How to Avoid Becoming a Target of Cyber Attacks

Cybercriminals are always on the hunt for their next victims. This article will detail how to avoid becoming a target of cyber attacks.

Summary

Cyber attacks are an unpleasant fact of life in the business world. Finding ways to protect your business against cybercrime can be challenging, however. Hackers and cybercriminals are continually coming up with new ways to attack your systems and gain access to your company’s sensitive information. Chances are that your organization has vulnerabilities that have not yet been identified. Working with established cybersecurity service providers can often provide your business with the depth of knowledge necessary to protect confidential information and take on cyber threats before they result in serious damage to your company’s operations and public reputation.

Finding the best ways to protect your systems against malware (malicious software), distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, ransomware attacks, phishing attacks, and data breaches will help you maintain a secure footing in the online world. Here are a few of the most practical options for managing your cybersecurity and preventing cyber attacks that could have a lasting impact on your company.

Create a Secure Perimeter

A robust firewall and advanced authentication methods are essential to prevent outsiders from gaining access to your company’s sensitive data. Creating this virtual perimeter is a practical way to wall off your company’s servers. If your company maintains some or all of your data in the cloud, ensuring that this information is also protected by secure firewall installations can prevent data breaches and hackers from gaining access to confidential information regarding your proprietary process, your finances, and other sensitive data.

Invest in Education for Your Staff Members

Security awareness training from a qualified company can allow your staff to avoid many common cyber threats. The Federal Trade Commission offers practical advice on spotting attempts at phishing and other social engineering methods of gaining access to your data. Your team should also regularly review cybersecurity best practices regarding the various types of cyber attacks, scams, securing mobile devices, adopting password managers, using secure networks like VPNs, refraining from public Wi-Fi, social media usage, and more. By making sure employees know the best ways to prevent cyber attacks, you and your company can enjoy added security at every level of your organization.

Establish a Cybersecurity Program

One of the best practices recommended by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency is to create a program specifically designed to provide security controls for your systems, promote strong passwords, and protect against the most common cyber threats to businesses like yours. By putting a cybersecurity program in place and making sure that all aspects of your company’s data security have been addressed properly, you can establish a safer and more productive environment for your business operations.

Update Your Applications

Keeping your apps up to date is a key part of any data security strategy. Most software packages offer periodic updates to manage security concerns and to close any gaps or vulnerabilities that may be present in these applications. By making sure that your systems and software are updated properly, you can reduce the chance of cyber attacks and can protect your sensitive information more effectively in the modern online world.

Manage Endpoint Security

Your corporate computers, tablets, laptops, and mobile phones are often attractive targets for cybercriminals, who use flaws in the security of these devices to gain access to your servers, systems, and data. Making sure these endpoints have strong passwords, robust authentication methods (like multi-factor authentication), and other security measures is a good first step toward managing cyber threats to your company’s devices. Instructing your staff members on proper safeguarding for these devices can also prevent their potential theft and can eliminate opportunities for data breaches and other forms of cybercrime. By practicing good endpoint management strategies, your company can reduce the chance of data breaches caused by improper care and use of corporate IT assets.

Create Secure Access Management Policies

One of the most important elements in preventing data breaches and DDoS attacks against your company’s servers and systems is access management. Establishing security controls that include firewall protections, robust authentication, and strong passwords can make a big difference in the ability of hackers to infiltrate your company’s servers.

Work With the Right Service Providers

Many companies lack the in-house expertise necessary to establish a cybersecurity program that works to protect against major threats to confidential data. Firms that specialize in data security and managed IT services can be valuable partners in providing security awareness training, establishing protections against DDoS attacks, and building a program that can keep the bad guys out of your systems. This can provide your company with the right resources for protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access and misuse.

Address Key Cybersecurity Pain Points

Implementing these strategies can often provide your business with the protection you need against malware and cyber attacks. This can allow you to deal with some of the most common pain points for modern businesses in managing data security concerns and preventing unauthorized access to confidential information pertaining to your company, your vendors, or your customers:

• A lack of qualified IT staff can make it more difficult to establish a robust data security program. Working with service providers can allow you to access the expertise you need to keep your systems and servers secure.
• Failing to create a robust data security program can potentially leave your company’s financial and confidential information open to hackers. This could cause serious and permanent damage to your company’s reputation, which could make it difficult for you to remain profitable in the competitive marketplace.
• Ransomware can not only result in unexpected downtime but can also cause the loss of data necessary for your business operations. Educating your staff about the risks of these cyber attacks can lower your chances of becoming a victim of this type of cybercrime.
• The financial costs of in-house cybersecurity staffing can be prohibitive. In many cases, it may make sense to outsource these activities to a company that provides customized options for IT services and data security. By working with the right company, you can often save money and time while allowing your IT staff to focus more effectively on your company’s core business activities.

At Meriplex, we offer practical solutions that can defend your company and its data from cybercriminals, malware, and social engineering attacks. If you would like to know more about the services we offer and how they can address key pain points for your business, contact our team today. We are here to help you manage data security in the most effective and practical ways now and in the future.