As a business owner, you know that protecting your data is essential. Unfortunately, many businesses don’t take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from cyberattacks. It’s the beginning of the holidays, and hackers like to take advantage of that. Don’t let cybercriminals trick you; be aware of Black Friday scams to protect yourself and your business. This blog post will discuss five cybersecurity tips for businesses to stay protected from the most common cyberattacks.
What is a cyberattack, and what are its consequences?
A cyberattack is a type of security breach that uses computer code or other electronic means to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer, server, website, or application. Cyberattacks can result in the loss of sensitive data, financial loss, and damage to your reputation.
Cyberattacks have increased significantly in the past year, with businesses facing 925 attacks per week on average. In 2021 cyberattacks increased by around 50% compared to previous years, and it´s expected to keep increasing during 2022.
Every day, around 30,000 websites are hacked on average. And every 39 seconds, a company somewhere is experiencing some form of cyberattack. Even more alarmingly, global research indicates that more than 60% of organizations have experienced at least one type of cyberattack.
The most common cyberattacks
There are different types of cyberattacks. The most common threats for businesses are:
Phishing is a type of cyberattack that uses email or text messages to trick you into clicking on a malicious link or attachment. This can lead to the installation of malware on your device or the theft of sensitive information such as login credentials.
Malware is a kind of malicious software that is meant to damage or render computers unusable. Malware can be installed on your computer without your knowledge and can be used to steal sensitive data, track your online activity, or even take control of your device.
Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks:
A denial-of-service attack is an attempt to make a website or application unavailable by overwhelming it with traffic from multiple sources. DoS attacks are often used to target online banking, e-commerce, and other mission-critical websites.
SQL injection attacks:
SQL injection is a type of cyberattack that takes advantage of vulnerabilities in web applications to inject malicious code into the database. This can allow attackers to access sensitive information such as customer data, financial records, etc.
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your files and demands a ransom to decrypt them. Ransomware attacks can result in the loss of important data, and in some cases, the attackers may even threaten to delete your data if you don’t pay the ransom.
Preventing these kinds of cyberattacks should be a top priority for any business. Here are five cybersecurity tips to help you stay protected:
How to stay protected against cyberattacks
There are many steps businesses can take to protect themselves from cyberattacks. By preventing, you can avoid the costly consequences of a successful attack.
Here are five cybersecurity tips for businesses to stay protected:
1. Keep your software up to date:
One of the most important things you can do to protect your business from cyberattacks is to keep your software up to date. Out-of-date software is one of the most frequent ways in which hackers obtained access to systems. By ensuring that all your software is up to date, you can close any vulnerabilities that attackers might exploit.
A useful tip to keep your software updated is to set your computer systems to update automatically. This way, you´ll always have the latest security patches installed and can avoid any potential cyberattacks.
2. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication:
Using strong passwords and two-factor authentication is an effective way to protect your accounts from being hacked. To further protect your passwords, consider using a password manager. Password managers generate strong passwords and can even help you keep track of all your login credentials in one place.
Two-factor authentication is an additional layer of security that requires you to enter a code from your mobile phone when logging into an account and can also be used for other accounts such as email, social media, and online banking. Many websites offer two-factor authentication as an option, so be sure to enable it if available.
3. Educate your employees about cybersecurity:
Employees should be aware of the dangers of clicking on malicious links and attachments, as well as the importance of keeping their passwords safe. Consider holding regular training sessions or sending out monthly newsletters with tips on how to stay safe online.
4. Back up your data:
Backing up your data is important in case of a ransomware attack or any other type of cyberattack that results in data loss. By backing up your data, you can ensure that you have a copy of all your important files and can easily restore them if needed.
There are many different ways to back up your data, so be sure to choose the option that best suits your needs. You could, for example, use an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or cloud storage service.
5. Use a browser protection tool:
Browser protection tools can help to protect your business from cyberattacks by blocking malicious websites and providing safe browsing options. Many different browser protection tools are available, so be sure to choose one that best suits your needs.
By following these five tips, you can help to protect your business from cyberattacks. However, it’s important to remember that no security measure is 100% effective and that you should always be prepared for the possibility of a successful attack.