Lack of IT security is not just an IT problem, it’s a business problem. Here’s what can happen without IT security – the phases of an attack.
Without IT security – sitting target
Hackers are so prolific, constantly adapting their means of attack, and security breaches so common, for all sizes of business, that for businesses that don’t take care of their IT security, they are simple sitting targets, waiting for the inevitable to happen.
Risking inability to trade
Many small to medium sized businesses simply have to stop trading following a security breach. There’s no doubt the risks are high and up to as many as 60% of those suffering a breach do not have the means afterwards to go back to trading as they were.
Every second a computer is targeted. Without measures in place, your business’s could be next.
Hackers enjoy target-rich environment
Anywhere money is exchanged online, or data is stored, is a target for hackers. The threat is as real for businesses as it is for those of us who conduct personal and financial business on the internet.
The extra advantage in the hackers favour however is the fact that many businesses and people are indifferent to the threat, or unaware of how great the threat is. Doing the minimum with IT security, or not bothering with it at all, is the result of this indifference, and the reason why so many attacks occur and are successful.
Untrained staff ‘open door’ for hackers
Potentially, businesses that do put IT security measures in place and may even have these processes and updates attended to by their inhouse or outsourced IT providers, but fail to train staff in cybersecurity.
This leaves them vulnerable to the prevalence of cyberattacks in the form of malicious emails, messages and websites.
It can’t be overstated how crucial staff training is in being alert to, and spotting, a fake message or email. Posing as a regular supplier, it can be easy to fall victim to a fake invoice, or request for bank details.
For example, if bank details for supplier change, do you have a security policy in place for ensuring the change is genuine? It’s too late once the money has gone. And if there is insurance in place, the chances are the premium will rise.
Insurance doesn’t protect reputation
Don’t leave your reaction to cyberattack until its too late. So often we see reactions after the event but being proactively prepared as the most effective approach and defence.
What a cyberattack looks like – the phases of a cyberattack
Planning
The cybercriminal will use research and intelligence to plan their attack. They’ll use social media sites, such as Facebook and LinkedIn to gather information relevant to their target, or gather emails sent from within an organisation. They will study information on certain networks, the security present and that within an organisation’s applications and website coding.
Intrusion
The intrusion occurs when the attacker has succeeded in ‘breaking in’. Potentially, this is because the business’s network is insecure, or credentials have been gained through a staff error or inability to spot a fake, malicious message / request / download.
Exploitation
Having gained a foothold, the attacker will at this stage be focusing on exploiting as much as possible from their position and digging into the system.
Installation
This stage is about establishing the means for the compromise to take place, potentially with other adversaries on the outside by establishing connection pathways that businesses are advised to monitor.
Execution
This is the stage when the attack is carried out; when the attacker and adversaries are effectively in control of the system and can lift the personal information or data they want or control the system they had as their target.
Follow-up actions
If it was the attacker’s intent to have a follow-up action, for example, hold ransom, deface a platform or launch public communications, this is when it would happen.
Cybersecurity is never finished
It’s not an option now for businesses not to attend to their cybersecurity measures – it’s a serious obligation. From the biggest corporations to small businesses, any breach is a glimpse into how you run your operation.
Security and the trust of your customers go hand in hand.
Speak to our IT security experts today to get your plan for a more secure, safe business in place.
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