The quality of the cyber security in your organisation should now dominate your list of business concerns – and if it doesn’t then it’s time to make some changes. The planet is now saturated with internet connected devices – and hand in hand with this unlimited connectivity should at the very least be a beginner level knowledge of cyber security, the potential risks to your systems, and what can be implemented to combat those risks. Your cyber security concerns could, in fact, overshadow the physical security of your company, and there are far more – and more devastating – consequences of a successful cyber attack.

Our workplaces are full of devices that rely on the internet, and criminals have grown wise to opportunities that these devices – if not protected correctly – can offer. They also enjoy the level of anonymity they can accomplish from a cyber attack as opposed to physically breaking in through a window or door, for example. For the majority of the time it is through indirect means that smaller to medium businesses get attacked – they either become collateral damage off the back of a cyber attack launched in a much larger business, or become one of the untold amounts of victims hit by an attack launched publicly, originating from the original target’s mailbox.

It is irrelevant how many internet connected devices you have – be it one or one hundred – the main reason people become victims is through lack of knowledge. Our tendency to want it now takes over – we open the box and get underway with enjoying all of the features it offers rather than starting cautiously by considering the dangers of using it incorrectly.

Let’s reiterate the importance of cyber security in a way that is relatable to all businesses. When the day is finished one of your team check the doors and windows to ensure the safety of the business – it’s automatic to do those checks, and that is how normal it should be to protect your systems. You don’t need to check your cyber security daily like you do your building, but you understand the premise.

All businesses are at risk! Cyber criminals don’t pick a sector for any particular reason, so you must have good standards of cyber security. With this being said, it can cause apprehension, as some have no idea of the tools to implement to ensure the most secure landscape as possible, or the cost of such a task. This can be made more difficult with business owners getting more and more eager as time goes on to get things started – a mix that doesn’t usually go well.

To be certain of your ability to defend your systems, you could begin to work toward becoming cyber certified with the Cyber Essentials Accreditation – not only does it help you remain cyber secure but it also projects a cyber security ethos to your clients, a very positive trait to have in the eye of any clientele.

The Methods of Cyber Attack

Malware

Malware is a file or piece of code that has been designed specifically to attack and undermine the functions of an application or the computer system itself. It comes in many variants but the most common way it can infect a network is via email attachments.

Ransomware

Ransomware is one of the most common forms of Malware and works by locking and encrypting your data. The cyber criminals demand a ransom under the promise that they will safely return your access and then leave you be. They will introduce a sense of urgency into your actions in an attempt to force you into paying the ransom – 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.

You would be forgiven if your first thought is to just pay the demanded amount and move on, but think about it – are you really going to be given access back just because they promised you they would? It is highly doubtful you will ever get access back regardless of if you pay or not, and, once having paid, instead of securing your files you are simply letting the criminals know that you have the funds to pay them, and with a gentle push are willing to.

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 the malicious links that are key to the cyber criminal’s attack being a success. The cyber criminal poses as a trusted source to the recipient (perhaps a bank, for example). They bring a sense of time sensitivity (like with a Ransomware attack) in the contents of their message; they do this in an attempt to force the recipient to make a decision quickly and on a whim, in the hope that the recipient hasn’t had time to think or to confirm the validity of the source. The rouse being believed would then involve the recipient clicking the link and facilitating the attack.

Cyber Security and your organisation

Using the tools at your disposal in your 365 ecosystem correctly will ensure value. You have the power to revolutionise the way your organisation produces work. We can ensure that you implement the right tools, use them correctly, and plan for the future with those tools as important assets in the prolonged success and safety of your organisation. Our success can be attributed to one thing: TRUST. Ever since our very first year in business our clients have been happy to recommend us to other businesses, and we have grown steadily as a result of these recommendations. We can help you to truly get the best from your IT in the most secure way possible. Don’t hesitate – contact us now!

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Book a no-obligation discovery call with a member of our team today by calling 0207 993 9035 or hello@netplatforms.wmtemp.com