords and other personal information. Cyberattacks can strike even the most experienced security personnel. It is possible to quickly catch an attack by giving employees something to look out for.

One UpCity employee saw many outbound emails that were not sent from their account last year and realized that their password had been compromised. They reviewed their email settings and changed their password immediately. An attacker set up a mail filter to forward all mail to an external address. This was found and removed. An insufficient response could have overlooked this detail, which allowed the attacker to potentially gain access to their password and other accounts.

3. Make a Cybersecurity Policy

Your cybersecurity policy should be updated regularly to reflect new attacks. The policy’s core should cover protecting devices, including up-to-date browsers, firewalls and encryption, multi-factor authentication (not only strong passwords but secondary methods of authentication), data protection (including how to deal with customer data and what to send via email).

You should make your policies easily accessible to all employees. They should also be reviewed regularly to ensure that everyone understands and follows the correct protocol.

A cybersecurity plan is essential. It is vital that every company, regardless of its size, understands current cyber threats and how to combat them.

A plan that is well-executed and regularly reviewed is the best way to protect customer and company information. Cybersecurity should not be put on the back burner, regardless of whether you have in-house knowledge or a trusted partner outside. Protecting your business is as simple as understanding the latest threats and how to avoid them.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you need the help of IT experts in boosting your company’s cybersecurity.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence, Charleston