We rely on technology for everything: communication (email, social media, apps), entertainment (interactive video games, streaming), transportation, shopping, and more. But cyberattacks can majorly impact your operations, from data loss to downtime and reputation damage. The human element is the weakest link in the security chain, so a culture of cybersecurity must be embedded at all levels within your business.
Software Updates
Software updates, or “patches,” are vital to cyber hygiene. Unlike other updates geared toward releasing new features or boosting speed, security patches are designed to shore up a program’s weaknesses to protect it from hackers and malware attacks.
Installing these updates promptly will create a barrier between the hackers and your data. Cybercriminals regularly exploit unpatched vulnerabilities in outdated software to gain access to your devices, systems, and files. Cybercriminals are looking for the smallest gaps in your defenses to infiltrate your system and infect it with malware, including computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, or ransomware. These malicious programs can steal your data, hack into your systems, or even hold your data hostage until you pay them a ransom.
When you install the latest hacking software updates, these flaws will be patched, and your systems will be significantly more resilient against these cyberattacks.
Many updates also include security improvements that protect sensitive data, including PHI and PII. These enhancements help protect patients’ privacy in hospitals or businesses’ proprietary information. If you’re a business owner, updating your software will ensure you have the best possible protection against cyberattacks.
Two-Factor Authentication
In an age when data breaches are commonplace and passwords have been easily hacked, two-factor authentication (or 2FA) has become the norm. Banking institutions, social media platforms, e-commerce websites, and even email services have adopted this robust authentication method to protect users from hackers looking to steal credentials and other sensitive information.
With 2FA, hackers would need access to both the username/password and a device that can receive a code to log in to an account. This eliminates hacking attempts through text message intercept or voice call hijacking. It also prevents attacks against a user’s phone or other physical devices that can be used to capture biometric verification codes or fingerprints. When implementing 2FA, a user must create an authenticator app on their phone or another secure device to receive the tokens for login. This eliminates the need for users to enter their credentials through a website that man-in-the-middle attacks can easily hack.
Most importantly, it also makes it impossible for hackers to break into an account using a stolen password. This is critical in protecting your accounts against cyber criminals who try to breach sites and services through phishing attacks, account recovery processes, or hijacking users’ phones. Using 2FA will protect your data against these attacks, even if you lose or misplace your mobile device.
Backups
Hackers constantly adjust their attack tactics, so IT security professionals must do the same. One of the best ways to defend against ransomware and other cyberattacks is to have strong data backups. With backups, organizations can recover from an attack and resume operations quickly.
Backup copies are most effective when they are updated regularly to minimize the time that could pass between them. For example, many companies will perform a nightly backup. Backups should also be stored on a physical device or network different from production systems to help protect them from being inadvertently affected by an attack.
In addition, backups should be kept on immutable storage to help ensure hackers do not delete, corrupt, or encrypt them as part of an attack. The most recent backup copy should be able to restore an environment to its pre-attack state, which can significantly mitigate the impact of attacks.
Monitoring
The Internet age brought connectivity and new opportunities but spawned cyber attacks that have become more sophisticated and dangerous. Hackers can now infiltrate systems and steal information, causing many issues, from theft to business disruption to system outages. The cost of these attacks, from ransom to credit monitoring and even legal fees, means that the need for cyber defense has never been higher.
Cyber security defenses include hardware and software designed to prevent unauthorized access, protect against malware, and detect suspicious activity. These defenses must be updated regularly, and a strong password policy is essential. Using two-factor authentication (a code sent to a mobile device or email address in addition to the password) can help prevent unauthorized logins. At the same time, using encrypted web browsers and avoiding public Wi-Fi networks that can be digital minefields are also good measures.
Keeping antivirus and anti-malware protection up-to-date on all systems and ensuring they are run after every software install is another important measure. Backing data to an external hard drive or the cloud is another way to limit damage from a cyber attack and reduce recovery time.
