Criminals are exploiting AI to create more convincing scams
One of the many cool things about the new wave of Artificial Intelligence tools is their ability to sound convincingly human.
AI chatbots can be prompted to generate text that you’d never know was written by a robot. And they can keep producing it – quickly, and with minimal human intervention.
So it’s no surprise that cyber criminals have been using AI chatbots to try to make their own lives easier.
Police have identified the three main ways crooks have found to use the chatbot for malicious reasons.
1. Better phishing emails
Until now, terrible spelling and grammar have made it easy to spot many phishing emails. These are intended to trick you into clicking a link to download malware or steal information. AI-written text is way harder to spot, simply because it isn’t riddled with mistakes.
Worse, criminals can make every phishing email they send unique, making it harder for spam filters to spot potentially dangerous content.
2. Spreading misinformation
“Write me ten social media posts that accuse the CEO of the Acme Corporation of having an affair. Mention the following news outlets”. Spreading misinformation and disinformation may not seem like an immediate threat to you, but it could lead to your employees falling for scams, clicking malware links, or even damage the reputation of your business or members of your team.
3. Creating malicious code
AI can already write pretty good computer code and is getting better all the time. Criminals could use it to create malware.
It’s not the software’s fault – it’s just doing what it’s told – but until there’s a reliable way for the AI creators to safeguard against this, it remains a potential threat.
The creators of AI tools are not the ones responsible for criminals taking advantage of their powerful software. ChatGPT creator OpenAI, for example, is working to prevent its tools from being used maliciously.
What this does show is the need to stay one step ahead of the cyber crooks in everything we do. That’s why we work so hard with our clients to keep them protected from criminal threats, and informed about what’s coming next.
If you’re concerned about your people falling for increasingly sophisticated scams, be sure to keep them updated about how the scams work and what to look out for.
If you need help with that, get in touch.
Top 9 Benefits of Outsourcing Your Cybersecurity
When it comes to protecting your business from cyberthreats, having the right tools and technology is only half the battle. You also need the expertise, controls and processes to manage and mitigate these threats effectively. That’s where a managed security service provider (MSSP) comes in.
Think of a Managed IT Service Provider as your outsourced cybersecurity department, ensuring your technology is safe, secure and compliant.
In this article, we discuss the benefits of outsourcing your cybersecurity to a trusted MSSP partner. From enhanced security posture to cost savings, you’ll learn how collaborating in cybersecurity matters can help protect your business from cyberthreats while streamlining your IT operations.
The benefits of outsourcing your cybersecurity
Although there are a lot of benefits to outsourcing your cybersecurity, we’re listing the top nine below:
Enhance business outcomes
Partnering with a Managed IT Service Provider can help you enhance your business outcomes by reducing downtime, increasing productivity and improving customer satisfaction. You can focus on growing your business and achieving your strategic goals by mitigating cyberthreats and keeping your IT systems secure.
Fill IT gaps
A Managed IT Service Provider can help fill IT gaps by providing the expertise, controls and processes to manage and mitigate cyberthreats. Whether it’s managing vulnerabilities, implementing security controls or responding to incidents, a Managed IT Service Provider can help you bridge the gaps in your IT security.
Lower costs
Outsourcing your cybersecurity to a Managed IT Service Provider can also help you lower costs. Instead of investing in expensive cybersecurity tools and technologies, you can leverage a Managed IT Service Provider’s expertise and infrastructure to achieve the same level of security at a fraction of the cost.
Access to specialized, experienced security experts
A Managed IT Service Provider has a team of specialized, experienced security experts who can provide the support and guidance you need to manage and mitigate cyberthreats effectively. These experts have the knowledge and expertise to rapidly implement advanced security solutions and respond to incidents.
Advanced security solutions
Partnering with a Managed IT Service Provider also gives you access to advanced security solutions that may otherwise be unavailable. From threat intelligence and hunting to endpoint protection and cloud security, a Managed IT Service Provider can provide you with the latest security solutions to keep your IT systems safe and secure.
Rapid incident response and remediation
In the event of a cyberattack, a Managed IT Service Provider can provide rapid incident response and remediation services. Their experts can quickly identify and isolate the threat, contain the damage and restore your IT systems to full functionality, minimizing downtime and reducing the impact on your business.
Ongoing, continuous protection
Cyberthreats are constantly evolving, so it’s essential to have ongoing, continuous protection in place. A Managed IT Service Provider can provide you with the 24/7 monitoring and management needed to detect and mitigate cyberthreats in real-time, ensuring your IT systems are always protected.
Threat intelligence and hunting
A Managed IT Service Provider can also provide you with threat intelligence and hunting services, which involve monitoring and analyzing threats in real-time to identify potential vulnerabilities and prevent attacks before they occur.
Compliance support
Finally, partnering with a Managed IT Service Provider makes meeting your compliance requirements easier. A Managed IT Service Provider can provide the support and guidance needed to comply with industry-specific regulations, such as HIPAA, PCI DSS and GDPR, and ensure that your IT systems are always compliant and secure.
Partner to succeed
Outsourcing your cybersecurity needs to a Managed IT Service Provider is an investment to secure the future of your business. The benefits of enhanced business outcomes, filling IT gaps, lower costs and more make it a wise choice for any organization looking to strengthen its security posture.
By partnering with a Managed IT Service Provider like us, you’ll get the expertise and experience to protect your business from ever-increasing, sophisticated cyberthreats. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact us now to bolster your cybersecurity.
3 essential security tools for every business
Your data is one of your most valuable business assets. Keeping it safe should be one of your main priorities. So if you don’t have much security in place, there’s a minimum standard you should be implementing, right now.
There are dozens of security solutions available that all perform different tasks – from preventing criminals gaining access, to recognizing attacks in progress, and then limiting the damage that can be done. There’s no one-size-fits-all as every business has different priorities and different types of data to protect.
Here are three essentials that every business should put in place as a basic level of protection.
1. A firewall
A firewall monitors the internet traffic coming into and leaving your IT network. It acts as a wall between your network and the outside world. It’s your first line of defense against an intruder breaking in to your network.
2. A password manager for everyone in the business
A password manager stores all your credentials securely, and can also generate nearly impossible-to-guess passwords for all your accounts and applications.
That’s useful against brute force attacks, where cyber criminals essentially try to force their way into your system by guessing the password. It also stops you writing down your passwords somewhere ‘safe’!
3. A VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A VPN is important for any remote or hybrid workers in your business.
It means your employees can access your network from wherever they’re working, without worrying that their online activity is being watched by a criminal.
VPNs make your browsing completely private, hiding your device and location details, and anything you download. If you or your employees regularly use public Wi-Fi – especially to access your network – a VPN is essential.
These are our absolute minimum recommendations.
The strongest security uses additional tools like Multi-Factor Authentication to prove the identity of all users, and antivirus software to deal with any intrusions.
These work together to create a multi-layered security shield to defend against threats on many fronts.
But it’s important you create a security plan that’s right for your specific business. It’s a good idea to seek some professional help.
Not everyone’s as excited about IT security as we are! But we definitely have a passion for it.
If we can help you, get in touch.
It’s Time to Bust These 4 Ransomware Myths
In today’s digital age, ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly frequent, sophisticated and costly. With cybercriminals constantly evolving their tactics and targeting businesses of all sizes, organizations like yours must proactively safeguard your data and systems. Unfortunately, many companies fall prey to common ransomware myths, which can leave them vulnerable to attacks and unprepared to respond effectively in the event of an incident.
In this blog, we’ll debunk four of the most prevalent ransomware myths and provide the accurate information you need to protect your business. Understanding the realities of ransomware and taking proactive steps against it can mitigate the risk and ensure you’re prepared to fight against cybercriminals.
Top Myths to Bust
Without further ado, let’s debunk the ransomware myths you should avoid at any cost:
Myth #1: If my business gets hit with ransomware, I’ll pay the ransom and return to business.
Many businesses believe that paying a ransom is the quickest and easiest way to recover encrypted data. However, that’s just a dangerous assumption.
Paying a ransom does not guarantee that the attackers will keep their word and provide the decryption key. Also, paying a ransom only encourages cybercriminals to carry out more attacks in the future.
The best way to protect your business is to have a solid backup strategy and a comprehensive security plan in place.
Myth #2: My backups will get me back up and running if I get hit with ransomware.
While backups are essential to ransomware prevention, it’s a myth that backups will always save the day. Cybercriminals have upgraded their tactics to compromise backup files as part of their attack strategy.
With the rise of double extortion attacks, cybercriminals not only encrypt data but also steal it. This means that even if you have a backup strategy in place, your data may still be at risk if attackers threaten to leak sensitive data unless a ransom is paid.
Myth #3: My antivirus software (or any other security solution) provides complete protection from ransomware attacks.
Antivirus software is essential to a comprehensive defense against ransomware, but it’s not enough. Relying on a single security product to defend against ransomware is a mistake. There’s no silver bullet solution to ransomware. However, implementing a defense-in-depth strategy can help your business build the most robust possible defense.
Myth #4: My business isn’t a target for ransomware attacks.
Many businesses believe that they aren’t a target for ransomware attacks because they’re too small or not valuable enough. However, this is a myth that can leave your business vulnerable. The truth is that organizations of all sizes and across all industries have valuable data that cybercriminals can exploit.
With the rise of more sophisticated and efficient cybercrime, hackers have expanded their target demographic, making businesses of all sizes prime targets. The best defense is to assume your business is a target and take proactive measures to protect your data and systems.
Partner to Succeed
While it’s true that no security measure is foolproof, taking proactive steps to secure your data and systems can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to a ransomware attack. We can help ensure your organization is well-prepared to fight against ransomware and other cyberthreats. Feel free to reach out to us for a no-obligation consultation.
To learn more about ransomware criminals and how to defend your business, download our infographic “The Anatomy of a Ransomware Attack.” It’s a valuable resource that can help you increase your basic understanding of ransomware, identify the signs if you’ve fallen victim and prepare you to defend against these attacks.
The Best Defense Against Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts files on a device or network, making them unusable until the victim pays the attacker a ransom. What started as a simple virus spread through floppy discs in the late 1980s has now evolved into a billion-dollar cybercrime industry.
Even with new security measures in place, ransomware groups are constantly evolving to adapt to them and launching new ways to extort victims. As long as these gangs successfully get businesses to pay up, attacks will only continue to increase and expand.
Luckily, there’s good news. With proper preparations, you can minimize the risk of a ransomware attack and mitigate the impacts if an attack does occur. In this blog, we’ll explore the best defense against ransomware and provide you with practical steps you can take to start protecting your business today.
Best practices and precautions
To protect against ransomware, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends the following precautions:
Regularly update software and operating systems with the latest patches.
One of the simplest yet most effective measures against ransomware is regularly updating your software and operating systems with the latest patches since cybercriminals often target outdated applications and systems.
Keeping your systems up to date ensures security gaps and vulnerabilities are patched, making it much harder for attackers to find a way in.
Never click on links or open attachments in unsolicited emails.
Phishing emails are a common tactic used by cybercriminals to trick users into clicking on malicious links or downloading infected attachments. It’s essential to verify the sender and email content before clicking links or downloading files. If you ever receive an email from an unknown sender or a source you don’t recognize, it’s best to delete it immediately and warn your colleagues.
Back up data regularly on a separate device and store it offline.
Regularly backing up your data is an essential precaution to minimize the risk of data loss due to ransomware. Keeping a copy of your data on a separate device and storing it offline will help you recover your data after a ransomware attack. It’s also crucial to test your backup system regularly to ensure the data can be restored when needed.
Follow safe practices when using devices that connect to the internet.
Safe practices when using devices that connect to the internet include:
- Avoiding public Wi-Fi networks
- Not downloading files from untrusted sources
- Ensuring your firewall is turned on
You should also ensure that your device has up-to-date antivirus software installed and that you use a secure web browser.
In addition to these measures, there are several other best practices that you can adopt to protect against ransomware:
Anti-phishing and email security protocols and tools: These can include email filters that can help block malicious emails before they reach your inbox.
Security awareness training: Regular security awareness training can help educate your employees to identify and avoid phishing emails and other common cyberthreats.
Vulnerability scanning: Routine scanning can help identify vulnerabilities in your systems and applications before attackers can exploit them.
Automated patch management: Automating patch management eliminates the need for manual checks for outdated software/systems, saving time and ensuring your systems are consistently up to date and secure.
Endpoint detection and response (EDR): EDR focuses on monitoring endpoints, such as desktops, laptops and mobile devices, for suspicious activity and responding to any detected threats.
Network monitoring: This involves monitoring your network for suspicious activity and responding to any detected threats.
Network segmentation: Segmentation means dividing your network into smaller, more secure segments to limit the spread of malware in the event of an attack.
Identity and access management (IAM): IAM helps manage user access to your systems and applications, ensuring users only have the access they need to perform their roles.
Strong password policies and good password hygiene: This involves implementing password policies that require users to create strong, unique passwords and regularly change them.
Partner to succeed
By partnering with an experienced IT service provider like us, you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have a team of cybersecurity experts on your side keeping your data safe. We can help you implement and maintain best practices, tools and technologies to protect your business against ransomware. So, why wait longer? Contact us today and let’s start securing your business against attacks.
Also, download our “Ransomware Survival Guide” eBook if you want to learn more about how to protect your business and survive a ransomware attack.
Microsoft 365 makes Multi-Factor Authentication easier
Microsoft is planning to enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) directly in its Outlook app for many 365 business users.
MFA is a vital tool to help protect your online accounts from cyber criminals. It works by generating a second, single-use passcode every time you log into an account. It’s usually sent to an authenticator app on your phone that you have to download and set up first.
Security codes can also be sent via SMS text message, by a phone call, or you might be given a special USB key to plug into your computer.
The process is often made quicker by using a biometric login like your fingerprint or face ID. It’s a minor chore, but the protection it offers far outweighs the couple of extra seconds it takes to access your account.
Microsoft isn’t so sure about those extra seconds, though. If the tech giant can save you that time, it’s going to do it. That’s why it’s looking to streamline MFA for Microsoft 365 business accounts.
It’s rolling out the improvement by building MFA directly into the Outlook app in a feature called Authenticator Lite. Until now, it’s relied on a separate authenticator app or sending login codes.
There’s no news yet for those of us who want faster authentication on our personal PCs. If Microsoft does announce plans to make this feature available to more hardware or operating systems, we’ll update you with any news.
If you don’t already use MFA for your apps and online accounts, we recommend that all businesses implement it as soon as possible. The additional security it offers protects against the vast majority of today’s cyber threats.
For more help and advice about implementing MFA or getting the best from Microsoft 365, just get in touch.
Are your productivity tools actually slowing you down?
Productivity tools are supposed to make you more, well… productive.
But if they’re not embedded properly within your business, tasks can actually end up taking longer than they should. That’s frustrating for employees and you. It wastes time, and it costs money – which is the opposite of being productive.
So how can this happen?
Often a lack of consistent training means everyone is using tools differently, or finding their own workarounds. Maybe the tools haven’t been properly integrated with other apps, creating additional work. Or perhaps employees simply don’t find some tools useful and give up on them.
Bringing new technology into your business can be a big step – so big that lots of owners try to avoid it completely. That might be because of understandable risk aversion, or because they simply don’t have enough information to choose the right solution from the thousands of available options. It doesn’t help that nearly all tools work differently and offer different advantages.
What most business owners need is expert help. It’s easy to say you plan to introduce new productivity tools to keep employees happy and to gain a competitive advantage, but in practice it’s a lot more involved.
One thing’s for sure. As AI solutions become more and more integrated into new solutions – and others in your industry start to benefit from the new tech landscape – businesses that don’t keep up, risk being left behind.
Working with professionals can not only help to identify the most suitable tools for your business…
But also to help get the most from them by ensuring all your people are fully trained.
That means you’ll not only be getting all the productivity benefits you hoped for from your investment, you’ll also have a more engaged, better skilled and more productive workforce.
This is something we help businesses with all the time. Get in touch if you’d like us to do the same for you.
Knowledge is Power - The Key to Cyber Readiness
As digital technology continues to evolve, the threat of cyber-attacks is only increasing. Cyber-attacks can cause a huge amount of damage to businesses, both in terms of finances and reputation. To protect your business from these threats, it is essential to have continuous network intelligence. With this kind of intelligence, you will be able to detect suspicious changes, misconfigurations or any other malicious activities occurring on your internal networks.
What Is Continuous Network Intelligence?
Continuous network intelligence can be thought of as an ongoing process that allows you to monitor and detect any suspicious or malicious activity that may be happening on your networks. This type of intelligence provides real-time insights into what’s happening on your network so you can take action quickly and reduce the risk of a successful attack.
Why Is It Important?
Network intelligence is critical for any organization's cyber readiness. Without it, you are essentially flying blind—you won’t know what’s going on in your networks until it’s too late, putting you at risk for data theft or disruption from malicious actors. By establishing continuous network intelligence, you have access to up-to-date information about what’s happening in your systems so that you can take prompt action when something seems off. This allows you to identify and stop attacks before they cause any real damage.
How Can You Implement Continuous Network Intelligence?
The first step is to implement comprehensive monitoring solutions across all areas of your networks—including servers, applications, databases and endpoints—so that the system can continuously collect data and alert administrators when there are any suspicious changes or activities detected. Additionally, security controls should be implemented across all points within the system in order to prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive information or making unwanted changes. Finally, it is important to have a team of experienced security professionals who can respond quickly when necessary and provide additional protection whenever needed.
Having continuous network intelligence is a critical component for any business's cyber readiness plan. With this kind of intelligence in place, businesses can detect suspicious changes and remove threats before they cause any damage. Implementing comprehensive monitoring solutions along with proper security controls will help ensure that organizations have complete visibility into their networks at all times so they can respond quickly if anything goes wrong. Make sure your company has advanced internal security detection today!
How to Develop and Deploy a Multi-Layer Security Strategy
The internet is a wild west of opportunity, but it's also full of potential danger. As businesses become more reliant on digital technologies, it's important to protect your data and your business by deploying multiple security strategies together as one. Doing so will help you create an effective defense-in-depth approach that will keep you safe from malicious actors.
Choosing Your Security Layers
The first step in developing and deploying a multi-layer security strategy is to determine what layers you need. Some popular layers of defense include network firewalls, antivirus software, and user authentication protocols such as two-factor authentication (2FA). It's also important to consider the various types of attacks that could be used against your business, such as phishing attacks, ransomware attacks, or even DDoS attacks. Knowing the various attack vectors will help you choose which layers of defense are best suited for your particular setup.
Implementing Your Defense
Once you have identified the different layers of defense that are necessary for your system, it's time to implement them. This is where having an experienced IT team comes in handy — they can help ensure that your system is properly configured and secured. They can also help with monitoring and detecting any suspicious activity on your system so that any potential breaches can be quickly addressed before they become an issue. Additionally, they can provide guidance when it comes to selecting additional layers of security if needed.
Testing Your Defenses
The last step in creating a multi-layer security strategy is to test its effectiveness. This involves running simulated attacks against your system in order to make sure that all the components are working together correctly and providing adequate protection against threats. If any weaknesses are found during testing, then those should be addressed immediately in order to ensure the highest level of protection possible for your business’s data and systems.
Having multiple layers of security is essential for protecting yourself from cyberattacks today. By utilizing an effective defense-in-depth approach, businesses can increase their chances of avoiding these increasingly sophisticated threats and mitigate the risk associated with them. A comprehensive multi-layer security strategy requires careful planning and implementation by knowledgeable IT professionals who understand how each layer works together toward keeping their systems safe from malicious actors looking to exploit any weaknesses in their defenses. With this approach in place, businesses can rest assured knowing they're doing everything they can do protect themselves from cyberthreats now—and into the future!
Security Awareness Training: How to Instill a Culture of Safety in Your Business
With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated and malicious, small to medium businesses need to take proactive steps to protect their IT infrastructure and data. One of the best ways to do this is by instituting a security awareness training program for every member of your staff. Security awareness training not only reduces the potential for user-related errors, but it also helps create a culture of security in your business. Let’s explore why security awareness training is so important, and how you can get started implementing it in your organization.
Why Security Awareness Training Is Important
Users are often the weakest link in security, given a lack of education and experience. Cyber criminals rely on human behavior – from clicking links or opening attachments in suspicious emails to attempting simple password guessing games – to gain access to private networks, systems, and data. A comprehensive security awareness training program can help reduce these risks significantly by teaching employees best practices for staying secure online. This includes topics such as email safety, password management, using public Wi-Fi safely, spotting social engineering attempts (phishing scams), and more.
With proper training, your team will be better equipped to recognize malicious emails or hackers trying to get access into your systems without anyone noticing – something that could have disastrous consequences if left unchecked. As an added bonus, having a well-trained team makes it easier for you as a business owner or manager; you’ll be able to focus on running your business instead of constantly worrying about cyber threats and breaches.
How To Get Started with Security Awareness Training
The first step is to understand the scope of the problem you are facing; what types of threats do you need protection against? Once you identify these threats, you can start developing a comprehensive security awareness program tailored specifically for your organization's needs. Make sure that all employees receive the same level of training; this will ensure uniformity across all departments within your organization and make it easier for everyone to follow the same set of protocols when dealing with sensitive information or potential threats. You may also choose to include additional topics such as physical security best practices (e.g., locking doors) or disaster recovery plans should things go wrong despite all efforts taken towards prevention.
It’s also important that you keep up with technology trends so that your team is always aware of any new risks that may arise due to evolving technology. Additionally, don’t forget about regular refresher courses for existing employees; this ensures that everyone remains current on their knowledge base even after they have completed their initial training course(s). Finally, remember that no matter how comprehensive or thorough your plan is initially developed - no program succeeds without periodic review/updates!
Security awareness training is essential for any small-to-medium business because it helps instill a culture focused on safety and security rather than just relying on technology solutions alone for protection against cyber threats and breaches. By providing effective education and reinforcement activities regularly throughout each employee’s tenure at your company, users become more aware of potential risks posed by cyber criminals while simultaneously gaining valuable skills necessary for protecting themselves—and ultimately helping keep your business safe from harm! With proper planning and implementation, you can develop a strong foundation upon which future successes can be built!
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Protect Your Business - How to Reduce Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Cybersecurity is a top priority for businesses of all sizes. Unfortunately, many companies do not realize that their supply chain can be vulnerable to cyberattacks. As a business owner, it is important to understand how to evaluate and monitor the security of your supplier networks and third-party vendors. In this blog post, we will discuss five steps you can take to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities and protect your business from potential cyber threats.
Identify Your Vendors & Suppliers – Knowing who your vendors are and what services they provide is essential for protecting your business from potential threats. Evaluate each vendor's cybersecurity policies and procedures, and make sure that they comply with industry standards. Additionally, ensure that any third-party vendors have an appropriate level of insurance coverage in case of a breach or data loss.
Perform Risk Assessments Regularly – Make sure to conduct regular risk assessments on all vendors and suppliers. This will help you identify any areas where there is potential for a security breach or other vulnerability in their systems or processes. Additionally, use tools such as penetration testing to identify any weaknesses in the system before they become an issue.
Monitor Vendor Performance – Monitor vendor performance regularly so you can detect any changes in their security practices or processes quickly and efficiently. This will allow you to address issues as soon as possible, preventing possible damage from occurring due to negligence or malicious activity by the vendor or supplier.
Update Your Security Protocols – Keeping up-to-date with cybersecurity protocols is essential for reducing supply chain vulnerabilities. Ensure that all staff members are familiar with these protocols and follow them diligently when dealing with suppliers or vendors’ information systems or data stores. Additionally, ensure that these protocols are regularly reviewed so that any changes in policy can be implemented quickly and efficiently if necessary.
Establish Clear Communication Channels - Finally, establish clear communication channels between yourself and all vendors/suppliers so that any issues can be addressed quickly and effectively should the need arise. A secure messaging platform can be useful for this purpose, allowing you to connect directly with vendors without compromising data security due to emails being sent over unsecured channels or shared networks/systems being used by multiple people simultaneously without proper authentication measures in place.
By following these five steps, you can reduce supply chain vulnerabilities and better protect your business against cyber threats posed by malicious actors seeking access to sensitive customer data or disrupting operations through malware attacks on vulnerable IT infrastructure components within the supply chain ecosystem . Implementing robust cybersecurity protocols across all levels of the organization is essential for ensuring the safety of both customer data and proprietary information stored within various IT systems connected across different third-party service providers. With proper planning, monitoring, and communication, businesses can successfully mitigate risks associated with their supply chains while still achieving maximum operational efficiency. The key takeaway here is that cyber readiness must include assessing risk within your organization’s entire network—including suppliers —in order for businesses of all sizes to remain competitive in today’s digital landscape.
Overpower the Password Crisis in Your Business
Nowadays, it is not a matter of if a cyber attack will occur in your business but when. Most hacking-related breaches are linked to weak, reused or stolen passwords as user credentials remain a top vulnerability for businesses. To empower your company and outsmart would-be hackers, you must take action and protect yourself from password attacks.
Here are some steps to help you combat the password crisis in your business:
- Monitor the Dark Web - One of the most important steps to combating the password crisis is monitoring the dark web for exposed credentials. The dark web is full of data that can be used against you and unfortunately, this includes confidential information about your business such as passwords or credit card details. By monitoring the dark web for exposed credentials, you can stay one step ahead of any potential threats before they happen.
- Implement Multifactor Authentication - Multifactor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security to protect user accounts from unauthorized access and is essential when it comes to protecting against password threats. MFA requires users to provide two or more pieces of evidence when logging into their account such as a phone number, email address or biometric data like fingerprints or retinal scans in addition to their username and password. This makes it increasingly difficult for hackers to breach accounts as they will need multiple pieces of evidence instead of just one set of credentials.
- Streamline Control Of Password Management - Another important step in tackling the password crisis is streamlining control of password management by using a secure enterprise password management solution. Password manager apps make it easy to manage employee passwords while still maintaining strong security controls with features such as centralized administrative control, single sign-on capabilities, two-factor authentication and automatic resetting functionality which ensures that all employees have unique passwords at all times.
There are numerous ways to combat the password crisis in your business including monitoring the dark web for exposed credentials, implementing multifactor authentication and streamlining control of password management with an enterprise solution. Taking these steps today to ensure that your passwords are secure will help protect your business from potential cyber threats tomorrow!