By reading today’s headlines, it is easy to see cyber crime is on the rise. With the average breach costing organizations millions of dollars, it is important that they protect themselves from these four threats.
1. DDoS Attacks
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are where an attacker overwhelms a server with bogus traffic, causing the websites or applications hosted there to slow down or become unavailable. By watching a YouTube video, anyone can learn to send DDoS attacks. If website uptime is critical, get DDoS protection.
2. Phishing Schemes
During a phishing scheme, an attacker sends a fraudulent email disguised as legitimate communication to lure recipients into clicking a malware link. Phishing emails can fool even educated users because they appear to come from a well-trusted sender. Think before clicking links.
3. Poor Patch Management
Many organizations don’t force security updates on browsers, applications and databases, leaving easy access for hackers. Hackers will exploit these security holes via spyware, ransomware, rootkits and spambots. Update or prepare to be hacked.
4. Employee Errors
Employees can put your network at risk when they lose work-issued devices, share passwords or fall for phishing schemes. Most employers are not malicious insiders, but they make mistakes. Reduce human error with mandatory cyber security training.
How to manage these four threats:
- Shift your thinking from erecting walls to managing risk. It’s not about keeping hackers out anymore, because they will get in.
- Focus on what matters most. Identify your most critical data and afford it the highest level of protection.
- Provide consistent employee education, make security policies user-friendly, and expand training to contractors and vendors.
Despite the large number of security threats facing small businesses today, there is one simple way for them to counter every risk. They can hire a professional IT outsource partner to secure their systems from every security threat. The IT pros at Gulf South Technology Solutions can help you execute a comprehensive IT risk assessment that will help keep your network safe.
