Why Your Business Needs to Prepare for Cyber Incidents

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As the world continues to digitize, so do the risks associated with conducting business online. No matter the size or industry of a company, cyber incidents can happen and have serious consequences.

The following are some examples of common types of incidents to look out for:

Ransomware

Ransomware works by encrypting a victim’s data, making it unreadable. The only way to decrypt the data is with a key, which the hackers hold. They then demand a ransom from the victim in exchange for the key. Ransomeware can be a hugely costly and disruptive attack for businesses.

Phishing

Phishing is an online fraud in which criminals send emails or instant messages pretending to be a legitimate organization. These communications often include links to fake websites designed to steal your personal information, like your login credentials or credit card number. Phishing attacks can be difficult to spot because scammers use familiar logos and language to trick their victims.

Denial-of-service

A denial-of-service attack makes a computer or other service inaccessible to users. These attacks flood the victim’s computers or network with requests, rendering it unable to respond to legitimate traffic or causing it to crash. Such attacks can be excessively disruptive and can result in significant financial losses.

Malware

Different types of malware exist for various purposes, but all share the common goal of harming computer systems. Malware can be viruses, Trojans, or spyware, used to steal personal information, corrupt files, or even disable entire systems.

SQL injections

An SQL injection is an attack in which malicious SQL code is embedded and then executed in a database. Attackers use this code to change, steal, or delete data. In other words, it allows cybercriminals to gain control of the database and its contents.

Collaborate for Success

You can’t assume that your company is immune to cyber threats. To effectively address incidents as they occur, it’s essential to have adequate security measures and an incident response plan in place. Consulting with an IT service provider may be a good option if you need help identifying the right technologies to prevent a cyber incident or develop an incident response plan.

Feel free to reach out now.

To get you better acquainted with incident response best practices, we have created a checklist titled “Cyber Incident Prevention Best Practices for Your Small Business,” which you can download by clicking here.