The Rising Sophistication of Cyberattacks
Didn’t think securing your digital assets was as important as experts say? Well, think again. The rising sophistication of cyberattacks in recent reports unveils a concerning trend that demands attention from everyone.
Cybersecurity reports show that not only are cyber attacks increasing in frequency, but they are also hitting at an accelerated rate. Over the past year, breakout times, the time it takes for bad actors to navigate a network post-breach, have drastically decreased from 84 minutes down to an average of 62 minutes. An alarming trend that indicates cybercriminals are becoming more efficient in their actions.
Ready for more bad news?
This report shows the emergence of 34 new cybercriminal groups – emphasizing the growing scope of cyber threats. These threats are more sophisticated and faster than ever, with record-setting breakout times as short as two minutes and seven seconds.
The point all business professionals should keep in mind is that these cyberattacks use human error as their main entry points. Bad actors will use techniques like phishing emails that target unsuspecting users with malicious links, and social engineering where attackers impersonate higher-ups to accomplish their goal.
Protect Your Business from Cyberattacks
To secure your business from these threats, consider implementing these proactive measures:
Employee Awareness Training
Conduct regular training sessions to educate your team about the latest trends in cybersecurity. Put out phishing-simulating emails to track where their vulnerabilities lie. Teaching them how to identify and react to these threats will reduce the risk of human error.
Strong Password Protocol
A rule of thumb when creating passwords is this: 12-character passwords with at least one uppercase letter, lowercase letter, number, and symbol will thwart most hackers. Cybercriminals are looking for low-hanging fruit and a password like that would take too long to crack. Advocate for the use of complex, randomly generated passwords and manage them with a password manager. To go a step further, employ multi-factor authentication to enhance login security.
Schedule Regular System Updates
Keep all software and systems up to date with the latest security patches. This will mitigate the risk of cybercriminals exploiting known vulnerabilities on an outdated system.
Invest in Cybersecurity Software
For peace of mind, explore reputable cybersecurity software options. These solutions are capable of real-time threat detection and mitigation to boost your defense strategies.
Data Backup
The biggest reason businesses pay for ransomware is because they lose access to important data/files. Establish a routine backup strategy for your data and ensure it is stored securely. Think about employing the 3-2-1 backup strategy that involves creating 3 copies of your data, stored on 2 types of media, with 1 copy stored offsite or in the cloud. In the event of a cyberattack, having a reliable backup can minimize downtime and overall data loss.
Prioritizing cybersecurity is crucial in the safeguarding of your business against cyber threats. If you need assistance boosting your cybersecurity posture or creating a cyber defense plan, feel free to reach out to us. We’re here to help!
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