There are so many different threats to businesses today, and this is something that all companies need to prepare for. When it comes to this, though, many individuals have the “it won’t happen to me attitude” – especially small business owners – and this is a very dangerous approach to take.
The statistics show that no business is immune from a data breach, and of course, there are so many different ways that such an attack could be carried out. With that being said, continue to read to find out more about some of the most common and concerning tech threats to businesses today.
Patching – One of the biggest tech threats to businesses today is software applications that are out-of-date. Security vendors will often release patches. These patches tend to be released so that they can sure up any security vulnerabilities that have been notified. Therefore, if you do not update your software as soon as you are prompted to do so, it is likely that you are going to be leaving yourself wide open to an attack. This is something that applies to any type of software you use at your business, whether it is Customer Relationship Management software or software for handling your payroll.
Employees – There is no denying that the vast majority of attacks today are insider attacks. This does not mean that employees attack your system on purpose, although this can happen. In fact, a lot of these attacks occur because employees do not know how to use tech in a safe and secure manner and so they give cyberattackers a route in without even realizing it or intending to do so.
Poor tech choices – Poor tech decisions when it comes to the security of your business can also be to blame. You probably already know that you are going to have to use tech and software in order to overcome the security vulnerabilities you face. However, it is not a case of using the first or cheapest solution you lay your eyes on. Identity fraud is one of the biggest concerns for online stores today. You can look into leveraging on-device tech to meet KYC compliance and reduce the risk of a breach, but you can only do this with the right solution and identity fraud program. Sourcing with care is critical.
Social media – Aside from the vulnerabilities and risks that have already been mentioned, social media is something you need to pay a lot of attention to. There are two ways that social media can be a threat. The first is when social media best practices are not followed either by C-suites on their personal accounts or by employees on the corporate network, and this can result in reputational damage. The other risk associated with social media is phishing. This is when a cybercriminal sends a message to someone on social media that contains a link with harmful software activation.
Phishing – Considering we have just touched upon phishing, it only seems right to address this next. This is one of the most common forms of hacking, and it does not only occur over social media. In fact, email is one of the most common platforms for phishing emails to be sent. This is why you need to make sure that everyone at your business is educated with regards to how to spot a phishing email. This includes looking out for the tone of voice and checking email addresses.
Ransomware – Finally, we have ransomware, which involves embedding malicious scripts and codes inside documents and emails. There are other ways ransomware can occur but this is the most common. Installing tools to help you combat this is a must.
As you can see, there are many different tech threats that businesses need to be concerned with today. If you have not prepared for the potential risks that have been discussed in this blog post, you need to act sooner rather than later. After all, the last thing you want is for your business to be the victim of a cyber attack. If you read about the different data breaches online, you will see that the fines and reputational damage are huge, and this can be incredibly difficult to come back from.