4 Top Information Security Risks You Need to Tackle
There’s been no let-up in the onslaught of cyber attacks. The year so far has included attacks on candidates for the presidency of France, Gmail, CNN, and a worldwide ransomware attack with victims including Britain’s National Health Service. It’s crucially important that companies take the necessary steps to protect them from the top threats to their networks and data:
1. Insiders
Your employees are one of the biggest vulnerabilities you face. Besides deliberate acts of intellectual property theft and fraud, employees make accidental errors that expose data, like including social security numbers and account numbers in email, uploading files to insecure cloud sites, and falling for phishing and other social engineering attempts—one report claims that 91 percent of hacking attacks begin with phishing. With as many as 93 percent of phishing emails including ransomware, your employee’s wrong click could cripple your business.
2. Lack of cybersecurity expertise
Without a strong computer security team, your business may not be taking full advantage of the technology available to protect you. It’s common for systems to be made vulnerable through incorrect configurations that weaken security. While most companies know to deploy antivirus software, it’s also important that your team doesn’t fall behind on applying patches, leaving systems vulnerable to known malware threats. Without effective user admin and strong user authentication, going beyond password policies to include multifactor authentication, systems lack protection.
3. Uncontrolled internet of things (IoT) devices
The proliferation of smart devices in business settings is both deliberate and accidental, and includes devices as obvious as connected manufacturing equipment and as invisible as a smart light bulb. All of these IoT devices create security risks due to small chips with limited ability to apply security controls and use of insecure communications protocols. Vulnerabilities in these devices’ firmware are rarely patched.
4. Mobile connectivity
The convenience and productivity gained from employees having access to corporate resources when they’re outside the office is immense, but the threats from uncontrolled mobile devices are real, and numerous. Google found Android spyware that was undetected for three years. Spyware on mobile devices means hackers can steal data from apps like Gmail, contacts, and text messages, as well as use keylogging to capture passwords and other sensitive data. Effectively using mobile device management and enterprise mobility management software is key to securing against the threats raised by mobile connectivity.
When even highly sensitive government agencies like the NSA and CIA have been hacked, it’s clear that keeping online data safe is a major challenge. Prescient Solutions team includes top information security experts who share their knowledge with our clients in order to develop cybersecurity solutions customized to protect your environment and keep your data safe. Contact us to learn how we can help your business identify your major vulnerabilities and design and implement the strategies needed to address them and ensure your security.
Additional Cybersecurity Resources
Top Cybersecurity Threats & How to Protect Your Organization [Webcast]
5 Ways to Make Sure Your Cloud Meets Your Compliance Standards
