Cyber Attacks Don't Discriminate

Cybercrimes, including ransomware, continue to proliferate.  The recent attacks in the news highlight the vulnerabilities and high costs of these faceless crimes.  The July 9, 2021 edition of The Kiplinger Letter1 devoted nearly an entire page to the topic, noting that small businesses are equally vulnerable.  Even small businesses with limited IT budgets should enact cyber best practices to reduce the exposure.  These tips from the National Institute of Standards and Technology2 are worth your attention:

1. Configure computers so that only authorized apps will run on them.

2. Prohibit employees’ personal devices on the business network.

3. Educate employees about phishing emails and the infected links often included.

4. Use security software that blocks ransomware websites.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is becoming more prevalent as a security measure against hackers.  MFA utilizes a second form of identification (text, webcam, email) to verify that the user is authorized.   Even if a password is stolen, MFA will prevent the hacker from logging in and doing damage.

Like other risk prevention techniques, these tips reduce the likelihood of your business being victimized by cybercrimes.  But nothing prevents them 100 percent.  Cyber insurance offers financial protection from the after-effects of a cybercrime.  Consider talking to us about the coverages and options included in a policy.

 

¹The Kiplinger Letter, 98(27), July 9, 2021.² https://www.nist.gov³ 2021 Cyber Attack Statistics, Data, and Trends.  https://paracutetechs.com.  Retrieved July 16, 2021.