05 May Cyber Security – Guaranteed

Cyber security should take top spot in your list of business concerns – recent technological advancements and our reliance on tech have, unfortunately, made this the absolute priority.

Technology makes it possible for any non-IT specialist to undertake a cyber attack from any device. (Cyber criminals are no longer the technical geniuses they once were – they look just like you and I.)  The heavily digitised world we live and work in today makes it a necessity that you are cautious in everything you do in the workplace; you must be prepared for every eventuality.

Over this and the next article we will help you to become familiar with the threats that jeopardise your systems. We will also highlight some of the tools you can implement to ensure that your system is as safe as it can be.

The need for good quality cyber security defences

Is cyber security really as important as everyone makes out?

Technology is the only way to achieve the levels of productivity expected in today’s workplace – without it you don’t stand a chance of offering the quality needed for growth. Of course, as with all innovation, tech can create problems, and our reliance on it has opened a window of opportunity to the criminal community. If a cyber criminal gains access or control over your system, they have the power to do damage that could render your business unrecognisable, and, in some cases, there is no way of stopping them.

The problem is that most business owners have no idea how a cyber criminal will try to attack their systems and simply aren’t taking this matter seriously enough. You are more likely to be attacked through technical means than physically these days – the amount of effort you put in to defending the physical security of your organisation should be met or, in fact, exceeded by your efforts to defend it technically.

Here are some of the methods that cyber criminals may use to attack your systems:

The cyber threats

Malware

Malware is software designed with the sole intention of causing harm, or as the vessel for a cyber criminal to steal your data. Malware can take many forms and is commonly managed by a group instead of an individual; the group are looking to make money – that is their sole intention – which they do by selling the Malware over the dark web or simply spreading it themselves.

Phishing attacks

Phishing attacks are one of the most common forms of attack used by cyber criminals – they succeed by assuming a false identity with the intention of extracting sensitive information directly from their victim.

They pretend to be someone trusted or at the very least familiar to the target individual (perhaps a bank or a work colleague, for example). These attacks take place on Email, predominantly because it is quick and easy but also because it is one of the few ways the ruse could be believed.

Ransomware attacks

Ransomware is most commonly associated with file encryption. The attack is designed to force victims into paying a ransom in order to gain back access to their encrypted files or disabled systems. The hackers infect your system or device. They then follow this with a message to the target, explaining ‘the situation’ and demanding a fee on the promise they will give you a ‘decryption key’ to regain access to your system.

The criminal will threaten the victim with deletion or distribution of the data should they decide not to pay the ransom. Some pay the attackers due to the massive pressure they are put under – don’t do this! Would you trust a criminal you were face to face with? No, then why do you trust them when online?

If you can prevent the attack from ever taking place then this decision won’t need to be made at all. This can only be achieved by knowing the risks, remaining alert to them, and having capable technical security defences in place.

In the following article we will take a look at the technical measures you can implement to be sure you are defending your system to the best of your ability.

Connecting you to the modern world

Since our conception back in 2005, at Vostron we have operated under a series of predetermined guiding principles: agility, people, and approachability. With those principles adopted wholeheartedly throughout everything that we do, along with our progressive approach in helping our clients to achieve their business goals in the most cost-effective and secure way possible, we are proud to say that we have earned the trust of a loyal customer base across the UK from our home in Southampton. Please don’t hesitate to get in contact to find out how we can help you!