Cyber security is one of the most crucial elements of any business structure. Not only does it maintain the smooth operation of all things digitally conducted in the company, but it also ensures all business, client, and employee data is both protected and sufficiently managed.
Here, you will learn exactly what cyber security threats are a risk for your business, how they can damage it, and how best to prevent/manage them.
What are the biggest cyber security threats for businesses?
As our current digital world becomes more evolved, so do the threats that seek to corrupt your business. There are various forms of cyber security threats, each one with its own malicious intentions. These include, but are not limited to:
Malware
Hackers can use software, such as worms or viruses, to infiltrate and damage your business's cyber security. If any of this software is activated (potentially by a download or clicking a link) then the software can disrupt the business, harm your security protection, and even steal or corrupt data.
Cyber phishing
Cyber phishing attacks occur when hackers use deceptive communication to trick you into disclosing sensitive information or data to them without realising it. For instance, they could send you a fake email pretending to be a bank or fake website, and once you enter information such as your card details or passwords, they now have that information to use at their will.
Deepfakes
These are a highly manipulative form of cyberattack where the software will take existing photos, text, or even voice recordings from real-life people to mimic their character and coax information from you. This could involve a hacker pretending to be a client who ends up extracting sensitive company information from you.
How can cyber threats damage a business?
Cyber threats can damage a business in many ways, which is why prevention is so important. Businesses are constantly dealing with multiple transactions of sensitive information and data daily. A cyber attack could result in things like client credit card or log-in details being stolen, and this will result in major losses to both you and the company.
Also, cyber attacks can lead to poor software performance if your system is corrupted, and this will halt business operations and prove highly disruptive. There is also your reputation to consider since a company under constant attack and cyber breaches could prevent potential clients from seeking your services out of security risks.
What can businesses do to prevent cyber attacks?
There are many things that a business can do to prevent these malicious cyber attacks from harming their business. A few of these key things are:
Firewalls
Firewalls are an excellent form of defence against cyberattacks since they provide multiple layers of digital protection that prevent oncoming digital attacks on your system. Different firewalls offer different levels of protection, but each one is sufficient in blocking any software, viruses, or AIs from entering your system.
Optimal software
You must make sure all the software you use in your company is up to date and high-level. Using a well-known system, such as Office 365, will ensure you have the highest level of data, communication, and email security, all from trusted software. These often tend to dissuade hackers from attempting attacks since they know the systems are harder to breach.
Training
Staff training can help prevent cyberattacks since it will allow them to know how to spot potential risks and deal with them accordingly. With the right knowledge, they will know how to avoid clicking on certain links/attachments and know how to check they are not being phished or deepfaked.
What to do if a cyber attack does occur
If you happen to become a victim of a cyber security breach, there are a few things you can do to get rid of the problem as effectively and efficiently as possible. Firstly, you can contain the breach by turning off your internet whilst keeping your firewall secure. This can stop the attack from spreading while it is dealt with. Then, you can analyse the breach to determine what it is, where it came from, and what it has affected, all to give you the best way of resolving it.
You can then contact your cyber security team and have them locate and rid the system of the attack, and then check to make sure it hasn’t affected anything else. This will allow you to return your system to normal.
About Nathan Hill-Haimes
Nathan is an Investor & Co-Founder at Amvia, a serial telecoms entrepreneur, and inbound marketing expert. From his home in coastal North Devon, Nath works with a portfolio of technology, property & sports investments through his fund Croyde Bay Ventures. When he’s not working, Nath can usually be found surfing, mountain biking, or walking the North Devon Coast with Wilf his Working Cocker.
