Computer Security: Do You Know Your SMB's Cyber Vulnerabilities?
Summary: This 3-minute article explores the importance of having comprehensive and current cyber security in place before a catastrophic event. Find the holes in your SMB’s cyber security. Contact DIGIGUARD CYBER SECURITY at 833-33-CYBER (833-332-9237) or visit www.DIGIGUARDsecurity.com to schedule a cyber risk analysis and discuss the best cyber threat protection possible for your SMB before disaster strikes.
Most small to mid-sized businesses are forever tied to their company’s computer systems and, by extension, the internet. Following the pandemic, the rise in remote-access work made all businesses more vulnerable to cybercrime, natural disasters and crippling downtime. As a result, companies scrambled to create a new remote-access environment for their operations. Since then, protecting against catastrophic events has become more complicated than ever. However, many SMBs did not have the time, budget or expertise to fully address the new cyber security considerations that come along with remote-access work. Cyberattacks have gone up over 400% over the last three years and the most common cyberattacks can bring a business’s operations to a grinding halt.
Unfortunately, cyber crimes have become commonplace in our business and personal lives. Perhaps your SMB has robust cyber security in place and your employees carefully follow cyber security best practices. You think you’ve done everything you can to protect your hard-earned data. Many large companies have been lulled into the same false sense of security, only to suffer massive data breaches. Hackers are always looking for “holes” in your cyber defenses. Here are some of the most common holes:
- Privilege Escalation – It is part of everyday corporate life for companies to grant specific computer system access privileges to new employees as required and appropriate for doing their particular jobs. However, companies do not always remove or adjust previously granted access privileges as employees are promoted or moved to another department. As a result, the more “old” access credentials left from a previous position, the greater the cyber vulnerability becomes. The good news is that most entry-level or frontline employees are unlikely to have the access credentials required to install malware. However, if the more the privileges are escalated, the more potential access points for cybercriminals. The simple fix is only granting employees access as required to do their jobs. But it is vital to remove previous privileges if they do not apply to the person’s work.
- Cyberattacks From Lateral Movement – Hackers look for entry points to your system. When they find one, even if it does yet allow them access to critical data, it is a starting point from which they can do inside reconnaissance, looking for a door to the most valuable company data. Also, some businesses give Administrative credentials for a specific part of their network while automatically giving access to another restricted portion of the network. Cross-network, automatic access is always dangerous. If a cyberthief gets access to one entry point, they will automatically get access to the second. This “bad practice” represents another hole in cyber security through which hackers can gain further access to your system and laterally move across your platform until they gain access to critical business data.
- Air Gapping – Air Gapping is when no direct connection exists between different parts of a network. An IT expert can install the required software and ensure that it is configured correctly and proper security is in place.
- Outdated Incidence Response Plan – Cyber security is constantly changing. If you created an Incident Response Plan three years ago, it is probably obsolete and your data could be at risk. Cyber protection must be proactive and repeatedly tested to ensure it is locked down. As cyberattack strategies change, response plans must also change so that everyone knows what actions to take and when in the event of a data breach. Cyber security best practices alone are not enough. Once an event occurs, decisive action must be taken promptly, such as notifying appropriate parties, shutting down the system and launching contingencies to become fully operational as quickly as possible.
Get a DIGIGUARD Cyber Risk Analysis
As your business grows, expands its network and adds more devices such as smart controls, wireless access and remote access, your network vulnerability grows, too. DIGIGUARD specializes in proactive cyber security and network security and has a wide array of solutions for small and midsized businesses to defend against cyberattacks and other network data breaches. They are cyber security experts who can ensure your confidential business and financial data has the best protection possible. Furthermore, they can help establish cyber security best practices and train your employees so they do not inadvertently open your company to a cyberattack. That training will work in tandem with your Incident Response Plan so that everyone knows exactly what to do in the event of a cyberattack. DIGIGUARD’s services in cyber security are up to the minute and cost-effective. They will enable SMB owners to concentrate on operating their businesses without fear of a data breach crippling their operations.
Cyber Threat Protection
In addition to helping you defend against or recover from cybercrimes, DIGIGUARD can provide robust solutions that offer early detection of potential cyber threats before they happen. Furthermore, DIGIGUARD can assess your cyber vulnerability and work with you to ensure you have the best network and data protection solutions for your business and help you and your employees be prepared in the event of a cyberattack.
Contact DIGIGUARD CYBER SECURITY at 833-33-CYBER (833-332-9237) www.DIGIGUARDsecurity.com to discuss the Business Continuity plans, Disaster Recovery Plans and other cyber defense protocols to protect your SMB’s business data and stay current as new and more powerful protections are developed to thwart cyberattacks.