2017 has seen a heightened cultural experience of data security awareness. But that awareness has come at a cost, increased cyberattacks. If we’ve learned anything from the past year of high profile data breaches and frightening reports of malware attacks it’s these three things:
- Destructive malware disguised as ransomware, like WannaCry and ExPetr, will likely continue to pose a threat to businesses and individuals around the world.
- Cyberattacks targeting energy firms, especially in countries like Norway and Saudi Arabia, will also continue to be a cause of concern.
- The cyberespionage capabilities of low-level attackers will continue to grow in both strength and capabilities, presenting new threats to enterprise markets in both the near and long-term.
In light of these trends, here are 3 actions you can take to protect your company and do what you can to prepare for the worst.
Update Your Best Practices
Probably the most important thing you can do is keep vigilant in your everyday activities. If something feels wrong, chances are that something is. Keep an eye out for the key indicators of data leakage or hacks, such as unnecessary requests for information that the party should not require or should already have access to (such as login info, passwords, or your personal identifying information (known as PII). If something seems fishy, chances are that it is.
Establish strong best practices for use of information and digital resources so your team knows what they can and cannot do in a world of heightened cybersecurity and risk. Encourage them to ask questions and verify credibility as needed. Chances are that if you ask enough questions when you are dealing with a hacker, or provide them with too many barriers to entry, they will move on to an easier target.
Continue to Educate Yourself and Your Employees
Understanding the problem and learning the risks involved with digital technology is a close second when it comes to staying safe online. Keeping up to date on security threats and trends, and always implementing the industry’s latest best practices will keep you well ahead of many of the more vulnerable targets online. The bottom line is to stay educated on the evolving risks, and doing what is necessary to keep up with the fast-paced changes in security.
Invest in Your Own Defense
If it’s been a little too long since you’ve updated your digital security systems, you are not doing yourself any favors in prolonging the update. In fact, delays like that have led to substantial hacks that lost companies millions of dollars. If you are putting off updating your systems due to cost or time investment, consider how you could work with a third-party partner who has the expertise and resources you need without having to start from scratch yourself.
We’re happy to work with you to define a more clear data security strategy. Give us a call today to learn how we can help.
