Businesses are at the risk of cyberattacks now more than ever. In 2021, cybercrimes costed businesses nearly $7 billion in the U.S. alone. And this isn’t limited to large corporations- in fact, 43% of cyberattacks target small companies. So it’s a no-brainer that cybersecurity is important for all businesses to run efficiently in 2022.
However, as hacks increase in frequency, simple monitoring and antivirus software aren’t enough. Businesses must be aware of all possible threats and develop strategies to protect themselves.
Below, we’ve discussed 5 cybersecurity weaknesses businesses face and how you can overcome them.
Lack of Cybersecurity Awareness Among Employees
Nearly 90% of cyberattacks are a result of human error. As a manager, you can’t be the only person taking steps to keep your company’s data safe- all your employees must also remain aware of cyberattacks and keep their eyes peeled for spyware or ransomware.
The most common way hackers seek to steal private information is through spam emails, pop-up ads, and apps, usually sending a link. Following this link often results in a security breach. Your role as a leader should be to brief your employees about these potential vulnerabilities. You must set protocols for what internet practices are allowed on office devices. Employees should be trained to spot which emails and attachments to open and which to remove quickly.
Outdated Systems
Another cybersecurity weakness businesses face is outdated systems. Software developers regularly come across bugs and security threats to patch, which is why most current software gets regular updates.
For these patches to work and protect your systems, all software must be up to date on all devices. The easiest way to do this is by setting all devices to auto-update. Remember to update your hardware accordingly, so the newer software versions run just as smoothly.
Exposed Networks
Unsecure networks are easy to open access points for cybercriminals to infiltrate your systems with malware. And since all devices in an office are connected directly or indirectly, hackers can access your entire network from one point. This is especially true for equipment that’s part of the IoT.
As such, it’s important to install cybersecurity software on the device level. Communication channels need to be encrypted. Activating multi-factor authentication on emails can help deal with BEC scams. AI monitoring can also be considered for companies that require greater vigilance of their systems.
Vulnerable Data Storage
Hackers are always on the hunt for the standard data companies hold, such as social security numbers, banking routes, client emails, etc. If this info leaks, it can cost businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
Thus it’s imperative to keep all your information safe by encrypting your drives completely. Simple encryption that comes with most OS should be enough. In addition to this, set all computers to log out automatically after 10-15 minutes.
Absence of DNSSEC
The Domain Name System Security Extensions, or DNSSEC, is a set of specifications used to verify DNS origin and data. DNSSEC authenticates and verifies data by digitally signing it (known as public key cryptography).
DNSSEC needs to be added to your DNS servers; otherwise, your online presence risks DNS poisoning/spoofing. This is where hackers redirect traffic away from the real servers hosting your site to illegitimate ones. The fake servers may resemble the original destination and cause trouble for users.
