Despite cybersecurity professionals working diligently everyday to prevent attacks and to secure networks, the reality is that most companies still do not have sufficient cybersecurity tools and practices in place to keep their networks safe. Here we list the 5 threats to information security and discuss why cybercriminals are successful.
Malware/Ransomware
One of the most crippling events a company can experience is a successful ransomware attack that encrypts their data, cutting them off from their operational systems. Any form of malware is damaging, some more than others. Typically, the target is personal or company information that hackers can steal and sell on the dark web.
Insider Threats
You may think all threats come from dark figures bent over keyboards, but that is not always true. Insider threats can damage your information security systems by accident, carelessness, or on purpose for revenge or personal gain. You must have access restrictions and protections in place to avoid insider threats and outside attacks.
Social Engineering
One of the most effective tools in a hacker’s arsenal is their ability to trick people into handing over login credentials or other sensitive information. They do this using phishing emails or social engineering tactics, making someone on staff trust them or believe they are someone they trust, so they hand over the keys.
Denial of Service (DoS) Attack
Threat actors flood a network with data so it becomes crippled and cannot respond to requests making it easier to breach and control remotely. Often these attacks are carried out by botnets, linked computer networks.
Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
By inserting themselves in the middle of a transaction between two computers or networks, hackers can gain access to unsecured devices, steal information, or install spyware for later use.
Why Cybercriminals Are Successful
Cybercriminals have become experts at exploiting our most vulnerable systems and finding weak spots in the network to intrude, take over, steal information, and cause disruption and panic.
Some of the reasons they are so successful are:
Outdated Hardware/Software
Many companies are still using outdated hardware or software with known vulnerabilities. Some of these have firmware updates that businesses have not applied. Bad actors use these holes to breach networks easily.
Improper Configuration
Many data breaches were the result of an improperly configured third-party system. Whenever you store data online or on your own network, double-check the security settings and access controls. The simple task of doing so could prevent an attack.
Inadequate Cybersecurity Solutions
One of the most common reasons cybercriminals can break into corporate networks is inadequate cybersecurity solutions. According to a recent study, most top-level executives do not feel that their cybersecurity protections are enough to stop a devastating attack.
The Solution
The solution to keeping your company information safe is first a security audit to find the weak spots, then fortifying your cybersecurity solutions, and rigid monitoring of all systems 24/7. A rapid response and recovery plan is also critical to getting things back on track after an attack.
Contact DMAC Security today to learn more about how to secure your network properly.
