Cyber security threats continue to grow in number and sophistication. As a result, your company’s cyber security must continuously evolve to help prevent these threats.
Your business depends on its networks to maintain operations. Any disruption can impact your customers’ confidential information and your organization’s bottom line.
Learn about some common cyber security threats and tips to avoid them.
Malware
Malicious codes can be covertly placed into your system through viruses, trojans, adware, or other methods. These codes are activated when users click on links, open attachments, or download files.
You can combat malware threats by:
- Using antivirus security software and firewalls
- Keeping applications updated
- Educating employees on the types of links, attachments, and downloads to avoid clicking on
- Regularly conducting vulnerability assessments
Ransomware
Having ransomware inserted into your system can prevent you from accessing your files without paying a large sum. If your company is affected by ransomware, you should not pay the demand because you are not guaranteed to get your files back.
You can minimize ransomware threats by:
- Using strong anti-malware and anti-virus software
- Keeping your software applications and operating systems patched and updated
- Implementing strong spam filters so malicious emails avoid inboxes
- Regularly backing up your data and storing it offline
- Providing users with access to only the relevant system areas
- Educating your employees to avoid ransomware attacks
- Isolating infected computers to limit the spread
- Powering down other devices to prevent the encryption from spreading
- Creating a business continuity plan in case your data is stolen
Social Engineering
Cybercriminals often use greed, curiosity, trust, politeness, or other human psychology to gain access to data, systems, or physical buildings. Or, these criminals might use fear, urgency, or other emotions to get people to take action without thinking.
Phishing, smishing, and vishing are common examples of social engineering. Cybercriminals impersonate trusted individuals or entities to gain people’s trust. The criminals use these people to snoop on computer screens or keyboards to gain login information.
You can help avoid social engineering by:
- Using multi-factor authentication (MFA) for logins.
- Training employees to verify the identity of an unsolicited person who calls, emails, or visits and requests confidential information.
- Educating employees to look for a uniform resource locator (URL) that begins with “https,” indicating a secure site, and a closed padlock icon, indicating the information is encrypted, before sending sensitive information over the internet.
- Training employees not to reveal financial information through email.
Cloud Vulnerability
Although cloud technology is mostly secure, it still is vulnerable to data breaches. The level of cyber security depends on how the cloud environment is configured, whether rotating service accounts are used, and other factors.
You can reduce cloud vulnerability by:
- Properly setting up firewall rules.
- Implementing multi-factor authorization to minimize users’ access to information.
- Regularly conducting vulnerability scans to find and resolve potential issues.
Need Help With Your Cyber Security?
DVA Technology can provide the cyber security professionals you need to keep your systems protected. Find out more today.
