Industry Insight

Top Cybersecurity Risks Small Businesses Face in 2022

Small Businesses Should Take Steps to Protect Themselves

Cybersecurity in our digital age is something people and businesses need to be wary of constantly. However, many small businesses do not take the proper steps to protect themselves and their customers. On average, only about 14% of small businesses take the time and effort to use cybersecurity and protect their computers and software from cyberattacks. However, almost half of all cyberattacks are carried out on small businesses. We will discuss what cybersecurity is, the top four cyberattacks to be wary of, and preventative measures you need to take to protect your businesses and your customers.

What Is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is essentially the way that companies, websites, and people protect online data and devices from harm or theft.

Using cybersecurity to protect a business is not an easy task. Each form of protection needs to be tailored to the business and encompass all devices and systems. This includes your internet connection and even your employees.

Cybersecurity is also not a one-and-done application. Your cybersecurity must be frequently upgraded and adjusted as the internet grows and new scams are created to fully protect your business.

What Are The 4 Main Types of Attacks?

Malware

Malware encompasses a broad spectrum of cyberattacks. Basically, any software created to hurt part of your digital system.

Some of the most common types of malware (not including ransomware) are:

Trojans: Malware that appears to be a helpful code in your system
Keyloggers: A program that tracks keystrokes on a computer or device
Spyware: Collects data
Worms: It replicates itself and spreads through the network.

Malware can get into computers due to untrustworthy emails, downloads, or even items plugged into your computer like phones or USBs. Even if a software is trustworthy, it may be bundled with a suspicious line of code or application that can release malware.

Ransomware

Ransomware is a form of malware that occurs when a hacker locks files, programs, or data. Generally, as the name suggests, a hacker will demand payment before rereleasing the information to the company. However, there is never any guarantee that the data will be returned after payment is complete.

It can be almost impossible to recover data that is collected this way.

Ransomware can be spread through unprotected Wi-Fi, emails, links, downloads, or dangerous websites. However, suspicious emails are the most common.

Social Engineering

Social engineering attacks are often overlooked when setting up security on your data. This is because it involves social interactions and not necessarily any bots or programs on the computer itself.

The people who instigate these attacks try to convince a business or person to break usual security measures to access software or data. This can be due to dangerous emails opened, suspicious links, or some other simple mistake. They can also play on an employee’s or even your own emotions.

In 2019, these social hacks made up over 90% of all reported scams and data breaches.

Phishing

Phishing is a social engineering attack that usually involves a hacker pretending to be someone else to get money or sensitive information. This may be someone official, such as a member of the IRS, or just a friend or coworker.

The hacker will send an email, text, or message through a social media account of someone, and they will ask you to send money. They could pretend to be a friend asking for it as a favor, or pretend to be from the IRS, or that something was handled wrong on your taxes and they need more information.

Why Are Small Businesses More Vulnerable?

Constantly updating your cybersecurity and training staff is costly. Small businesses often don’t have the funds to integrate top-of-the-line cybersecurity measures and keep them upgraded as more programs and cyberattacks come out.

This makes it easier for hackers to target small mom-and-pop businesses over large corporations such as Google. While these big companies can still be attacked, it is more challenging to get through their security than it would be for smaller businesses.

Many small businesses are also vulnerable as they don’t even bother to protect their data. Up to 82% of small businesses don’t even set up real security measures as they don’t believe they are at risk or worth being hacked.

However, Visa said that most credit card breaches, well over 90%, come from small businesses. This could be due to their lack of security. So not only can hackers access your financial information, but that of your customers as well.

What Cybersecurity Risks Small Businesses Face

Cybersecurity measures cost a lot of money. However, an attack from a hacker can put you out of business. In 2020, 43% of all cyberattacks were on small businesses. Of those attacked, 60% went out of business within six months of the attack.

It is estimated that small and medium businesses lost over $2.2 million to cybercrimes. Estimates say that even figuring out where the attack came from could cost over $15,000.

Not only does a lot of money come out of your pocket due to paying hackers and trying to mitigate current breaches, but you may also lose customers. Once customers find out that a leak of their information came from you, they may be hesitant to return to your store.

So not only are you spending thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair an issue caused by a cyberattack, you are losing the people that can help your business offset that cost.

This is why it is so important to set up preventative measures early. Upgrades and training might cost a lot of money, but it is worth it to ensure your customer’s and business’s safety.

How to Prevent Cybersecurity Risks

Proper training of your employees is the first step. With social and phishing attacks being the most common, it will likely be human error that causes the issue in the first place. For this reason, you want to make sure all of your employees are trained on procedures and guidelines.

How to Avoid Cybersecurity Risks

Here are some key tips to consider when implementing training for your employees:

Keep the business Wi-Fi separate, secure, encrypted, and hidden. Having your public and business Wi-Fi the same makes it easy for hackers to access your information. Instead, make sure the credit card machines, personal data, and private information are used on a separate Wi-Fi encoded and hidden to protect any device that uses that router.
Create an account for each employee and control access to your computers. If an employee has to walk away for some reason and leave the front computer open, it is easy for a hacker to get the information they need. Laptops, especially, are easy to steal, so make sure they are locked up when not in use. However, adding employee passwords and logins to important programs and data reduces the likelihood of that data being stolen.
Limit how much data employees can access. There is no need for one employee to have access to your whole system. Ensure an employee can only access the information pertinent to their job and not install any new programs or software without your permission.
Revoke employee abilities as soon as an employee is fired or quits. It is best to ensure that an employee’s login information no longer works as soon as they are fired or quit. This is to prevent any disgruntled employees from collecting or ruining information.
Multi-level passwords and authentication. By changing passwords every three months, you reduce the risk of the information being stolen. Also, adding another level of security through a two-step login minimizes the risk of anyone gathering information from an employee’s login information.
Constantly upgrade all of your software. If your software and programs aren’t up to date, they can quickly be targeted by malware or hackers. Keeping your programs up to date means you have the most effective software and tools to fight against cyberattacks.
Train your employees. It is crucial to ensure employees know not to give away any personal information or data to anyone, no matter who they claim to be. Teach them not to open or download any suspicious files, emails, links, or texts, even from someone they know. Not only is it important to follow this on the company devices, but even their own devices can cause a leak in the business if they aren’t careful. For this reason, it is essential to inform and update employees on ways to prevent cyberattacks.

It is also important to have a plan or person in place to help mitigate the issues when they appear. For example, if someone is attempting to hack you, it is good to have a person or team dedicated to being able to help you prevent the issue.

How to Detect Cybersecurity Risks

Signs of cybersecurity risks include:

A slow computer
Fast battery drain
Unfamiliar apps or programs on your device
Deleted files
Contacts receiving strange messages that say they are from you.

There can also be warnings when someone is trying to steal your information that is important to look out for.

Someone attempting to change passwords without authorization
Multiple login attempts without success
Large data transfers to an unknown location, USB, or IP address

The most important part of detecting security risks is being aware and vigilant. The sooner you can recognize and catch anything strange on your devices, the quicker you can prevent any cyberattacks.

What to Do if Your Business Is Compromised

If your business is compromised, it is important to act quickly. The first steps are to determine what information was gathered and inform your web-hosting service and any other program, website, or software you use to let them know the hack has occurred. They may be able to take steps on their end to prevent the issue from going any further and might even have an idea of how to help your business.

The next step is to inform your customers. It might be scary and seem easier not to inform them. However, you should provide written notification to let your customers know what information was taken and how this might affect them so they can be prepared. This not only allows your customers to take steps to protect themselves early on but is likely to keep them willing to come back to your business as they know you can be honest and trustworthy.

During this process, it is important to be transparent as well. Even if you are embarrassed about how the information got leaked, give as much information to the authorities, legal teams, and anyone else that is trying to help you, so they know how to prevent hacks such as these in the future. They can also help you close up the leak and maybe even get data back.

Finally, once the leaks have been dealt with, it is important to update your security. You know what caused the leak, and you can focus on upgrading the software or employee training to prevent such issues from happening in the future.

Scams and cyber attacks can happen to anyone, even large companies that can afford the best security. It is important to move as quickly as possible and be honest so that the damage can be mitigated. Being embarrassed or upset and trying to withhold information will only hurt you further.

The Cybersecurity Risks Small Businesses Face

Making time for training, having a dedicated team or person to fight against hackers, and having the most up-to-date devices, programs, and software can be expensive. However, with over half of small businesses that face a cyberattack going out of business within six months of the attack, it is worth investing in these preventative measures.

Social attacks and human error are the easiest ways for scams and cyberattacks to work. It is best to focus on training your employees and reducing the amount of information each employee has.

Almost everyone faces some sort of cyberattack every day, even if they don’t realize it. If you are faced with a cyberattack, it is important to remember to act quickly and be honest and upfront with any websites, companies, or officials trying to help you, as well as your customers. Cybersecurity can be intimidating, but by focusing on your employees, you can mitigate many attacks easily.

Are you concerned about the cybersecurity of your company? Edge Networks can help! If you’d like to find out how your company is performing and isolate weaknesses in your cyber defenses, schedule a call with us or take our free, self-guided IT Security Risk Assessment .

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Cybersecurity Myths that Could be Putting Your Data at Risk

The Importance of Cybersecurity Awareness

Today’s greatest significant issue to organizations has been identified as a lack of cybersecurity. Cybersecurity issues are frequently caused by a lack of cybersecurity understanding and awareness. The lack of knowledge is due to a lack of cybersecurity training and persistent disinformation. Despite receiving more media exposure than ever before, some prevalent cybersecurity myths still put businesses in danger.

One of the most significant challenges that businesses face today is cybersecurity readiness. Despite the increased focus on making businesses more cyber secure, a few popular cybersecurity myths exist in the business world.

Now it is time that we debunk the most common cybersecurity myths and show you how to confront and debunk them.

What Is Cybersecurity?

We need a precise definition of cybersecurity before looking into the more intricate parts of the topic surrounding cybersecurity myths. So, what exactly is cybersecurity? The methods, activities, and tools used to secure digital data, networks, and devices from unauthorized access, criminal attacks, and even destruction are referred to as cybersecurity.

The measures and techniques used to secure physical or personal assets (or even digital ones) are referred to as cybersecurity. This could include confidential processes, password-protected systems, and personal data, as well as information critical to an entity’s or company’s operations, such as plans, designs, or research findings.

Cybersecurity was established as a specific profession dedicated to protecting the security of transmitted information. However, the hazards to internet data transmission are constantly changing, posing more significant risks to sensitive personal and corporate data.

What Does Cybersecurity Do?

To address cybersecurity risk, a rising number of technologies are available, and companies must implement rules and procedures tailored to their own business to be truly prepared for future cyber threats. Cybersecurity standards must engage the IT staff and executive plans and employee feedback on day-to-day technology usage.

To completely protect data, a company’s cybersecurity must include its networks, hardware, software, and mobile devices. Risks and weaknesses must be assessed and tested by entities. After that, a framework must be built describing how attacks are detected, how systems are protected when an attack happens, and how successful attacks are recovered.

Firewalls, malware protection, email protection, anti-virus software, multi-factor authentication, DNS filtering, and post-event analysis tools are among the technologies utilized to implement these cybersecurity policies.

The Biggest Cybersecurity Myths:

MYTH: All You Need Is A Strong Password

Strong passwords are one of the most important aspects of strong cybersecurity, particularly for corporations. Implementing and enforcing strong password regulations, on the other hand, is simply the beginning. In reality, one of the most important aspects of cybersecurity readiness that businesses ignore is what information is available in the first place rather than how individuals get it.

Not only do employees require secure passwords, but organizations must also be more aware of who has access to what information. According to a recent study, 41% of organizations have at least 1,000 sensitive files available to all employees. Many businesses also lack a strategy for monitoring admin access. Strong passwords help keep your firm safe, but there’s a lot more at risk once employees are in the system.

MYTH: Not All Industries Are Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

Some firms incorrectly assume that they will not be attacked because of their size, while others incorrectly assume they will not be attacked because of their industry. This fallacy is also linked to the notion that certain businesses don’t have anything “worth” stealing. The truth is that any sensitive information, including credit card numbers, addresses, and personal information, can make a company a target.

Furthermore, even if the targeted data has little selling value on the dark web, it may be necessary for the business to operate. Ransomware, for example, can encrypt data and prevent you from accessing it until you pay for a decryption key. Even if the data is deemed “low value,” this can make attacks quite profitable for cyber thieves.

MYTH: Anti-virus & Anti-Malware Software Is Enough

Anti-virus software is essential for keeping your business safe, but it won’t protect you from everything. Software is only the first step in a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. To truly safeguard your business, you’ll need a complete solution covering everything from staff training to insider threat detection and catastrophe recovery.

MYTH: Most Threats Come From the Outside

While external threats are clearly a worry and should be appropriately monitored, insider threats are equally deadly and should be closely monitored. Studies show that insider threats are thought to be responsible for up to 75% of data breaches.

Insider risks can come from anyone on the inside, from disgruntled employees seeking professional vengeance to happy colleagues lacking sufficient cybersecurity training, so having a mechanism in place to discourage and monitor insider threats is critical.

MYTH: Small Businesses Aren’t Threatened

The prevalence of high-profile hacks in the news cycle frequently leads small and medium-sized organizations to believe that they will not be targeted. In truth, the exact reverse is true. According to a Verizon data breach analysis, small firms account for 58 percent of data breach victims.

This occurs for a variety of reasons. Many businesses are not directly targeted but rather are victims of “spray-and-pray” attacks, in which hackers set up automated systems to penetrate businesses at random. Because these attacks are random, any firm, regardless of size, can be harmed.

Small firms are “softer” targets because they have less money to spend on complex data protection software and generally lack qualified security personnel, making them more vulnerable to spray-and-pray attacks. Small businesses are often the target of targeted attacks because they are unprotected.

MYTH: It’s Only Up To IT

While IT has a significant role in creating and reviewing rules to keep businesses safe from cyberattacks, genuine cybersecurity preparation is the responsibility of all employees, not just those in the IT department.

Circling back to the Verizon investigation, 49% of all malware is distributed over email. That means that employees who have not been trained in cybersecurity best practices, such as recognizing phishing scams and avoiding risky links, may expose your company to threats.

MYTH: Wi-Fi With A Password Is Safe

Employees who travel frequently, work remotely, or share workspaces may wrongly believe that a password keeps a Wi-Fi network secure. Wi-Fi passwords, in actuality, are mostly used to limit the number of users per network; other users with the same password may be able to view the sensitive data being communicated. To keep their data safer, personnel should invest in VPNs.

MYTH: You’ll Immediately Know If Your Computer Is Infected

It used to be true that if your computer was infected with a virus, you could tell right away – telltale indicators included pop-up advertising, slow-loading browsers, and, in severe situations, full-on system breakdowns.

On the other hand, modern malware is far more covert and difficult to detect. Depending on the virus strain infecting your computer or network, your compromised machine may continue to function normally, allowing the virus to cause damage for some time before being detected.

MYTH: Personal Devices Are Safe

Employees frequently believe that the security protocols that apply to the company’s computers do not apply to their personal devices. As a result, BYOD rules have exposed businesses to cyber dangers that they may not be aware of. Employees who use their own devices for work-related purposes must adhere to the same security rules as the rest of the network’s machines.

These guidelines do not apply only to cellphones and PCs. BYOD regulations should apply to any internet-connected devices, including wearables and IoT devices.

MYTH: You Can Achieve Flawless Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is a never-ending war, not a one-time work to be completed and then forgotten about. New malware and attack methods constantly put your system and data in danger. You must continuously monitor your systems, conduct internal audits, and review, test, and assess contingency plans to keep yourself truly cybersafe.

Maintaining a company’s cyber security is a never-ending task that necessitates the participation of all employees. If someone at your firm has fallen prey to one of the aforementioned fallacies, it may be time to reassess your cybersecurity training and do a risk assessment.

The Truth About Cybersecurity

TRUTH: Malware & Hacks Cost A Lot

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of hacks and breaches involving well-known brands. It costs millions of dollars in damages to recover the data and pay fines. Due to the company’s cost-cutting efforts, C-level executives and associates may lose their jobs due to these expenses.

Here are a few examples:

Yahoo, the internet behemoth, suffered a data breach that affected every one of its 3 billion user accounts. The hack cost roughly $350 million indirect costs.
Over $540 million user records were exposed to Amazon’s cloud computing service by Facebook, the social media behemoth.
The NHS in the United Kingdom was temporarily brought to its knees by a basic ransomware assault, resulting in canceled procedures and high clean-up costs.
Equifax, a multinational credit rating organization, suffered a massive data hack that affected $147 million clients. The cost of repairing the damage caused by the attack was reportedly estimated to be $439 million.

TRUTH: Individuals Are At Risk

Not only are governments and corporations at risk from hackers’ acts and intents, but so are individuals, despite the cybersecurity myths that may fool them into believing otherwise.

Identity theft, in which hackers steal a person’s personal information and sell it for profit, is a major problem. This also jeopardizes an individual’s and their family’s safety. This has happened in several instances, costing the victim millions of dollars. In other cases, after stealing their identity, hackers employ blackmail and extortion to demand ransom money in exchange for not taking any further action. This is especially true in high-profile identity theft cases involving celebrities or high-net-worth individuals.

Hackers have targeted home security cameras like the Ring, invading other people’s privacy. This raises serious privacy concerns, as hackers can communicate with people who live within the house and demand money.

TRUTH: New Laws Are Always Coming

As cyber-attack threats grow, new regulations might be enacted to protect consumers from future attacks. As a result, further restrictions and legislation may be enacted in the near future.

The perpetrators of the attacks should soon face harsher penalties. Citizens must be informed about new legislation and ensure that their businesses abide by them.

TRUTH: Cyber Attacks Affect Everyone

Don’t let these cybersecurity myths affect your business’ security. According to recent reports, hackers now attack a computer in the United States every 39 seconds. Millions of people could be harmed if an attack occurs. State-run organizations may be shut down, and citizens may be denied services.

The major American city of Atlanta, for example, was targeted recently. The attackers demanded a hefty $51,000 in ransom. The SamSam malware was so dangerous that it knocked all of Atlanta off the grid for five days. Multiple major citywide operations were halted as a result of this dreaded attack. It ended up costing over $17 million to recover. Every day, ransomware is used to breach over 4,000 businesses.

Hackers can breach government institutions on a global scale, resulting in cyber attacks. The National Cyber Security Center has issued a warning to businesses and consumers around the world that Russia is attempting to hack network infrastructure devices such as routers. The goal is to set the stage for future attacks on essential infrastructure, including power plants and energy grids.

It is such a threat that nuclear power stations might be targeted, resulting in a nuclear calamity that would kill millions of people. Stuxnet, a dangerous computer worm, was used to target one of Iran’s nuclear facilities, destroying one-fifth of the country’s nuclear centrifuges. These cyber worms caused centrifuges to overheat, perhaps resulting in an explosion that claimed human life.

If you need help navigating cybersecurity, Edge Networks is here for you! Take our free, self-guided IT Security Risk Assessment, or contact us today for a free, 30-minute consultation. Remember to stay educated, and don’t fall for the cybersecurity myths!

How Investing in Managed Cybersecurity Services will Save You Money in the Long Run

Why are Managed Cybersecurity Services so Important?

Managed cybersecurity services are used by businesses to relieve them of the burden of maintaining and monitoring hundreds, if not thousands, of security issues and occurrences every day. Managed security services are a good option if your company doesn’t have the resources, experience, or time to monitor and manage your security environment constantly.

Cybersecurity is a collection of technologies, processes, and practices to prevent attacks, damage, and illegal access to networks, devices, programs, and data. Information technology security is another term for cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity is critical because government, military, business, financial, and medical organizations acquire, process, and store massive amounts of data on computers and other devices. Sensitive data, such as intellectual property, financial data, personal information, or other sorts of data, might make up a considerable amount of that data. Unauthorized access or exposure to that data can have serious implications.

In doing business, organizations transport sensitive data across networks and other devices, and ‘cybersecurity’ describes the discipline committed to protecting that information and the technologies used to handle or store it. Companies and organizations, particularly those responsible for preserving information linked to national security, health, or financial records, must make efforts to protect their sensitive business and people information as the volume and sophistication of cyber attacks grows.

The nation’s senior intelligence officers warned as early as March 2013 that cyber-attacks and digital surveillance pose the greatest threat to national security, surpassing even terrorism.

What are Managed Cybersecurity Services?

Outsourced monitoring and administration of your security systems and devices is included as part of managed cybersecurity services. Your SIEM tools, Intrusion Detection Systems/Intrusion Prevention Systems, firewalls, anti-virus, vulnerability, compliance management, and more are all handled by a managed cybersecurity service.

So, why should you and your company invest in managed cybersecurity services? What does it add? What is its value?

The security knowledge and additional staffing that managed security services give are the main advantages. The ability of managed cybersecurity services to manage security processes from an off-site location allows businesses to go about their business as usual with minimal disruption from security initiatives. In contrast, the managed cybersecurity services interface keeps a constant line of communication open and provides seamless reporting to the company.

MSSPs keep business IT informed about security risks, audits, and maintenance, allowing the hiring organization to concentrate on security governance rather than administrative responsibilities.

MSSP’s now provide a wide range of security services, ranging from complete security program outsourcing to specialized services that focus on a specific aspect of an organization’s security. Specialized services can include threat monitoring, data protection, management of network security tools, regulatory compliance, or incident response and forensics).

Businesses can save money by outsourcing security because they don’t have to keep full-time, on-site IT security personnel. MSSP’s are also used by many enterprises for speedier deployment timelines and better time-to-value on security investments.

Benefits of Cybersecurity Managed Services

Managed cybersecurity service providers are a good choice for organizations who lack security program maturity or want to increase their security capabilities because:

Managed cybersecurity services provide round-the-clock monitoring, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Choosing to manage company security in-house rather than outsourcing necessitates a significant investment in staff and technology.

Cyber-attacks develop at a breakneck speed, resulting in one new threat after another. Keeping up with evolving risks, resolving dangers as they arise, and recovering from incidents identified too late may take a lot of time and money if you don’t have the right security tools and resources.

Most MSSP’s can operate worldwide, and their concentration on threat monitoring gives them a distinct advantage over businesses whose primary business function is unrelated to security and technology. To put it another way, MSSP’s specialize in early threat detection and protection, so hiring one allows a company to focus on its primary business while leaving security problems to the professionals.

Another significant benefit of hiring a managed cybersecurity service is that these companies can conduct vulnerability and penetration testing, run security scans regularly, and handle other security management functions. Doing so allows enterprise IT to focus on security program oversight and other activities that help the company achieve its goals.

Costs of a Cyber Attack

For both large and small firms, cyber security has long been one of the most difficult concerns to address. According to pre-pandemic estimates, Cyber-attacks would cost the world economy more than $2 trillion by 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has compelled many organizations to function remotely, has provided an even more fertile field for cybercrime. According to recent research, 63 percent of the workforce in small businesses now works from home. Small businesses in the United States believe they are more exposed to cyber assaults than they were a year ago, according to 53% of respondents.

But cyber-attacks cost companies far more than just financial stress.

Reputation

Consumers expect their data to be kept private. They have faith in the brands they buy from to do so. When consumers in the United States see corporations keeping their end of the bargain by safeguarding personal and financial information, the clear majority of them remain loyal to the brand. Customers begin to have doubts when firms are penetrated and become victims of a cyber attack. They no longer trust the company’s website with their credit card information.

New customers negatively perceive the company and its products or services. It can take years to regain consumer trust, and a business will be unable to compete if it cannot keep current customers while still attracting new ones.

Time

Most businesses consider a cyber assault to be a one-time occurrence. It occurs, and then it is finished. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Cyber-attacks have long-term consequences. The majority of the time, there are several issues to be resolved, and every section is working at full capacity. According to a recent study, ransomware cyber assaults take an average of 23 days to recover from, with attacks involving inside cooperation taking an average of 50 days.

When this happens, a major section of the workforce is devoting their time and effort to recovery efforts rather than business as usual, causing a company to go behind schedule by weeks, if not months. On average, an attack can cost a firm $300 per employee each day, excluding high-level employees.

Data

In 2015, 159 million records containing sensitive information were stolen. This number increased to 2 billion in the first half of 2017. Cyber attacks are on the rise, and most of the time, the attackers are for data. Data is priceless. Everything from private company data to consumer information could be taken if a cyber attack breaches a corporation’s database.

If a company’s confidential information is stolen, the secret data that helps them compete could become public, obliterating their competitive advantage. If it involves client data, not only will the firm lose customer trust, but it will also face significant legal fees, penalties, and fines.

Investors

According to a recent study, nearly 85 percent of a company’s assets are digital. This figure helps to illustrate how a digital attack might raise severe investor and shareholder concerns. This is especially true for smaller businesses, which often lack the infrastructure needed to handle a strong internal and external response.

Furthermore, their brand recognition is typically insufficient to entice shareholders to stay loyal. On the other hand, large firms should not assume that a cyber attack will not have a significant impact on their value. Following three major data breaches that caught the attention of the media, customers, and shareholders, Verizon was able to purchase Yahoo for $4 billion less than was offered before the incidents, owing to a lack of shareholder confidence.

Equipment

Too many executives overlook the fact that cyber-attacks impact more than just systems, operations, and public perception. Attacks can also damage physical items owned by the company. If ransomware infects every single employee’s laptop, computer, tablet, or phone, every single gadget will almost certainly need to be replaced.

If company machines are hacked, they may malfunction and shut down, forcing the company to invest in new equipment. While this type of damage does not account for the majority of the cost of a cyber assault, at only 3% in 2016, it can amount to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars.

There’s no getting around it. Cybercrime is expensive for any firm, and it will only get more costly in the future. As a result, businesses must equip themselves with improved security tools, processes, and systems such as managed cybersecurity services.

Consultants for Managed Cybersecurity Services

If you’re thinking of getting a solid, reliable, safe managed cybersecurity service for your business, no matter its size, you are going to need a cybersecurity analyst or consultant to take care of that for you. That’s their profession, their passion, and their expertise.

Using various technologies and approaches, a Cyber Security Consultant can assist an organization in defending itself against cyber threats. Their responsibility is to safeguard an organization’s IT infrastructure by monitoring systems, detecting flaws, and identifying risks. To prevent assaults, they must resolve any flaws and reinforce all networks, hardware, and software.

But what exactly do they do?

A Cyber Security Consultant must keep up with the newest security and technology advances and assess any potential cybersecurity dangers to handle them properly.

They must constantly monitor networks for attacks, intrusions, and odd, unauthorized activities. A cybersecurity analyst can identify threat patterns and vulnerabilities using analytic techniques and devise a disaster recovery strategy and contingency preparations in case of a security breach. To test their system, cybersecurity researchers would sometimes fake security breaches.

A cybersecurity analyst is accountable for an organization’s digital security. Thus, they must be prepared to report to stakeholders, offer recommendations, and assist with cybersecurity training for the rest of the team. They must audit systems regularly to ensure that they remain secure, and they must be available to examine threats, phishing emails, and other security warnings.

A good Cyber Security Analyst will pay close attention to the smallest details, ensuring that no network flaws go undiscovered. They should examine the strength of IT systems using logic and reasoning and approach their work in a forensic manner.

Analysts in the field of cyber security must also be able to think like a hacker. This means having a thorough awareness of how they operate as well as the most recent advances in the world of cybercriminals. They must be one step ahead of the game, prepared to fight off threats with the most up-to-date security solutions.

Managed Cybersecurity Services Are Worth It

Being a victim of a cyber security breach can lead to long-lasting regulatory scrutiny, requiring your company to submit to several audits, additional tax compliances, incident response plans, access privilege restrictions, and more. It doesn’t stop there: cybersecurity requirements are accompanied by heavy fines and short timelines. The severity of the penalties varies based on the industry and the nature of the incident.

Even worse, being subject to restrictions can damage your reputation with lenders, investors, customers, and insurance providers. Inflationary lending rates and insurance premiums will reflect the negative effects. You will lose the trust of so many people, both inside and outside of your company. As any good business leader knows, trust is one of the hardest things to win back from people. Once it’s gone, it can be gone for good.

Cybersecurity is more than a forward-thinking initiative. It’s turned into a reliable business practice for all entrepreneurs and established successful businesses hoping to stay afloat in today’s environment.

Building a managed cybersecurity services team is a wise move since it will provide any organization with a competitive advantage over competitors and allow its employees to learn best practices for protecting their own and clients’ data.

Managed cybersecurity services keep businesses – and the people who work for them and use them – safe and happy in this dangerous modern age.

Want to learn more about if Managed Cybersecurity Services are right for your business? Take our free, self-guided IT Security Risk Assessment, or contact us today for a free, 30-minute consultation.

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Most Dangerous Malware Threats in 2022

What Is Malware?

Malware, sometimes known as “malicious software,” is a catch-all word for any malicious program or code that is destructive to computers.

Malware is hostile, intrusive, and purposefully malicious software that aims to infiltrate, damage, or disable computers, computer systems, networks, tablets, and mobile devices by gaining partial control over their activities. It interferes with regular functioning in the same way that the human flu does.

Malware has a variety of motivations. Malware can be designed to make money from you, sabotage your capacity to complete tasks, make a political statement, or simply get bragging rights. Malware can steal, encrypt, or delete your data, alter or hijack fundamental computer functionality, and spy on your computer activity without your knowledge or consent.

What are some of the things that malware can do to your computer?

Allow an attacker to use an infected machine via remote control.
Send spam to unsuspecting targets from the infected system.
Examine the local network of the affected user.
Steal confidential information.

If you want to battle malware, you have to understand all the different types.

Here are some of the malware variations that currently exist:

Botnets (short for “robot network”) are infected computer networks that a single attacker controls via command-and-control servers. Botnets are highly adaptable and diverse, with the ability to maintain resilience by using redundant servers and infected PCs to relay communications. Today’s distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) assaults are frequently carried out through botnets.

Cryptojacking is malicious crypto mining (the process of employing processing resources to validate transactions on a blockchain network in exchange for bitcoin) that occurs when fraudsters install malware on both commercial and personal computers, laptops, and mobile devices.

Malvertising is a combination of “malware” and “advertising,” and it refers to using web advertisements to propagate malware. It usually entails injecting malicious code or malware-infected adverts into legitimate internet ad networks and websites.

Polymorphic malware is any of the preceding varieties of malware that has the ability to “morph” on a regular basis, changing the appearance of the code while keeping the algorithm. Traditional virus signatures are thwarted by the software’s change of its surface appearance.

Ransomware is a criminal business model that involves holding valuable files, data, or information for ransom using malicious software. In the event of a ransomware attack, a victim’s operations may be badly harmed or completely shut down.

Remote Administration Tools (RATs) are pieces of software that allow a user to control a system from afar. These tools were designed for legitimate purposes, but threat actors are currently using them. RATs provide an attacker administrative control over a computer, allowing them to perform nearly anything on it. They’re hard to spot since they don’t show up in listings of running programs or tasks, and their behaviors are frequently confused with those of real programs.

Spyware gathers information about how the infected machine is used and sends it to the attacker. Botnets, adware, backdoor activity, keyloggers, data theft, and net-worms are all examples of this word.

Trojans are malware that is camouflaged as legal software. Malware Trojans will carry out whatever action they have been instructed to carry out once they have been triggered. Unlike viruses and worms, Trojans do not replicate or reproduce after being infected. The name “Trojan” refers to the Greek soldiers who were secreted inside a wooden horse and brought to the hostile city of Troy.

Virus Malware is a type of software that copies itself across a computer or network. Malware viruses attach themselves to existing programs and can only be triggered when the user opens them. Viruses can distort or remove data, propagate via email, or, in the worst-case scenario, obliterate everything on a hard disk.

Worm Malware is a self-replicating virus that uses security flaws to propagate through computers and networks. Malware worms, unlike viruses, do not connect to existing programs or change files. They usually go unnoticed until the replication scales to the point where it consumes a large amount of system resources or network traffic.

Top Malware Threats in 2021

Phishing Becomes More Advanced

Phishing attempts are growing more complex, in which precisely targeted digital communications are sent to trick individuals into clicking on a link that can then install malware or reveal personal data.

Hackers are upping the ante, for example, by using machine learning to craft and distribute convincing fake messages much more quickly. They do this hoping that recipients will unwittingly compromise their organization’s networks and systems now that most employees are more aware of the dangers of email phishing or clicking on suspicious-looking links. Hackers can steal user logins, credit card passwords, and other personal financial data and even obtain access to private databases using such assaults.

The Evolution of Ransomware Strategies

Every year, ransomware attacks are estimated to cost victims billions of dollars, as hackers use technology to essentially kidnap a person’s or organization’s databases and hold all of the data for ransom. The development of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which allow ransom demands to be paid anonymously, is attributed with helping to fuel ransomware attacks.

As businesses focus on strengthening their defenses against ransomware attacks, some experts fear that hackers will increasingly target other potentially lucrative ransomware victims, such as high-net-worth individuals.

Cyber-Physical Attacks

Cyber-Physical Attacks are a type of cyber-attack.

The same technology that has made it possible to upgrade and computerize vital infrastructure also poses a threat. The persistent threat of cyber-attacks on electricity grids, transportation networks, and water treatment facilities, among other things, represents a significant vulnerability in the future. According to a recent investigation in The New York Times, even America’s multibillion-dollar military systems are vulnerable to high-tech sabotage.

Attacks Backed by Governments

Aside from hackers wanting to gain money by stealing personal and corporate data, entire nation-states are now utilizing their cyber capabilities to penetrate other governments and launch assaults on crucial infrastructure. Cybercrime is a huge threat today, not just to the business sector and people, but also to the government and the entire country. State-sponsored attacks are predicted to rise as we approach 2021, with strikes on key infrastructure being of particular concern.

Many of these attacks target government-run systems and infrastructure, but private companies are also vulnerable. “State-sponsored cyberattacks are an emerging and significant risk to private enterprise,” according to a report from Thomson Reuters Labs. “State-sponsored cyberattacks will increasingly challenge those sectors of the business world that provide convenient targets for settling geopolitical grievances.”

Attacks Against the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is growing increasingly common every day. Laptops and tablets, of course, are included, but so are routers, webcams, home appliances, smartwatches, medical gadgets, manufacturing equipment, autos, and even home security systems.

Consumers benefit from connected gadgets, and many organizations are increasingly using them to save money by collecting massive volumes of useful data and improving corporate operations. However, as more devices become connected, the potential of cyber-attacks and infections increases, making IoT networks increasingly vulnerable. IoT devices can be exploited to cause havoc, overload networks, or shut down crucial equipment for financial gain once they are in the hands of hackers.

Third-Party Entities (Vendors, Contractors, Partners)

Third-party personnel, such as suppliers and contractors, pose a significant danger to businesses, with the majority of them operating without a secure system or specialized team to manage them.

Organizations are becoming increasingly conscious of the potential threat posed by third parties as cybercriminals become more skilled, and cybersecurity threats continue to climb. However, the danger remains high; in 2021, US Customs and Border Protection was added to the list of high-profile victims.

How To Detect Malware

Even if you don’t know how the malware got into your device, the existence of malware can be apparent. Many consumers are unaware that malware has been introduced until their computers or devices begin to behave strangely.

Malware symptoms can be both visible and subtle. Knowing how to spot these potentially dangerous invasions can assist you in determining how to resolve the problem.

Even if you aren’t accessing the web, you may notice changes in the behavior of your computer or device, such as weird adverts or pop-up windows. You may also notice unwelcome changes in your browser’s functionality and homepage, as well as a slower overall computing experience and a sudden lack of storage space.

Ads that appear a few seconds after a webpage has finished loading should be avoided. These advertisements may contain offensive content. They may flash colors and be difficult to close while blocking the content you’re attempting to see.

How to Avoid Them

Strong, dependable antivirus and anti-malware software should be the first line of defense when it comes to computer security. It’s a good idea to do this on your home computer and any other devices you have. One of the finest things you can do to avoid malware attacks is to install protection software.

Make sure to run diagnostic scans with your antivirus or anti-malware software on a regular basis. It’s possible to program the program to run scans at predetermined intervals. To avoid disruptions, configure your settings to conduct a virus detection scan at least once a week, preferably at night when the computer is less likely to be in use.

Is there anything else you can do? Being aware of your online activities is a good idea. One of your first lines of defense against malware is personal education.

Always be aware of emails from unfamiliar sources, which are commonly referred to as phishing emails. Don’t click on embedded links, documents, or photographs if something looks suspicious or unusual to you.

Another suggestion is to use encryption to protect your personal information. That’s the process of scrambling the data you send and receive from your devices using a “secret code” so that it can’t be read by anyone who doesn’t have access to the code key.

You can also employ a firewall, either on the modem or on each computer, and make sure to use a unique, complex password for each of your internet accounts.

Maintain a proactive approach to cyber security and be cautious when using the internet. These are some of the most effective techniques to keep your devices safe from viruses.

What We Need to Know for 2022

The most serious malware dangers for the coming year are those we already know about and have discussed.

The only difference is that they will become even more prevalent in the coming year – and subsequent years – and will receive far more attention. There will undoubtedly be several headlines about malware affecting large corporations, banks, and industries.

It’ll all come down to ransomware, which you’ve probably heard about if you’ve been following the news over the last year and heard about hackers hacking into private databases, holding data hostage, and demanding payment.

Malware and ransomware make a lot of money for hackers. They do it by stealing your personal information and selling it to others.

Ransomware-as-a-Service is a well-established industry in which operators rent out or sell subscriptions to their malware creations to others for a fee, whether it’s a monthly fee or a percentage of any successful extortion payments.

Given the lucrative nature of RaaS and the difficulties of tracking down and arresting operators, many security analysts anticipate this business model will thrive in 2022.

The intensity and volume of ransomware assaults are expected to continue to rise. As a result, the ransomware-as-a-service sector is expected to flourish, allowing new kinds and methods to spread far more quickly than before. Whether it’s a tiny firm or a major corporation, a ransomware attack will try to break into the system and encrypt crucial data at some time.

The year ahead will be difficult for those attempting to stay safe on the internet and avoid malware. It is seemingly everywhere, and its threat is growing. However, it is possible to remain protected: you simply need to stay vigilant and educated.

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The Risks of Improper Offboarding

Offboarding Incorrectly can Lead to Issues and Security Threats

No matter what kind of company you run, there will be times when you have to let employees go. This can be a challenging process for everyone, especially if the employee feels angry about being released from their job. The more sudden the offboarding process, the more risk there is for an employer.

If you have been struggling with managing layoffs or having to fire people who have broken non-negotiable rules, you need to be careful about your offboarding process to prevent issues in the long run.

What Are the Risks of Offboarding Incorrectly?

Offboarding is as important as onboarding. The entire hiring and firing process needs to be tackled correctly by your company to prevent issues that might crop up later on. Cutting corners on either of these critical steps in the hiring process can lead to trouble that you would rather avoid. Make sure that you never take the offboarding process lightly.

1. Data Loss

The biggest problem that often crops up with offboarding is data loss. When you do not handle the process of offboarding properly, employees can have access to data that they should be prevented from accessing once they have been released from their job. Vengeful employees that have been fired or laid off can cause havoc by stealing data or corrupting and deleting it so that you cannot use it. This can lead to significant slowdowns to work processes and conflict with other employees or other businesses that work with you.

If you do have to let someone go for one reason or another, you need to be sure that you do not allow these people to retain access to company data. This will prevent data theft and damage to your critical company assets. You should avoid data loss with ease if you are careful about the way that you release people from their jobs.

2. Compliance Issues

One of the most common issues businesses face due to incorrect offboarding is noncompliance, which can occur due to employee anger before leaving. In places like hospitals or other medical facilities where HIPAA is in place, this can lead to issues that cost the company thousands of dollars in fines. In other work environments, non-compliant behavior can lead to issues with stolen information, lack of proper information collection, or improper conduct, leading to fines and customer dissatisfaction.

Compliance is often the first thing to be thrown out the window when someone is mad at their employer, and this is one of the biggest risks to your business when you offboard someone incorrectly. You need to be sure that the people you have on staff will uphold the standards of your business for a whole variety of reasons, and it is not wise to trust angry employees to behave appropriately on your behalf once they know they have been let go.

3. Theft of Intellectual Property

This is often the most significant risk to tech companies or companies that develop products and goods that haven’t yet landed on the market. If you have any developmental ideas or projects that you are making or selling, you need to be sure that you do not let offboarded employees access this kind of information and data once they know they have been let go. It is all too common for employees to attempt to steal intellectual property to take it with them to their new job or to sell the information to competitors.

If you are worried about the risk of intellectual property theft, it is also wise to have a document that outlines the terms of data management and intellectual property management when you are onboarding employees. This will help protect you if you have to let someone go. Theft of data and property is always a considerable risk for companies that make new products, apps, or other technology, and you will want to carefully protect yourself against this problem.

4. Reputation Damage

When you let someone go, the reality is that they will probably talk badly about you to other people. Reputation for your business is essential when you are trying to attract new hires that are skilled and have a lot of experience. While you cannot control everything that people will say about your business when you let them go, you can try to handle the damage that might be caused by letting someone go in a way that makes them very angry.

One of the key parts of offboarding people correctly is that you will need to make sure that the employee who has been let go does not have extra time to interact with other employees or to steal company property and data. You will also want to be sure that you are fair and communicative with the person you are letting go of. The way you release people from employment can go a long way toward preventing a lot of damage to your reputation once they are no longer an employee.

5. Cybersecurity Threats

This is one of the threats that employers are not always aware of, but it can be the most serious of the risks related to improper offboarding. Many companies forget to remove access to programs and remove employee access to cloud sharing. This can lead to major issues to do with company data that can be accessed by an employee even after they have left the company.

The other problem related to forgetting to remove users that are no longer with the company is that hackers often seek out these unused accounts to gain access to the cloud or to programs that your company owns. This can be a major risk to your company’s security, and you will want to be sure that you delete or deactivate the accounts of people who have been let go. This is a critical feature of company safety when releasing an employee from their contract or job.

Tips to Help Offboard Employees Correctly

Ensuring that you handle the offboarding process properly is critical for your company’s data security, cybersecurity, and reputation. You will want to be sure that you follow these tips correctly so that you do not have any issues with a disgruntled employee risking the security of your business or damaging your company’s reputation once they are gone.

1. Plan Carefully

One of the biggest features of a successful offboarding process is planning ahead. You will want to be sure that you have the end date, the steps for transitioning, the collection of keys and devices, and the revocation of software access planned for any employee you are letting go. When you plan ahead, you will be less likely to encounter surprises that can lead to problems down the road.

Being organized can make all the difference in the offboarding process, and you will be able to plan the last day of this employee with care. This will help you avoid all of the risks we have already discussed. You will be able to give your former employee all of the information they need to know about their release from employment so they cannot be shocked or angry with the process overall.

2. Communicate Effectively

Sneaking up on employees is never a good way to handle this kind of breakup. You will need to make sure that your former employee knows that you are letting them go, and you need to be sure that you are clear about the terms of the release. There are some situations where you will want to provide the employee with some warning and then make sure that you escort them from the building as you let them go. When data or intellectual property theft are a risk, you need to be sure that you do not allow the employee that is being released to stay at work for the rest of the workday.

Communication can be the difference between a successful offboarding process and one that does not go smoothly overall. This will also help manage reputation damage as well as employee anger. Offboarding is always uncomfortable, but clearly communicating why you are letting the person go can make a massive difference to your offboarding process.

3. Take Care of Documentation

You will always need to be sure to collect all the proper documents when you let someone go. This documentation might include a resignation letter, a non-compete agreement, benefits forms, and more. It is important to get these documents signed to avoid legal difficulties later if a disgruntled employee takes legal action and gets a lawyer.

4. Remove Access

Ensuring that an employee’s access to the cloud, to programs and data, and to their devices has been taken away is critical for cybersecurity risk prevention and the prevention of data theft and intellectual property theft. Access to software and devices needs to be removed as soon as an employee is going to be released from employment. This is an easy step to plan, and taking care of this need well before you sit down with an employee to release them is the best course of action.

Removing access to programs can increase the security of your programs and the overall company network. You should also make sure that anyone who moves to another team within your company does not have access that they should not. Dead or inactive accounts can lead to hacking and other problems with ease.

5. Exit Interviews

Make sure that you conduct an exit interview for everyone you have to let go. This is an important step that allows former employees to get things off their chest and have their voices heard. This can also help you learn more about what led to the choice you had to make to let someone go. Being able to air complaints might reduce the possibility of an employee talking about how much they hated their job with you once they leave.

When you take the time to do an exit interview, you will be able to get some information about the experience that this person had while working for you that can lead to improvements in training and other processes. Maybe onboarding, team interactions, benefits and time off, and other factors led to the employee being dissatisfied and behaving in a way that led to their release from their contract. You need to know about this to fix the problems, which can prevent future issues.

Improper Offboarding Can Lead to Major Difficulties

You should always make sure that you take the correct steps to offboard employees. This will help prevent damage to your reputation, data and intellectual property theft, and cybersecurity issues. Making sure that you do not forget the critical steps that need to be taken to offboard an employee that has been let go for any reason can help you learn from former mistakes and avoid difficulties that can crop up when an employee is fired, or layoffs take place.

Offboarding is a necessary evil for any company owner, but you will find that the process is far less painful when you handle the process correctly from the start. Planning in advance can make a big difference, as can removing access to programs and cloud features your company uses daily. No matter why you need to let an employee go, taking these steps and using these tips and tricks when offboarding employees will prevent issues that can lead to major trouble for you as the employer.

Having a plan to offboard properly can seem like a daunting task, but Edge Networks is here to help! Let us take care of your company’s IT, including employee offboarding, so you don’t have to. To asses your risk, take our free, self-guided IT Security Risk Assessment, or contact us today for a free, 30-minute consultation.

Sensitive Information

How to Prevent Internal Threats

How Internal Threats Compromise Businesses, and How To Prevent Them

In the digital world, threats come from everywhere. Most organizations are prepared to combat hackers and scammers from the outside. However, not everyone knows what to do when the issue comes from an internal location. Internal threats are one of the many security issues that plague organizations today. It’s critical to be proactive and know where they come from and how you can prevent them from interfering with the structure of your business.

We’re here to help you understand what an internal threat is and how you can combat them. Read on to learn more about this growing challenge in the business world today.

What is an Internal Threat?

So, what exactly is an internal threat?

An internal threat is a hazard that comes from the inside. Internal threats are often people who already have insider information about the company, such as former employees or negligent workers. It may happen on purpose with the intent to harm or may occur on accident from someone who doesn’t take the time to keep critical information on lockdown.

Internal threats target computer systems, data, and even security practices. You can be well-equipped for an external threat and find you have nothing prepared for something on the inside. That’s why it’s critical to prepare, even if you feel like it won’t happen to your organization.

The first step to combating an internal threat is knowing where they come from and what one could look like in your organization. This knowledge will give you a foundation to build on. Of course, internal threats can vary depending on the business structure you currently have in place and the type of company you run.

Examples of Internal Threats

So, what are some examples of internal threats? It can be tricky to understand them without scenarios. Let’s talk about a few examples of internal threats you may want to look for in your employee structure. These should give you a better idea of what to look out for if you suspect an internal attack is occurring in your business.

Some examples of internal threats within a company include:

Ex-employees: A disgruntled ex-employee may feel the need to damage the company from the inside, giving up valuable information or leaving something vulnerable to the outside.
Employee theft: An employee could steal items like a hard drive with vital data.
Employee negligence: A negligent employee could click on a dangerous link or accidentally give out vital information about the organization.
Employee abuse of privilege: An employee could abuse their access and use company information to take advantage of the system.

An internal threat doesn’t have to come from someone working for the business. The person needs to know the specific information that gives them access to certain aspects of the company that could lead to something extreme.

To mitigate internal threats, you must be proactive when dealing with issues from the inside. Acting sooner rather than later can reduce the damage done after an attack. It’s excellent to know what to look for, so you can be on alert rather than taken by surprise.

How to be Proactive in Mitigating Internal Threats

When dealing with internal threats, it’s important to be proactive. Take precautionary measures beforehand to ensure you have an eye on everything while simultaneously being ready to deal with any internal threats that may arise. An intricate, well-run system will accomplish this best.

To be proactive in mitigating internal threats, you can:

Establish an insider threat program
Know your people
Document and enforce policies
Allow surveillance
Utilize strict password management

These will keep your insider threat risk down to a minimum and help you better locate the source of the trouble when it arises.

Let’s dive further into these to better understand what needs to be implemented. There are many ways to mitigate and keep internal threats under control, even before they become an issue.

First, we’ll talk about establishing an insider threat program. This technique is not one that many think of, but it can make a difference when dealing with internal threats.

Establish an Insider Threat Program

First, establish an insider threat program that can take action when an internal threat arises. This choice means putting people in place tasked explicitly with handling internal threats that may rise to the surface. They are specialized in their jobs and only need to worry about this one task every day.

To establish an insider threat program, you should:

Find a senior official to take charge
Create a working group
Create governance and a working policy
Form a training program
Derive an office for this program

Having a team to deal with internal threats protects your organization and gives you peace of mind as you go throughout your workday. Formal training permits your staff to be aware and ready to prevent mistakes from leading to an internal threat.

An insider threat program will act on instinct when the time calls for them to do so. They can also analyze specific behavior within the company to keep internal threats from arising before it’s too late. Having a team on your side will make life a whole lot easier for your place of work, as they can take on threats while you deal with the day-to-day of the team you work for or with.

Know Your People

Know your people. Know what they do, know who they are, and know what position they have in your company’s security. You should be aware of various people’s access to specific systems and their control when inside — knowing who can go where will make it easier to retrace your steps if something goes wrong.

On top of this, you should also train your employees in internal threat combative techniques. Teaching them anti-phishing strategies will reduce the number of accidental pawns utilized in an internal threat. It’s too easy for employees to become victims in the world, which can lead to the downfall of a business. Ensure your employees aren’t like deer in the headlights.

You can also show your people how to look for risky behavior. If they notice it among their fellow workers, they can report it to stop it before it goes too far. Having watchful eyes among equipped employees will take you far in mitigating internal threats.

Document and Enforce Policies

Quality policies will go a long way in mitigating internal threats within your organization. It’s critical to document them, taking care to write them down and store them for safekeeping. There should be policies about all employee interactions you can think of that could lead to the scenario of an internal threat.

Netwrix.com recommends some of the policies to be about items such as:

Third-party access policy
User monitoring policy
Incident response policy
Password management policy
General data protection regulations

Ensure your employees know about these policies and are familiar with how they work. It would be best to be firm on enforcing policies to avoid any loose-handedness that could come with being lax on enforcement. Every policy must be verified by a legal department and then signed by the CEO

You’ll also need to develop penalties if any policy is broken. Strict penalties result in a safer system. Ensure these are just as clear to your employees as the policies are to avoid any confusion.

Allow Surveillance

Next, ensure you allow surveillance to happen on your systems. There’s a way you can keep an eye on potential security threats without damaging the company’s privacy as a whole. Surveillance can take many forms when you’re working to mitigate internal threats while ensuring your company continues to run like a well-oiled machine.

Some examples of surveillance within an organization might include:

Utilizing employees to monitor, look for, and report suspicious behavior
Installing video cameras and motion sensors to operate at night
Implementing screen-capture technology on screens that are considered high-security.

These measures will keep your systems safe from internal threats.

On top of these three measures, you should download various security software to do some of the work for you. The more sources of defense you have, the better equipped you will be to keep out intruders that do not belong in your system.

Utilize Strict Password Management

Finally, take care to utilize strict password management measures with your system. This step is perhaps one of the most critical since passwords safeguard almost everything a business offers. Not only do you need to make strong passwords, but you also need to be careful who has access to what.

Each user in your system should have a way to log in that is personal to them, and only them. If they have clearance to a higher program, they should have another unique password that allows them into that system. Follow the password policies and management you have set to keep everything in place.

One of the biggest causes of internal threats is the verbal transfer of passwords from one person to another. Ensure your employees can keep their information to themselves and be ready to enact repercussions if security measures break. Passwords can be the downfall of security fast.

What is the Most Effective Strategy for Combating Internal Threats?

Out of everything we’ve listed, what’s the most effective strategy for combating internal threats? There is one that stands out above the rest when dealing with issues that may arise.

Having policies in place and trained employees is your best course of action against the dangers of internal threats. If everyone is aware of the potential threats, they are better equipped to prevent them from happening. They can also report anything they see right to you for efficient action.

If everyone is on board, you have less to fear. Together, you can work on making your business environment one that is safe from employee negligence and other careless actions.

Why is it Critical for Companies to Take Action Against Internal Threats?

It can seem unnecessary to take action against internal threats. You may feel as though your system is covered, as though you have no chance of dealing with an internal threat from your organization. This is where the problem lies. Many aren’t aware of the statistics that plague businesses around the world.

According to purplesec.us, 63% of successful data attacks come from sources on the inside. This statistic is shockingly high, and many companies are unaware of it. Much data isn’t reported due to the inside nature of the attack. This choice leaves many organizations in the dark about their actual risks.

Because of the unknowns that come with internal threats, it’s vital to take action against them regardless of how good you feel your security may be on the outside. You never know where an attack can come from, and it’s better to be prepared than not know what’s going on when one happens. Don’t become a statistic with a system ready for an internal threat to conquer.

In Closing

Internal threats can seem like they’re not a problem until they arise and destroy your system. It’s critical to understand what internal threats are, who they come through, and what you can do to mitigate the issues before they get any bigger. Internal threats are a much larger issue than many realize.

Combating and being proactive against internal threats is part of running an organization. With the increased dangers of social engineering strategies, it’s more critical now than ever to be on top of any threats that may come your way. With extra effort, you can prepare for any internal threats that may come your way.

To assess your risk of internal threats, as well as any other cybersecurity threats, contact Edge Networks for a free 30-minute consultation.

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What You Need to Know About CMMC 2.0

Are you CMMC Compliant?

Now more than ever, it is becoming more and more important to start improving your cybersecurity posture. From a business standpoint, so much of what you do is web-based. This leaves you open to the threats that accompany the web.

However, you can be proactive and prepared with a strong cybersecurity plan. CMMC 2.0 is just one of those solutions. Are you compliant with CMMC?

It just might be time to get on board with cybersecurity for your business. It’s not just for the Department of Defense but for any commercial market that contracts with them.

Keep reading to learn everything that you need to know about CMMC 2.0.

What is CMMC?

CMMC stands for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. Version 2.0 is simply the latest revision of that program.

CMMC is a compliance requirement based around NIST 800-171. It’s an assessment program geared explicitly toward cybersecurity with the Department of Defense and contractual providers in mind.

The requirement to be compliant is fairly new, and while CMMC 2.0 has already been released, it will not be a requirement for some time still. Ultimately, the design for compliance is to proactively keep data secure and mitigate multiple threats through review.

Here are some of the features of the requirements.

Employ professional and ethical standards that are geared to gain and maintain the trust of the public
Improve accountability for DoD requirements without excessive barriers.
Enhance cyber security by mitigating threats and recognizing new threats as well.
Protect sensitive data of DoD personnel
Collaborate to improve cybersecurity and proactively work against it while growing resilience

The real problem is that while CMMC was enacted in 2018, a massive number of contractors and businesses remain out of compliance.

Businesses are required to obtain third-party assessments and audits at this point, and even with the CMMC program, many of those businesses will still have to obtain a third-party assessment. Even though one of the program’s high points is to help eliminate that need.

There are five different levels of CMMC.

CMMC Levels

CMMC is offered in tiers that consist of 5 different levels. The levels depend on the amount of security that might be required or the data at stake and in so, the expectations do change for each level.

Each level has a certain number of controls within the level, and they build on each other. For example, Level 1 has 17 controls. Level 4 has 156 controls, and it also includes the controls from levels 1, 2, and 3.

Here is a basic overview of the levels, according to Fed Tech Magazine:

Level 1 is designed to safeguard federal contractual information
Level 2 is designed to be a stepping stone for cybersecurity from Level 1 in the progression towards controlled unclassified data
Level 3 is designed to protect CUI specifically (controlled unclassified information)
Level 4 is designed to build on Level 3, protecting CUI and reducing advanced threats
Level 5 is the highest level and builds on each level to protect CUI and fight advanced persistent threats against security

Level 1 is basic practice, and level 5 is fully optimized behavior regarding cybersecurity and taking steps to protect CUI.

Who Needs CMMC?

The field of those who have to comply with CMMC 2.0 is vast. This program is geared towards the Department of Defense cybersecurity, which means it is far-reaching. Not only does this mean the direct Department of Defense and the military forces that are part of the DoD but it also refers to any company that does business with the DoD.

This list is massive, and includes thousands of companies. However, it isn’t only large corporations that must be in compliance. Companies of all sizes will need CMMC 2.0 and need to navigate the rules that are put out and then act to bring themselves into compliance.

This isn’t specific to an industry. It is any corporation or business that does business or contracts with the Department of Defense. If you consider all of the branches and the myriad of suppliers they must have, you probably are still estimating low on the number of businesses. In fact, the estimate is that when CMMC 2.0 is officially rolled out, more than 40,000 contractors will need third-party assessments. They estimate that at least 220,000 businesses total are involved with the DoD in some way.

Why Was CMMC 2.0 Created?

Many wonder why CMMC 2.0 would be necessary when CMMC already existed and wasn’t even in full force yet.

CMMC was put into place in 2018, yet many businesses were still out of compliance. The program was set to be reviewed in 2021 as they started placing CMMC into contracts. However, they quickly found that implementing CMMC could be extremely costly and time-consuming as it currently stood.

They specifically were concerned for the small businesses that would be affected by the requirements and how they would implement and maintain a high level as required. The original CMMC was not scaled and did not take different business practices into consideration.

This need to recognize different levels and change the rules and practices led to creating CMMC 2.0. Once that was realized, they put everything on hold while they ironed out the details of CMMC 2.0, determined how to implement it, and then created the rules for it.

Right now, businesses that contract with the Department of Defense have a head’s up and a basic understanding of the rules, but the final requirements are yet to come.

What are the Main Changes Between CMMC and CMMC 2.0?

There are quite a few changes from CMMC to CMMC 2.0, but the biggest change is how different levels are handled and their requirements.

For example, some businesses will be able to self-attest to their cybersecurity practices, depending on the data they use or have access to. If their data is not specific to national security, they will be allowed to self-attest. This would be your Level 1 and maybe some Level 2 businesses.

Some of these businesses do work with or for the DoD, but they don’t handle any sensitive data, so their requirements don’t need to be near as stringent. Ultimately, Level 1 businesses will be able to self-attest by having a senior executive sign off that they are in compliance with cybersecurity standards.

The hope is that regulating the tiers and what is required of each tier will reduce the burden of requirements all around. The higher the tier, the more sensitive their data is, and the more stringent their requirements will be with the changes implemented by CMMC 2.0.

As we mentioned earlier, this change will potentially reduce the number of contractors that have to be thoroughly reviewed by the DoD from the entire 220,000+ businesses to 40,000 that will require a third-party assessment.

As the levels move up, fewer businesses fall into the tiers. About 80,000 businesses fall into Level 2, but not all require external assessments. Level 3 businesses only include about 500. They will be audited by DoD themselves.

The changes from CMMC to include all businesses and CMMC 2.0 to create the different tiers reduces the burden for the Department of Defense and a significant number of businesses that they work with.

Small and medium businesses that do not deal with critical data will not have to follow the same challenging standards as level 3-5 businesses, which have the most sensitive data at their fingertips.

Some of the other specific changes are not fully known yet as they continue to determine the rules that will be enforced with CMMC 2.0. However, this review covers the most anticipated differences expected from the change.

CMMC 2.0 also has a waiver opportunity in some cases. It is a limited waiver, but CMMC did not allow for any kind of waiver.

When Will CMMC 2.0 Be a Requirement??

CMMC 2.0 has quite a way to go still. The Department of Defense has already set the expectation that 2023 is the anticipated timeline for CMMC 2.0 being a requirement. Since they decided to change gears on their approach, they’ve halted the implementation and put requiring CMMC compliance on hold until they have finalized the new rules of 2.0.

They have acknowledged that it will take time to come up with rules and specifics. You can view the basics of the ruling and the categorization of the levels that will be implemented. However, patience will be required to find out all of the details.

When they do present the final rules, they will also provide a hard deadline for compliance. Right now, the statement is that they will allow 180 days for businesses to comply.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, Jesse Salazar, quotes: “My hope is that no company in the defense industrial base or in the broader commercial market is waiting for DoD contractual requirements to begin its cyber readiness process. We are encouraging all companies to start improving their cybersecurity.”

Rather than wait until those final rules are enforced, a business could go ahead and start planning to accommodate cybersecurity and figuring out their steps. If you wait until the last minute to begin preparing, you will more than likely run into issues getting things established and won’t be compliant when you need to be.

When Will Waivers Be Allowed?

While the exact specifics of the waivers might not yet be 100% known, the understanding is that the waivers will be allowed primarily on an as-needed basis.

The waiver is a limited waiver for certification requirements. It will be a temporary waiver granted when a case is mission-critical. The understanding is that they will be granted on a case-by-case basis and won’t just be handed out freely. They will require approval from senior leadership personnel at DoD.

The rules are still being planned, just like the other rules related to CMMC 2.0. Those guidelines and details will be established along with all of the other guidelines businesses are patiently waiting for more details on.

In Closing

Cybersecurity is no joke. With increased cyber use for just about any business interaction, the Department of Defense recognizes the need to take action and acknowledges that not all of their associated contractors have the same design and should be subject to the same rules.

This is what has led us to CMMC 2.0. As the time draws closer to the establishment, we will see more details released. Until that time, businesses can start planning for the future of CMMC 2.0.

Find out how Edge Networks can help your company become CMMC compliant by visiting our website. We take care of your compliance so you can focus on running your business.

CMMC

Pegasus Spyware: The Zero-Click Spyware Infecting Smartphones

Pegasus Spyware: The Basics

Back in June, it was discovered that Pegasus Spyware, specifically developed to track criminals and terrorists, made its way to more than 50,000 phone numbers, some of which included heads of state governments, presidents, and prime ministers. Because this spyware was discovered on the devices of the world’s elite, everyday smartphone users are left wondering if this spyware is lurking within their devices and if it is, how they can detect it and remove it. Below, we’ll dive into Pegasus Spyware, helping you determine your risk and what you can do if you’ve been infected.

Spyware is something that the world has known about since 1995, introduced as an interchangeable word to refer to adware and malware. It wasn’t until the turn of the century that spyware started to evolve, becoming one of the most dangerous threats on the web. In 2021, spyware has become a whole new beast, especially as the global use of electronics, specifically cell phones, is on the rise.

What is Pegasus Spyware?

Pegasus is advanced spyware created by Israel’s renowned technology firm, NSO Group. Specifically designed to target smartphones, Pegasus doesn’t discriminate, creating a risk for all devices within the platform trifecta Android, iOS, and Blackberry.

Like other types of spyware, Pegasus is designed to gain access to devices. While other traditional spyware is mainly acquired via mobile vulnerabilities, Pegasus is installable on devices via apps like WhatsApp, leaving no traces behind. Other spyware usually requires the installation of a malicious app (primarily via jailbreaking and rooting) or the click of a malicious link that led to the installation of spyware on the device.

Pegasus is so powerful because it requires the user to do nothing, taking advantage of a known vulnerability in apps like iMessage. Once embedded into a device, Pegasus spyware can access all apps, including those with access to real-time details like cameras and microphones. It’s not easily detectable and can linger in devices long enough to collect sensitive information.

Who might be vulnerable to it?

According to statements from the NSO Group, the only entities with access to Pegasus software are “the military, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies from countries with good human rights records.” Though their intentions might be good, that didn’t keep some countries from restricting use, including the United States and France.

Those that may be more vulnerable are activists, journalists, businesspeople, known criminals, government leaders and anyone connected to them that is suspected of a crime. Currently, NSO Group is not releasing clients, so it’s unclear whether or not those that are vulnerable or targeted are regulated.

Because of these spyware discoveries, Pegasus spyware is starting to get a negative reputation across the globe, with many world leaders concerned with their privacy and national security. Apple is among the first platforms to sue NGO groups, though others are expected to follow suit. When notified about the lawsuit and the implications they were facing, NGO Group did not admit to any wrongdoing and claimed that their product nor procedure were not breaking any law. In fact, they pointed out their strong suit, claiming “authorities combat criminals and terrorists who take advantage of encryption technology to avoid detection.”

How does it infiltrate a phone?

Pegasus spyware is more sophisticated than other types of spyware, able to infect devices without user interaction. Pegasus works by targeting zero-day vulnerabilities, which are vulnerabilities that cybersecurity experts are not yet familiar with. The attack is considered zero-click and typically infects smartphones with vulnerable apps.

Recently, Apple discovered that the spyware was targeting iOS messenger because of a vulnerability not yet patched. Because there is no user involvement required and no noticeable changes to infected devices, it can be difficult to detect. At the moment, there doesn’t seem to be a tool to directly detect Pegasus spyware, though there are ways to understand risk.

Assessment of risk is perhaps the most aggressive measure against Pegasus spyware, though users can do other things to detect its presence on their device.

How can someone detect Pegasus Spyware?

There is some good news for those who have a smartphone and are worried about the presence of spyware. Though 50,000 numbers have been listed as infected, it is not just an ordinary list of people. Those 50,000 were linked to several government officials, political activists, journalists, and those involved in their country’s politics.

That means that most smartphone users are excluded, though that doesn’t make most feel at ease. Spyware of any kind can infect devices, which is why it’s helpful to know how to detect it. Due to Pegasus spyware’s sophistication, it’s not detectable with just any antivirus, leaving users to seek other detection methods.

One popular method of detection that works on all devices is Amnesty International Mobile Verification Toolkit.

This toolkit is compatible with Linux and macOS, searching the device for unknown items that could represent a malware infection. Because news of this spyware is novel, it’s not yet set up to work 100%. While it will not detect Pegasus spyware directly, it alerts smartphone users of “indicators of compromise,” showing an infection on the device.

Though Amnesty International’s toolkit seems promising, cybercriminals are always trying to stay one step ahead in their methods of defeat. Word of a recent campaign to trick users looking for a way to protect their devices hit newsstands in early October, with a group of cybercriminals disguising themselves as Amnesty International. For those looking for a way to detect Pegasus spyware on their device, Amnesty International is a safe bet. However, they should only inquire about information from the actual website and avoid clicking any unknown third-party links.

An additional option for iOS users that shows promise for detecting Pegasus spyware is Apple’s very own iMazing. This optional scan was created to scan devices to provide evidence of spyware. Installing it on devices is simple and comes with a guided process that takes about 30 minutes. iMazing will scan each app on the device and check for malicious content, creating a detailed report that users can access to find out whether or not they have items on their device that require attention.

How can it affect security?

Spyware is different from other types of attacks in that it turns the cell phone into a surveillance device. The longer that spyware is left on a device, the more information it can gather and the more harm it can potentially cause. A few of the most common security implications due to Pegasus software include copying and sending private messages, recording phone calls, and collecting photos both taken on the device and received from messages and apps.

Pegasus can even gain access to users’ microphones and cameras, spying on users without their knowledge. Because of this powerful ability, users with Pegasus spyware installed on their device could have someone monitoring their phone calls and starting the device’s camera without their knowledge, falling victim to severe implications if any wrongdoing is suspected.

For most smartphone users, access to such information will not be lead to criminal action, though it could cause issues with loved ones or professionally. However, because Pegasus targets criminals, world leaders, and other important figures across the globe, some captured information could lead to further investigations.

Apart from the ability to monitor those who might cause harm, Pegasus spyware could create danger if the information is passed into the wrong hands. National and international security could be in harm’s way, and other sensitive details could result in increased criminal activity. Companies too could face implications if collected information falls into the wrong hands, with others able to predict their next move.

Because of these serious security implications that companies are taking action, including global giants like Amazon. They, like others, are making moves to restrict and even shut down services linked to Pegasus spyware. Though companies are taking action on their own, cybersecurity experts are closely monitoring for increased malicious activity and attempting to stop further infections of Pegasus spyware until proper regulations can be put in place.

Can Pegasus Spyware be removed from a device?

Because this spyware is new, sophisticated, and not very well understood, there is not currently a removal solution. These zero-day vulnerabilities created with help from knowledgeable cybercriminals are very difficult to patch until developers find a solution to mitigate them. Even though it’s not removable at the moment, there are some ways that those who are at risk for Pegasus spyware (and any other spyware) can protect themselves.

One of the most effective defenses is active and frequent monitoring of devices, including regular scans to detect suspicious activity. The more active users are running scans and monitoring all activity, the better they will be at detecting spyware and stopping it before it can infect devices and escape without being noticed. In addition to a plan to scan and monitor, users can take other precautions, a few of which we’ll mention below.

Securing your Device

Since smartphones are targeted by Pegasus spyware, users should first secure their devices. There are several ways that users can do this, including keeping their devices updated with the latest version, updating all apps when necessary, and getting on a monitoring and scanning schedule.

Frequent monitoring is recommended, with regular users running scans at least once a week. This should ensure that there is no new suspicious activity or installations that could indicate a security breach.

Securing your Data

In addition to protecting devices, it is recommended that companies protect their data. Data is one of the most valuable targets online, with data breaches reaching all-time highs in 2020 and expected to continue to increase in 2021 and 2022. Smartphone users are encouraged to protect their data by managing their permissions in all apps (especially those with access to sensitive details) and ensuring that all passwords are up to date and secure.

Mobile phones often ask for permissions to access apps and other connected devices, which could lead to an additional vulnerability. If there is sensitive information on any device connected to a smartphone, users are encouraged to avoid permitting access to prevent further complications and risks.

Securing your Network

It’s not just about securing mobile devices but also the network to which they are connected. In 2021, most areas feature free wi-fi, though users don’t always consider risks. Public network attacks are on the rise as more and more smartphone users demand access to wi-fi on the go.

There are several ways users can protect themselves and their network, including utilizing advanced security suits that protect each layer. Frequent monitoring of networks and scanning for unknown connections and devices is one place to start, helping users identify understand if something needs their attention.

It’s not just necessary to protect from known attacks but also to have the capability to protect and prevent zero-day attacks too. These days, users are encouraged to use antivirus and other security tools that can help isolate and patch attacks with help from automation.

Pegasus spyware protection

Because Pegasus spyware is linked to two apps, it’s recommended that users take steps to disable each of them if possible. The two most common attacks have been with WhatsApp and iMessage, both of which can be disabled by users.

Pegasus is different than other spyware and can infect systems without user interaction, so at this time, there is not a specific fix. For now, it’s recommended to keep internet access secure, limit others’ access to devices, get on a scanning schedule to check for vulnerabilities, stay up to date on the latest iPhone and Android news, and update when necessary to prevent access.

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The 12 Days of Cybersecurity Christmas

Giving you the Gift of Cybersecurity Awareness this Christmas

The holidays are upon us; let’s celebrate the 12 Days of Cybersecurity Christmas! Christmas is a time for joy, celebration, reunions with loved ones, and giving. Though this time of year is meant to be enjoyed and as stress-free as possible, it’s important to remember that not everyone uses this time to rest and relax. In fact, studies show that cybersecurity risks actually increase during the holidays every year.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warns that cybersecurity risks like ransomware and malware increase on weekends and during holidays. They state that cybercriminals have specifically been initiating attacks on weekends and holidays when offices are closed and peoples’ guards seem to be let down. While ransomware may not always be the risk you face, there are plenty of other cybersecurity threats to be aware of while you’re online this holiday season.

That’s why we’re implementing the 12 Days of Cybersecurity Christmas, starting on Monday, December 20^th and ending on December 31^st! Our goal is to offer reminders and tips to help you stay protected during the holidays so that you can enjoy them with peace of mind, knowing you are safe from the threats of the internet. Keep reading for a free PDF download of 12 Days of Cybersecurity Christmas Tips and to learn how to improve your cyber protection this year and beyond.

Why Do Cybersecurity Threats Increase During the Holidays?

Before we get started, let’s talk about why cyber threats increase. The only reason isn’t that offices are closed and people take time off, though that’s a pretty big deal when it comes to taking on widespread issues. The fact is that people’s online activities become a bit more vulnerable. There’s an increase in behaviors that could lead to cybersecurity threats getting through your layers of protection.

Here’s a list of things that make cybercriminals excited about the holidays:

Higher online shopping traffic: People enter their card information left and right, trying to get gifts purchased. Not only that, but they’re looking to get the best deals and shopping on websites they don’t usually use.
Remote work increases: For most people, working from home for the holidays is a great way to stay close to the family. However, it also increases opportunities for work information to be intercepted and used against the person or the company.
Travel increases: When people travel, they flock to public locations with free WiFi. These public networks are great until a cyber-criminal observes them.

What Risks Do I Need to Be Worried About the Most?

There are two major issues that you should be worried about when you’re going about your digital lives this holiday season. These two cybersecurity issues are phishing attacks and data breaches.

Phishing, a take on the word “fishing”, is the act of a cybercriminal ‘casting out bait’ to try and get information from you. It’s a form of social engineering, and it can be very effective. Phishing comes in the form of emails, texts, and even phone calls! They’re pretty crafty too, using believable and human-sounding techniques to capture your attention and draw you in.

Data breaches involve any form of your data being taken unwillingly. For an individual, data breaches really focus on banking information or personal information. Both of these things can be used in a way that impacts your finances, but can really impact any part of your life. Data breaches can happen from a number of sources, both online and in the real world.

So how do you prevent attacks like these from happening? Surely you can’t expect online shopping to cease or the use of public internet to be reduced. Well, we’re glad you asked!

The 12 Days of Cybersecurity Christmas

This holiday season, we’re introducing the 12 Days of Cybersecurity Christmas. We want you to be as safe as possible during the holiday season, which includes your digital safety as well. Each of the 12 days provides you and your loved ones another tip to help keep you safe this year. Check them out below!

Day 1: Improve Your Passwords

Many people make the simple mistake of using the same password across the board. This can be fatal when it comes to cyber-attacks and means that after a cybercriminal obtains your password and email address, they’ll have access to just about every other account you have, too.

Passwords need to be varied from site to site. Never use the same password twice and consider making passwords entirely different from one another. There are a number of programs that can help you create sophisticated passwords, as well as store them for you, such as 1Password, Dashlane, and OneLogin. This is normally a big help when it comes to password improvement.

Day 2: Be Cautious of Links

The holidays are a time where you’re expected to communicate with old friends and new ones! It’s a time where people check in on each other and send attachments to one another. When you’re talking with anyone online, you should always be cautious of links.

Unknown links are a form of a phishing attack. These links often lead you to a place to provide some information, like a username and password. Before you click on any links this holiday season, verify that you know the person sending them. You don’t want your personal information being taken because you opened an attachment or clicked on a link unknowingly.

Day 3: Sparingly Use Debit Cards Online

Holiday shopping is in full force. There are many gifts to buy, and it’s likely that you’ll be sourcing some of them online. When you’re doing your online shopping, try to avoid using your debit card.

Debit cards are linked directly to your bank account.

When a cybercriminal gets access to your debit card information, they’re getting access to your money. This can create a number of issues. Many times, they’ll use the same information to do their online shopping, too. Consider using a credit card or a payment service like PayPal. These aren’t directly linked to an account, making stealing your payment information a bit more difficult.

Day 4: Don’t Save Your Payment Information

It’s a lot more convenient to have your payment information saved when you’re doing a lot of online shopping. Constantly having to pull your card out to enter digits can be a slow process, and that gets frustrating. Many websites and mobile operating systems will let you save your payment information, though. Great, right? Not really.

When you save payment information, you make that information vulnerable to data breaches. This can be a breach that occurs on the company’s side or with your personal device. If your payment information is saved, the criminal performing the breach now has all of your payment information. Say goodbye to your money, and goodbye to gift-giving! Never save payment information, regardless of how convenient it is.

Day 5: Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

When you’re trying to stay safe online, it’s vital that you enable multi-factor authentication, which is the act of adding a second layer of protection to your online accounts. Even with a username and password, cybercriminals can’t access information without the second (and possibly third) form of authentication.

In fact, MFA is effective in blocking 99% of phishing attacks. It’s easy to set up, and normally the second authentication step only takes a moment of your time. Totally worth it when you’re trying to stay safe.

Day 6: Keep Your Software Updated

The majority of the software that you’re using on your phone, tablet, and computer is going to prompt you to update it every so often. While this seems like an inconvenience, especially when you want to use that software, it’s crucial in staying safe. Most software updates are adding critical security measures to the program itself, helping to keep you safe. Don’t give hackers the opportunity by using out-of-date systems.

Day 7: Use a VPN

The holidays normally involve a lot of traveling. With many people working from home due to the events of the last two years, many people are taking their work with them, too. With that, they bring their work data. Often, travel means using public WiFi networks. The best way to stay secure on a public network is by using a VPN.

A VPN, or virtual private network, protects your IP address, which is required for many cyber attacks. It also encrypts all of your online activity. This helps to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks, where information is altered between sender and recipient. Getting a VPN can keep you safe during your holiday travels.

Day 8: Install Antivirus Software

As you’re perusing the internet, your computer will come into contact with a number of different websites. It’s possible to encounter threats on these websites, and a good all-around form of protection is antivirus software. Antivirus software is no longer just about viruses, though.

These are now comprehensive programs that keep you protected from a number of different online threats. This includes viruses, of course, but it can also protect you from malware, spyware, phishing attacks, and more. While antivirus software isn’t the last line of defense, it is a great start, and you should be using it if you aren’t already. If you have antivirus software installed, make sure it’s up to date. Otherwise, you’re not fully protected.

Day 9: Avoid Unknown and Unsecure Sites

When you’re in a rush to get the best gift for someone you love, you may encounter websites that are unfamiliar to you. Sometimes these websites are completely legitimate. Other times, however, they’re a threat to you and your cybersecurity.

There are websites that carry what is known as drive-by download attacks. A drive-by download occurs as you enter the site. The visitation of the website triggers malicious code to be downloaded to your device. This code can be used for any number of malicious actions, including theft of personal information, injection of banking Trojans, and introduction of exploit kits. Stick to the well-established sites that you know to help avoid these problems. If using Google Chrome, you can also see if your site is secure by looking for the lock icon on the address bar of your site. Usually, Chrome will reveal a popup that states the web page is not secure, so you should avoid inputting any sensitive information onto that site.

Day 10: Avoid Unknown or Unnecessary Downloads

When you visit a website that asks you to download something to use it, it is possible that the software being downloaded is a cyber attack. Cybercriminals design downloadable software or browser extensions that collect and steal your data as you use your computer. It can lead to a number of other types of attacks, as well.

If you believe you’ve found a safe download, try to avoid installing any add-ons or extras with it until you know they’re safe, too. Keeping an eye on things is always the best tactic.

Day 11: Be Careful on Social Media

As one of the last tips we’ll provide on this article (check out our other posts for more!), we want you to exercise care in your social media profiles. Social media can be used against users more often than you’d think, and it’s able to be done using the simplest of posts. Any time you post something on a social media account, you’re allowing outsiders to take a glimpse into your life. Through detective work and social engineering, cybercriminals can quickly get quite a bit of information about you.

When you’re posting this holiday season, ask yourself, “Would I share this with a stranger?” If the answer is no, reconsider sharing it online. Of course, you can always increase the privacy of your profile, making it harder to obtain the information you share.

Day 12: Stay Educated and Use Caution

On our 12th and final Day of Cybersecurity Christmas, we encourage you to stay educated and use caution. Always stay on top of cybersecurity trends and learn the basics of staying safe online. Being cautious while on the internet is key in your cybersecurity. Often, people are criticized for maintaining a level of paranoia. However, it’s important to realize that with the internet, a bit of paranoia is warranted. The online landscape has grown to something limitless. With that amount of access, caution should always be exercised. It’s especially important that you exercise this caution during the holidays when malicious online activity is rising.

We’ve put together a free PDF of these 12 tips that you can reference later or share with friends, family, and colleagues. Download it below!

Download Free 12 Days of Cybersecurity Christmas PDF

And with that, we wrap our 12 Days of Cybersecurity Christmas! We hope that you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday and that our tips have helped you to remain safe this holiday season. As always, stay up to date on all things cybersecurity, and maintain vigilance with your digital safety.

Are you concerned about the cybersecurity of your business? Edge Networks can help! Take our free, self-guided IT Security Risk Assessment, or contact us today for a free, 30-minute consultation. Happy holidays!

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A Beginners Guide to Penetration Testing

How Penetration Testing can Improve your Company’s Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is becoming more and more critical in our modern world. According to techjury.net, 64% of companies worldwide have experienced cyber-attacks in some form. Most organizations are vulnerable to internet terrorists, but many are not aware of this vulnerability. Testing a company’s security systems is critical. This is where penetration testing, or ethical hacking”, comes in.

Many different benefits and types of “pen tests” exist. Each serves to improve security within a company and provide new confidence, no matter how big or small your system may be. A secure network is the best network for your team to work with daily.

Luckily, Edge Networks is here to help. By performing a penetration test, we would be able to improve your organizations cybersecurity posture by performing real attacks to simulate what a real attacker could do in your system. By doing this, Edge Networks can assess the risk of a potential security breach in your company, and give you the tools to resolve these risks before it’s too late.

What Is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing, also known as ethical hacking, is a technique that uses the simulated launch of cyberattacks on a system to seek out weaknesses. Its purpose is to target issues with the system so that better security can go into the system. There are also a few other things a pen test does.

For a system, a penetration test can also:

Test the variety of security, posing it with varying challenges and angles of attack
Check compliance of your system with regulations from organizations like HIPAA
Examine reactions to security threats within the company

All are valuable to a system and can save a lot of trouble as cybercrime continues to increase.

Pen testing is an organized attack that can reveal vulnerabilities that are difficult to see any other way. There are a lot of benefits you will find if you decide to utilize a penetration test on your organization’s security system.

What Are the Benefits of Penetration Testing?

Several benefits come with utilizing penetration testing within a system. Before investing in a penetration test, it’s vital to know what it will do. There are many aspects of penetration testing, and it’s critical to know about each one.

Some of the best benefits include:

Revealing of vulnerabilities
Hacker prevention, even as technology improves
Improved environment for the company and security system
Data protection, even in the worst attacks
Assisted security obligations

These are all excellent for the future of your system, helping to improve it and make it more secure to protect the vital data sealed within the computer.

Below, we’ll dive a little further into each of these benefits so that you can better understand what they bring to the table in terms of security improvement. Keep learning to understand what a pen test can provide for your organization. Each one will add to the confidence you have in the system that protects your company.

Penetration Testing Reveals Vulnerabilities

Penetration testing reveals vulnerabilities that exist within the system through careful poking and prodding by a trained expert. It exposes weak spots that thrive both inside and outside the system, allowing your team to figure out how to better your security system. Pen-testing is one of the most thorough things you can do to improve cybersecurity.

Without penetration testing, it can be hard to see where you’re lacking in terms of defense. Pen-testing can help you tremendously in narrowing down what’s wrong with your system. It can also prompt a discussion on what can be done about the threats you face.

Penetration Testing Prevents Hackers

Essentially, penetration testing is like simulating your security system. You get to see how your defense measures stack up against a threat that breaches your walls. As mentioned above, penetration testing reveals weaknesses and holes that cover your system both inside and out. You can prevent hackers with this information by covering these up.

There is nothing more beneficial than running a simulation. You get to see your IT infrastructure in action without having to worry about an actual cyber security threat. By watching how your infrastructure handles the prodding of the pen-testing, you can move forward in your mission to keep hackers out of your critical system.

Penetration Testing Improves the Environment

With improved security comes increased confidence. Once you’ve fixed your security threats with the help of penetration testing, you can feel satisfied with the defensive measures you have created for your company. Confidence leads to an overall better space to work in, no matter which field of work you occupy.

On top of improving your environment, you will also mature the overall environment of your security system. In a time where everything is growing and adapting at seemingly the speed of light, you want something that is up to date with all that is going on in the world. A penetration test can assist with that and make it happen.

It Protects Data

The biggest problem with cyber security threats is the exposure of sensitive data. As a company, infiltrating and stealing data is one of the worst things that could happen. Not only is it dangerous for your company and customers, but it can be a costly issue to deal with on your time. One hack can set you back months in spending and work.

A penetration test can help you better prepare to keep your data safe. Once you know your problems and have taken care of each of them, as discussed above, you can feel more assured that the crucial information within your system is safe. Safe data means a safe company, and it also means you can feel more secure in what you do every day as a company.

It Assists Security Obligations

Finally, a penetration test can assist your company by helping it to comply with standards set in place. Often, it can be tricky to keep up with the rules and regulations of a system. A penetration test can reveal where you’re lacking and give you a nudge in the right direction.

Getting a penetration test done reveals the strength of your company’s system and your willingness to improve it for the sake of your consumers. It can help you steer clear of the fines you could be charged with if your security measures do not meet the strict standards required by companies like PCI, HIPAA, and FISMA.

What Types of Pen-Testing Are There?

When you’re looking into penetration testing, you might notice several different types within the overarching penetration testing label. It’s vital to understand some of the main types so you can pick one that will work best for the system your organization utilizes the most. This knowledge will give you a jump-start on creating the safest system possible.

According to tutorialspoint.com, there are three types of pen-testing on the market. These include:

Black-box testing: Black-box testing is most often the least expensive of the three. The tester doesn’t know what kind of system they’re dealing with. The hacker is only out to find information.
White-box testing: While-box is a little more thorough, as the tester receives more information before going into the test. It’s a complete simulation of a cyber security threat.
Grey-box testing: Grey-box is right in the middle of these two. The hacker gets some information about the system, but not all. This represents an external hack as opposed to an internal one.

Each of these serves a different purpose in a computer system and comes at a varying price point. It’s up to you to determine which you think will benefit your system and which price point is the most practical for what you need to do.

Now that you know about the different types of penetration testing, you can narrow down which one you think your company needs the most. Read more about each one before deciding which will work best for your particular situation, as each one examines a different reaction point within your system.

Who Benefits from Pen-Testing?

Anyone can benefit from pen-testing, but those who benefit the most rely on their organization’s system for everything they do. Without access to technology, they would be shut down. Penetration testing is critical at locations that run off of an internal system, as one threat could destroy the entire system.

According to alpinesecurity.com, three of the industries that benefit most from penetration testing include:

Healthcare: This group includes hospitals and doctor’s offices.
Service Providers: This group includes those that provide services such as the internet to users.
Banking: This group includes banks and the systems within them, as data is critical and confidential. Protection is crucial, and standards must be kept up.

Though many companies may benefit from penetration testing, these three will in particular, due to the intricacies of their network.

Penetration testing is often required in these industries, and even if it’s not, it’s something that should be completed routinely. A pen test can prevent severe and expensive damage caused by cyber security threats. As time goes on, cyber security costs will only go up as technology advances.

What is the Difference Between Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Scanning?

Vulnerability scanning is another pair of words that describe an action used to check for vulnerabilities within a system. They may sound like they’re the same, but several differences come between these two items.

The items that set penetration testing and vulnerability scanning apart include:

Automation: A penetration test is conducted by a real person, while a vulnerability test is an automated scan by a machine.
Scanning versus looking: A vulnerability scan scans for weaknesses, while a penetration test probes and tests the system in action.
False positives: Since a vulnerability scan is automated, it’s more likely to surface false positives than a penetration test is in a run-through.

These aren’t drastically different, but they’re just enough to distinguish the two from each other in the world of online security.

If you want to be extra safe, you can invest in a vulnerability scan and a penetration test. One will search for vulnerabilities, while the other will probe your system and test for weaknesses within your defense. They vary in price depending on the intensity of the service given.

Why is Penetration Testing Important?

It might seem like penetration testing is an optional examination for a system, more like a check-up than a requirement. However, while it’s true that you don’t have to get a penetration test, doing so will be a huge benefit to your cybersecurity system. There are a few reasons why it’s so vital to get your system checked on as much as you can.

Penetration testing is critical for any system because:

It determines weaknesses: Pen-testing finds weaknesses within the system’s defense and helps companies work out ways to fix them.
It raises confidence: With a stronger security system comes confidence as a team. You know you are better equipped to face the ongoing technological threats in the online world, both internally and externally.
It ensures effectiveness: Penetration testing also tests the effectiveness of systems in place, revealing if they’re working or a waste of money.

All of these will keep your organization up and running, even amidst the worst attack. Penetration testing is one of the most critical things you can do to ensure your security is up to the standards it should be for your company.

According to legaljobs .io, only 5% of company folders are adequately protected from an outsider threatening the system’s security. If you’ve never gotten a penetration test for your organization, it’s never too late to experience one for the first time. Reach out to see how much one will cost for your company or system.

Conclusion

If you feel your organization’s computer system could benefit from a security test, a pen test is one of the best ways to go. This controlled method sends in “white-hat” workers who poke and prod at what you have in place until any vulnerabilities appear to them. You have an actual person helping you.

Penetration tests do a lot of good. They reveal weaknesses, test policies in place, and protect data, among other things. There are many different types of ethical hacking, so you can select a test that works best for the system you have. In a world where cybercrime is rising, testing your system for vulnerabilities is more critical than ever.

Are looking into getting a penetration test to improve the security of your company? Edge Networks can help! Schedule a call with us or take our free, self-guided IT Security Risk Assessment.

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