Cybersecurity Pitfalls to Avoid to Protect Yourself and Your Business
A study in 2018 conducted by the Ponemon Institute discovered that $3.86 million is the average cost of a data breach. Companies take an average of 197 days before they can detect a data breach and spend an average of 69 more days to solve the issue. When data breaches and cyber attacks happen, clients and customers of such companies lose trust and the companies’ reputations get ruined. If big companies’ systems and data can be breached, then this means that nobody is free from cyber attacks.
Below are common pitfalls that people and businesses make which can lead to data breaches and cyber-attacks. Make sure not to commit any of these to keep your devices secure.
Forgetting to Fight Against Simple Cyber Attacks
While it is understandable that you want to protect your business from high-profile cyber attacks such as Stuxnet, which is composed of multi-layered and complex attacks deployed by elite hackers, you should also not forget to create systems that will protect yourself and your business from simple cyber attacks.
For example, a simple piece of ransomware called WannaCry made businesses lose $4 billion in 2017. It made use of a well-known Windows vulnerability that Microsoft already solved by releasing a new security update. However, many companies weren’t able to immediately update their systems immediately so they got affected by this ransomware.
Assuming that Cybersecurity Is a Large Organization Issue
It’s no news that even large organizations face cybersecurity problems. This does not mean though that it is exclusive to them as 43% of all breaches that occurred in 2018 happened to small businesses according to the 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon.
This means that even small business owners and individuals like you should employ proper measures to fight against cybercrimes. VPNpro.com, a well-known website covering topics related to cybersecurity, recommends that you use VPNs like Torguard to further increase the protection of your devices.
Having a Single Cybersecurity Solution
You should know that there is no single solution to protect your computer systems from cyber attacks. VPN, antivirus software, anti-malware software, and updated computer systems should still be used but a lot more should be done.
One example is staff training. Employees who are not working under the IT department should also know how to protect their computers from hackers. Because if a hacker gets his hand on one of your employee’s computers, all connected systems and computers can also be hacked.
If your company has a high budget for cybersecurity, you can also seek the guidance of a cybersecurity advisor who can help you build sound cybersecurity programs.
Dynamic Threats and Static Solutions
It will be a mistake to assume that once you have solved a major cybersecurity threat, you have solved all. If your organization has been saved from one cyber threat, it does not mean that your computers will stay safe forever.
Making use of static solutions will not work in the long term since and hackers are constantly developing techniques and new strategies to use against your business.
This is why cybersecurity controls have to be constantly updated and implemented to meet up with emerging threats and changes in business processes.
Not Updating Your Software
Hackers always look for security flaws, which are also called as software vulnerabilities. A software vulnerability is a weakness or security hole present in an operating system or software program. Oftentimes, software developers release updates to repair security holes that they have discovered and remove computer bugs.
By not installing the latest version of your software programs, there is an increased chance that your computer systems can get hacked.
Use of Weak Passwords
Your passwords should not be taken lightly, the prompts you get from your security software to use a strong password is not just for display.
Passwords that play around the name of a firm or individual, year of founding or date of birth are weak. You may have to use a password generator or a combination of letters, numbers and some symbols to make them strong enough.
If your business has several online accounts, it is recommended that you get a secure and reliable password manager. A password manager like newcomer NordPass can help you securely store your passwords and log in quickly to your favorite sites.
No Backup
Backing up your system may not be appreciated now until you are hacked. If all of your files are backed up, you can format the system and install new software to restore all your files from the backup.
However, without your back up, it can lead to a loss of all your confidential files and information. If you lose valuable customer data and financial reports, this can negatively affect your business and operations.
Final Thoughts
Protecting yourself and your business from cyberattacks can only be possible if you and your employees will dedicate a significant amount of time to understand how hackers think, what strategies they use and how to defend your systems from these attacks. If you don’t have the technical knowledge on how to do so, it’s recommended that you consult a cybersecurity specialist.
We hope you enjoyed this post in collaboration with Alex Mitchell.
