Are You at Risk of a Cybercrime Attack?
When you think of a cybercriminal, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? It might be the quintessential idea of a guy in a ski mask, rubbing his hands in anticipation at getting some of your hard-earned money.
However, the truth is neither as simple nor as cheesy as you might think.
Cybercriminals have varying levels of skill and knowledge. It’s easy to run into a “script kiddie” – someone who executes pre-existing lines of malicious code for personal gain.
Amateur cybercriminals can easily access these pre-written scripts to wreak havoc on your IT infrastructure.
More skilled cybercriminals will go much further than pre-planned scripts. They’ll employ multiple methods, such as brute forcing their way in or using custom viruses, to try to crack your systems wide open.
Who Do Cybercriminals Target?
The most common misconception we hear from people is that cyber criminals only target large companies. While the large companies make the news more often, it’s not at all the case.
50% of small and midsized organizations reported suffering at least one cyberattack in the last 12 months. In the mind of a cybercriminal, it makes total sense. Why bother attacking a large corporation with ample network security defenses and redundant data, when they could just attack small organizations instead?
It’s important to remember that cybercriminals aren’t always looking for a quick cash-grab. They look to secure anything they can get their hands on – such as employee information, passwords, and insider data.
The Consequences of a Cyberattack
Information can be useful to cybercriminals as a bargaining chip for holding your data hostage. In the end, it’s not really profitable to go after bigger corporations. Small organizations are easier targets because they simply don’t realize (or care) that they’re at risk.
60% of small companies go out of business within six months of a cyberattack. These attacks are extremely expensive to recover from. To get an idea of their actual price, you must factor in recovery costs, downtime costs, business lost due to reputational damage, and even ransom costs.
Once again, small and medium-sized organizations of all industries are key targets to cybercriminals. They often don’t have the resources they need to fight back, leaving them vulnerable and unable to defend themselves.
How to Defend Your Organization Against Cybercrime
So are you at risk of a cyberattack? The answer is most definitely a yes.
If you still aren’t sure, ask yourself the following questions:
Do you know what data of yours is most at risk for theft? Can the stolen data be used against you, such as to impersonate others and cause financial harm through ransom?
Some modern variants of malware are capable of hijacking and monitoring your systems. What’s stopping someone from accessing into your systems remotely?
What measures do you have in place for your overall security, and what do they do to help keep your organization’s data safe?
If you can’t answer those questions, you might not be protected enough to stop the attack. However, all hope is not lost. Here are a few steps you can take to protecting yourself from the abundant online threats.
Keep Your Software Current
There’s lots of room for malicious code to slip into your infrastructure through non-updated hardware. By keeping your devices (such as your firewalls, servers and operating systems) up-to-date and fully patched, you stand a much better chance of fending off cybercriminals.
Implement Proper Security Software
Antivirus and is now more critical than ever before. It’s not just about detecting threats after they’ve already entered your systems – it’s about using to detect and deny threats before they infect your organization.
Keep Your Employees Informed
It’s difficult to keep your systems secure without the help of your team. You can have the most advanced firewall and antivirus software in the world, but if an employee lets a virus in willingly, it’s still game over for your organization. Keeping them in the loop on how to spot the latest threats has proven to be a very effective way to reduce the chances of a successful cyberattack.
Partner with Varsity for Help
There are many more things to consider for your overall security. To ensure that you’re getting the most comprehensive level of security possible, your organization should partner with professionals that have experience defending and detecting security threats.
That’s where we come in. We assess your organization’s security infrastructure and pinpoint exactly where it needs the most help. Doing so will help keep you compliant, keep you safe from cyberattacks, and give your organization the peace of mind it deserves.
There’s also no one-size-fits-all policy. We’ll work within your budget to create custom solutions that meet your needs without breaking the bank.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help you, reach out to us. Feel free to ask any questions ranging from additional information to next steps in partnering with us.