In this global pandemic, almost every small-large scale organisation has adopted the remote working culture. Maintaining data confidentiality has become more important when the employees are working from home. The majority of the individuals tend to neglect using adequate data security measures, which has paved the way for cyber attackers to get easy access to the employee’s and client’s data.
With the advancement of internet facilities, dealing with day-to-day business operations has become easier. But, it has adversely impacted organisations because it can increase cybersecurity threats all well. Nowadays, most potential hackers use different cyber-attacking approaches like phishing to breach the user’s essential documents.
From 2020 to 2021, phishing has increased from 6 per cent to 11 per cent. And, by the end of this year, it can be assumed that the data breaching incidents might increase even more. As per the researcher’s analysis, approximately 95 per cent of organisations lost credential data for cybersecurity breaches.
In 2021, 3.3 billion malicious login attempts were recorded. Further, the implementation of cloud technology is helping cyberattackers to get into web-based applications. Do you know almost 39 per cent of breaches took place through cloud-based applications? So, if you are an entrepreneur and haven’t yet equipped any data security solutions, it’s high time to talk about it.
What are the Different Types of Data Security Risks?
There are plenty of effective data security measures that can prevent data vulnerabilities. But, before implementing any of those, it’s important to acknowledge the major cybersecurity threats. Most of the time, using unsecured wireless networks can put your life at risk. Because these public networks are not safe to use and cyber attackers can access them easily.
As technology is evolving, these cybercriminals are also developing their breaching techniques. But, fortunately, these security threats can be easily identified and prevented. Consider consulting with the Atdoorstep experts before installing any data security tools.
Now, let’s see what those common threats that the companies without data protection measures can face are:
- Malware
Are you familiar with this one? No! Well, it’s one of the used data breaching tactics of cybercriminals. Now, let’s take a situation — While working from home, most office-related files or documents are coming through emails. And, you might sometimes accidentally tap on a malicious link or open an email attachment. After that, if you notice any unwanted software installation started on the device, then malware has infected the device.
Once this program gets installed, it can remove the essential files, obtain information or restrict you from accessing certain sites. Malware also declines the device’s performance and gradually makes it inoperable.
In 2021, more than 290 enterprises faced malware attacks which led to severe business loss. Approximately 5.6 billion malware attacks are reported every year. But after the pandemic, it increased to 9.9 billion cases and thus, the importance of using data security protocols became essential.
- Traffic Interception
Interception attacks allow unauthorised users to gain access to the company’s confidential data or applications. And, this sort of data breaching incident takes place while checking unauthorised files. Many employees have come across this cybersecurity threat while accessing mails.
With the help of traffic inception or eavesdropping, the hackers often remove or modify data transmitted between two devices. Moreover, an open phone network also increases the chance of facing interception attacks. Consider installing VPN — that’s the best preventive method to secure the device network.
- Phishing
Phishing attacks are one of the oldest data breaching methods that cyber attackers use to steal information like login credentials. Alongside, they can successfully acquire the user’s credit card-related information using this technique.
Phishing is a fraudulent practise of sending malicious links through emails. Sometimes, you might be directed to an illicit website that asks the users to provide mobile and other account details. Phishing is increasingly becoming a major threat to worldwide companies.
Google registered almost 2,145,013 phishing websites in January 2021, and this number is gradually increasing day by day. Research has analysed that around 135 million phishing attacks take place every day. And, there is no such way to avoid this data threat. You have to be extremely careful while sharing data after opening any websites or emails.
- DDoS (Distributed Denial of Attack Service)
Next comes DDoS, it’s another cyber-attacking method where the hackers aim at overloading the servers, systems or networks with traffic. As a result, you will face hindrance while accessing any online websites due to increased loading time. Due to DDoS attacks, the users might get difficulty while using a computer or laptop.
Nowadays, these sorts of malicious practices are carried on through internet-driven security cameras, smart TVs and automation systems.
Do you know the reason behind the exponential growth of DDoS attacks? Yes! Due to the lack of data security measures, IoT platforms are becoming more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. But, there are hefty ways by which you can protect the websites from DDoS attacks. Make sure to update the website’s SSL certificate on time, which will provide additional security.
4 Ways to Reduce the Data Security Threats — Identify the Threat and Avoid Data Loss
Along with small-scale business, multinational companies are also the cyberattacker’s continuous target. Moreover, they always look for opportunities to invade privacy and steal data crucial to the business.
So, it’s better to take necessary precautions to safeguard the company’s valuable information. Starting from ransomware to phishing, you can avoid every type of cyber-attack using the right security solution.
Now, let’s proceed to the list of data security measures that you should consider using in 2021:
- Switch to Multi-Factor Authentication
In this remote working environment, it’s important to make sure the devices are safe and secure. Nowadays, most organisations use web-based applications to share information. For using these applications, it’s essential to provide usernames and passwords. Simply, protect the user’s login credentials by using FA. This security tool restricts unauthorised users to access the device or any application.
- Go for Installing Firewall
If you haven’t yet installed a firewall, then you should immediately consider installing it. Firewalls protect the device from a sudden malware or virus attack. Additionally, it identifies the unwanted contents easily and restricts them from accessing the sensitive data. Increasing the security of the organisations has become easier with the emergence of firewalls.
- Provide Strong Wi-Fi Passwords
The rise of Wi-Fi enabled devices has increased the probability of data breaching. And, most of the time, providing easy to guess passwords like “12345” increases the risk level. Hence, every employee should emphasise securing their Wi-Fi networks in the first place. Add characters, letters and numbers in the password; that will be enough in avoiding cyberattacks.
- Consider installing Antivirus Programs
Nowadays, business operators are using antivirus software to enhance their security level. Moreover, the latest version of the antivirus program comes with plenty of security features that can easily detect malware activities. Also, the contributions of these applications are worth mentioning when it comes to protecting business sites from phishing attacks.
Prevention is the Key to Business Success!
Undoubtedly, cybersecurity is increasingly becoming a prime concern for business owners across the globe. And, research shows that by 2025, cyberattacks might cause widespread damage to the nation’s security and safety. Without having effective defending mechanisms, it’s impossible to keep the companies safe from cybercrimes.
Ensure to update the OS and applications — that’s essential. And conduct training programmes and enlighten your employees on how to avoid data threats. These sorts of practices will ensure the growth of the business.
