Cyberattacks are an ever-present threat for businesses, no matter how large or small. The goal of this article is to provide you with the information you need to know in order to stay safe online. We’ll go over what cybersecurity is, why it’s important, and give you tips from Afrohi Storama on how to protect your business from cyberattacks.
It can be easy for small business owners to take cyberattacks lightly – after all, they’re not the targets that hackers are typically aiming for. But while larger businesses may have plans in place for dealing with these issues, little guys don’t always have the same luck when it comes time to pay up in full.
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting your company’s information and assets in an increasingly connected world. It’s important to stay up to date on the latest news in this realm, in order to keep your company safe. We’ll go over what you need to do in order to protect your business, whether you’re a small company or a large one with millions on the line.
What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the study of protecting businesses from cyberattacks. Cyberattacks are generally carried out via the internet, affecting companies both large and small.
Cybersecurity is currently a hot-button issue in political and economic arenas. Several prominent cybersecurity specialists were brought in for questioning during the recent US election, due to the fact that they had ties with foreign entities.
Let’s break down some of the basics of cybersecurity, in order to gain a better understanding of what you’ll need to do in order to make sure your business stays safe online.
The Basics
Cyberattacks are different from conventional attacks, in that the victim can be thousands of miles away from their attackers. Cyberattacks are one of the biggest threats facing businesses today. They’re far-reaching, hard to trace back, and can cause massive amounts of damage before they’re taken care of.
Unlike normal attacks, cyberattacks can happen at any time and from any location. Companies and governments constantly battle cyberthreats and stay on top of the latest developments and trends in this realm. Cyberattacks can be carried out by hackers, organized crime, or sophisticated nation-states.
Cyberattacks are the reason we have antivirus software on our systems. This is why you need to constantly update your antivirus program on your systems. Don’t wait for something major to happen – get everything set up now!
Cyberattacks can come in many forms:
Malware, ransomware, distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS), phishing scams… The list goes on and on. Some cyberattacks can be traced to a specific group, while others are performed by a bunch of random people.
Conventional attacks are typically carried out by hackers or other individuals who have gained access to your system or network through social engineering. In other words, these attackers will use whatever they have on the inside to gain access to your system.
Organized crime can also engage in cybercrime using similar tactics, though their motives are different from the intelligence agencies and government officials who believe they’re serving the greater good. Organized crime is motivated by making money and obtaining power – it’s not going after national security or protecting internet users from nefarious activity.
Organized crime groups
Organized crime groups have a history of stealing money from businesses – mostly through hacking and fraud. You need to be aware of these types of groups and their motives, as they’re often involved in cybercrimes. This is why you need to know about advanced persistent threats (APT’s): these are the same types of attacks that can be carried out by state-sponsored hackers, but the attacks are managed by organized crime. In other words, cyberattacks don’t necessarily come from a country-state; it could also come from a group acting on its own without any government affiliation at all.
Things don’t always happen this way, fortunately. It’s not always easy to discern between a state-sponsored attack and an organized crime campaign.
Don’t Be Alarmed
Even if your organization is never the target of a cyberattack, you need to know what you’re up against. Cybersecurity is difficult, but it’s worthwhile – especially when you’re talking about protecting your customers, customers who might lose business or miss out on deals if they use a company that’s been compromised.
Even more important than the damage your company could suffer from a cyberattack is the damage hackers and criminals can cause before they’re stopped. It’s much easier for a hacker to take down an entire company than it is to take down the CEO. Cyberattacks are what results in your customers being unable to use your services or having transactions denied.
Cyberattacks are growing fast, making them one of the biggest threats facing businesses today. It’s hard to pinpoint who is doing these attacks, but it’s clear that they’re evolving quickly. The best way to stay ahead of cyberattacks is by following cybersecurity news and staying up-to-date with trends in this industry.
Malware protection
Make sure that your computers and network are protected with antispam, antivirus, and malware protection. The equipment you use at home should be updated regularly and your passwords should be changed often. If you run a small business, protecting yourself online is the best investment you can make.
There are plenty of free resources available to help you protect yourself from cyberattacks. You can start by using the official US Government guides on protecting against cyberattacks:
You don’t want to wait until after something happens in order to update your network security measures.
