Tag: cyber attacks.

In our previous article we explored the importance of an effective cyber security strategy in modern business, we took a close look at some of the most common methods used by cyber criminals to attack your systems and concluded that cyber security has arguably taken pride of place over even the physical security of your organisation.

In the remainder of this article we will explore some of the most integral cyber security measures that will equip you and your team for an effective defence against a strategically planned cyber attack.

The Cyber Security Fundamentals

Good data backup

Cyber attacks are happening all the time, in every industry, in every country in the world. It is this reason that makes it essential you always have current backups in the event of an attack, because you never know when you may become a victim. It is important that you have a strategy in place that ensures your IT systems and essential data are safeguarded to the best possible standard. The survival of your business relies on them, so you must be sure they are safe.

Use the 3-2-1 backup rule, ensure there are three copies of your data – two of them on your choice of separate storage media, and one stored offsite – in the eventuality of a business defining disaster. By having three copies of your data, you will not only have a few fail safes in case of an occurrence, but they will also allow you to rest easy with the assurance that your business can still operate effectively in the event of an attack.

Like your physical security, it is – unfortunately – impossible to guarantee cyber security. New methods of attack are being developed daily so eradication of cyber threats isn’t the goal but about how you manage the risks going forward.

Data backups are the number one tool in your cyber security arsenal. We know it sounds negative when we talk about preparing for an attack, but don’t forget the number one goal – and the reason for implementing these measures – is to keep your business operational, no matter the circumstances. Data backup gives you the opportunity to make guarantees to your customers that were previously not possible.

Secure passwords

Passwords are already a major part of our lives. We should all know the basics of password good practice – don’t use common letter or number sequences, words or phrases that have personal meaning to you, or the same password across multiple accounts. But there are more steps to good password practice that make them far more secure, which are as follows:

• Ensure that your team follows a strict set of pre-determined rules when creating their passwords. Following these rules will enable passwords to stand up against the cyber criminals trying to breach them.

• Use multi-factor authentication where it is available.

• If it is too easy to remember – change it! Avoid easily recalled sequential passwords, recurring numbers (such as 1234, 6789) as well as frequently used words.

• If possible, make sure your password is over ten characters long and contains a combination of letters, numbers and even special characters – when it comes to passwords the longer the better!

• Use upper and lower-case letters.

It is highly recommended that you periodically change your passwords; accounts can be hacked without the knowledge of the account holder, so it makes sense – even if you have no suspicion of suspicious activity – to change it now and again.

Passwords are the first line of defence for your systems. We get why people make their passwords easy to remember and simple to write – they are simply thinking of the ease of their experience and work is hard enough already without adding to work processes. But, making things ‘easy’ could be jeopardising the very survival of your business. Good passwords are a necessity and not a choice!

Manage permissions

It is essential that you manage permissions to your system. Your users should only be granted access to accounts that are required for them to perform their role. Data loss, theft, or – if the attack is particularly sophisticated – deliberate changes to your security settings, could facilitate future attacks. Only giving access as required lessens the likelihood of a user accidentally granting access to a cyber criminal.

Anti-Malware measures

Anti-Malware software MUST always be downloaded on your laptops and computers. A lot of the good operating systems often come with a free version as standard – which can be described as okay at best, but under no circumstances is this free version good enough for business use. It must be replaced with quality rated software as soon as possible.

Data encryption

Theft is not the sole aim of cyber criminals – their aim is, in fact, to encrypt your data. So, you need to beat them to the punch. This sounds confusing, I know, so let me explain. By encrypting your data, you hold ‘the keys to the kingdom’ – you must always have control.

Education

Your team are the most important line of defence for your organisation. They are targeted due to their usual ignorance around the importance of cyber security, so, to counteract this, they must be equipped with the knowledge of not just what to look out for that could be a threat but also how to use the various security tools at their disposal, and their role in the defence of your system.

Implement an IT Security Policy

You must have an IT security policy; it must be clear and concise – and both you and your team must be clear on it. It is essential that your entire team know and sign it regardless of their dependence on IT. (They may only use IT for something relatively small in the grand scheme of things, but that individual is still on a system which contains information that in the wrong hands could be business debilitating.) Your IT security policy will make your organisation more secure before you’ve even implemented any new technologies, because if everyone knows what their role is in the pursuit of a cyber secure workplace then that is arguably even more valuable than any tools you can buy.

The policy must be meticulously constructed and contain the security guidelines and obligations of the team, both when working on premise or remotely. The policy will allow you to feel safe in the fact that your team not only know how to conduct themselves in the most secure way possible but also that they know how important their role is in the safety of the organisation. Whether they consistently do this is another thing, but once they have written their signature next to the procedure you can relax knowing they have read and understood what is required of them. This, of course, means that you are within your rights to take action if they don’t behave as they promised to.

We hope that these two articles have put you in good stead to not only know what threatens your organisation but also what your and your team’s roles are in the defence of it. This can all seem a bit much – it is a lot of information to take in – so, if you are struggling, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with our team for expert IT consultancy.

Your Cyber Security Partner

Uptech is the leading IT support company in Kings Lynn and West Norfolk. We are passionate about the support we offer businesses like yours and also provide Enterprise-level tools, Cyber Security Solutions, and IT hardware to businesses in need of a helping hand. Established in 1994, Uptech offers High-end IT Services to Businesses with 5-200 staff, with multiple locations (including WFH), which enables them all to remain Connected. We have helped our clients to progress and improve their IT, and so become more profitable and productive. Contact us now to find out how we can help you.

The cyber security of your business should be of the utmost importance – and if it isn’t then you are playing with fire. With the planet saturated with internet connected devices, it is essential that you and your team have some knowledge of cyber security, the ways that cyber criminals target and attempt to breach your business, and the tools and methods you can use to better protect your vital data. It is fair to say that, in today’s digitally dominated world, cyber security now takes priority over the physical security of your business, because the consequences are far bleaker if your cyber environment is breached.

As we said, our workplaces – like every part of our lives today – revolve around the effective use of internet connected devices. The criminal community have grown wise to the extensive opportunities offered by these devices, so not protecting them properly simply makes the task of accessing them that bit easier for criminals.

Criminals also like the anonymity offered through cyber attacks. Instead of kicking a door down or smashing a window, they can – if the cyber attack is sophisticated enough – sneak in undetected and be gone before you even know they were there.

For smaller to medium sized businesses, it is predominantly through indirect means that they get attacked, either as collateral damage as consequence of an attack on a larger business or by becoming one of the many victims of a publicly launched attack that originates from the target’s mailbox.

Regardless of the number of internet connected devices you have, the number one reason that businesses – and individuals – become victims of cyber attacks is through a severe lack of knowledge. Our eagerness – and, in most cases, impatience – forces our hand – we grab the device, take it out of the box and get going with all the amazing new features it has, not realising how potentially dangerous it can be if the wrong person gains access.

Let’s explain this in a way that applies across the board regardless of business size and sophistication. At the end of the workday someone will go around and check that the windows and doors are securely locked – these checks are automatic; in fact they are ingrained into us so much that some of us get ten minutes away from the office and then have to drive back just to be sure the building is secure. This is the level of paranoia you also need to have regarding your cyber security. Obviously, we aren’t saying take stock of your cyber security measures every single day like you would the windows but the premise is the same, because leaving your cyber landscape undefended is like finishing your workday and leaving the doors and windows wide open when you leave.

Every business is at risk! Cyber criminals don’t discriminate or pick a sector to attack for any particular reason – this makes it even more essential that your cyber security measures are up to scratch.

Understandably, cyber security can cause apprehension, as most have no clue as to what would be best for their business, what the options are, or how much it will all cost.

There are recommended ways of ensuring your systems are defended, one of which is by working toward the Cyber Essentials Accreditation – it will help you remain secure and allows you to project a cyber secure image to your clients – in the modern age of cyber threats this can be a crucial factor for some consumers. But, for some, this can seem like overkill; for these individuals, learning the different methods of attack cyber criminals are using is essential, because how can you defend your system from something you know nothing about?

The Methods of Cyber Attack

Malware

Malware is a file that has been designed with the specific intention of attacking and undermining the functions of an application or even the entire computer system. It comes in many variants but, most commonly, Malware is used to attack your network via email attachments.

Ransomware

Ransomware is a very common form of Malware attack; it works by locking and encrypting your access to your own data. The cyber criminals demand a ransom under the promise that they will safely return your access. They aren’t silly, because they then attempt to force your hand by introducing a sense of urgency to your actions; they want you to pay the ransom before you have had a chance to think about it – they set time limits on payments under the threat of deletion of your files if the payment isn’t made promptly and within the demanded time limit.

Understandably, many just pay the criminals. They have the attitude of ‘Oh well, I’m down x amount, but that isn’t anywhere near the value of all that data’, and they would be right in this respect as, both literally and in a reputational sense, your data is invaluable, usually far more valuable than the amount the criminal is demanding. But remember, criminals can’t be trusted – do you really think you are going to be regranted access and left alone after paying? Instead of securing your files you are simply letting the criminals know that you have the funds to pay them, and (just with a gentle push) are willing to do exactly that.

Phishing

A Phishing attack is when a cyber criminal assumes a false identity in fake/fraudulent emails in order to gain access to private information.

Phishing Emails carry malicious links; these links are key to the cyber criminal’s attack being a success. The cyber criminal will pose as a trusted source of the recipient (usually a bank or government entity). Again, they bring a sense of urgency and time sensitivity in the contents of their message; they – like with Ransomware attacks – are trying to force the recipient to decide quickly and on a whim. When the rouse is believed it would then involve the recipient clicking the link and facilitating the attack.

Now you have a beginner level familiarity with the methods cyber criminals are using to attack your systems, in the following article we will look at some of the cyber security fundamentals that every business in the world should have in their arsenal.

Your Cyber Security Partner

Uptech is the leading IT support company in Kings Lynn and West Norfolk. We are passionate about the support we offer businesses like yours and also provide Enterprise-level tools, Cyber Security Solutions, and IT hardware to businesses in need of a helping hand. Established in 1994, Uptech offers High-end IT Services to Businesses with 5-200 staff, with multiple locations (including WFH), which enables them all to remain Connected. We have helped our clients to progress and improve their IT, and so become more profitable and productive. Contact us now to find out how we can help you.