Top Cybersecurity Threats and Solutions Small Businesses Must Watch Out For
Data loss can be devastating for any business. But this is particularly true for small businesses. These companies often lack the resilience and deep pockets required to recover from massive breaches. The data that small businesses collect and store is extremely valuable, and the loss of this data can be devastating to the company. Recent reports estimate that as much as 60 percent of small companies go out of business within six months of suffering a major data breach or cyberattack. This is why it’s urgent for companies to be proactive about cybersecurity and take steps to protect their business’s information before they suffer a major security incident. Managed IT Security Los Angeles has extensive resources on security tips and tricks for small businesses.
Common Types of Cybersecurity Threats
Malware
Malware is a malicious software program that is designed to infect and take control of your computer. Malware can be used to steal personal information, destroy data, or take control of your computer system. Malware can be spread using email attachments and websites that try to trick you into downloading it by making them look like they are from legitimate sources. You should never open an email attachment unless you know who sent it and what the attachment contains. If you're not sure about anything in an email, delete it without opening it!
Phishing
Phishing is a scam that uses email to trick users into revealing personal information or clicking on links or attachments that contain malware. Phishing can also be done by text, phone and social media. The emails are typically sent out in large batches and will often look legitimate, but if you take the time to read the email carefully, you'll see signs of it being a phishing attempt. The most common red flag is an email with poor grammar and spelling errors (e.g., “I got your account hacked”). A good rule of thumb is if something sounds too good to be true—it probably is!
Denial of Service Attack
A DoS attack is an attempt to make a computer or network resource unavailable to its intended users. These attacks are often initiated by a single machine targeting another computer, but may also involve many machines targeting the same target. One of the most common methods for launching an attack on a website is through a malicious botnet, which uses malware installed on unwitting computers to send requests to a targeted website that overwhelms its servers with fake traffic. Because these requests come from multiple sources, there's no way for anyone monitoring traffic at the target site to tell they're not legitimate visitors--and even if they do notice something suspicious, it can be difficult to know where the request originated.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that blocks access to your computer system until you pay the ransom. Ransomware is often distributed through phishing emails, though it may also be installed through malicious websites or by clicking on infected links. Once the ransomware is downloaded and executed, it encrypts all files on the system and displays a notification that demands payment in order to decrypt those files. Ransomware has been around for many years but has become more common with the rise in popularity of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. This allows hackers to gain access to funds stored in untraceable accounts rather than having to collect money by other means that are easily traceable.
6 Key Cybersecurity Solutions for Small Businesses
(1) Intrusion Prevention and (2)Detection Systems
Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) are designed to detect and prevent cyberattacks.
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are designed to detect cyberattacks.
Both IPS and IDS can be used to prevent and detect malicious activity, but they have different functionality. An IPS monitor network traffic for signs of an attack, blocking, or alerts the network administrator or security team of what happened so that they can respond accordingly. An IDS detects an attack once it has already happened by analyzing data from various sources on a system's activity; then it generates alerts so that notifications are sent out to the appropriate people in case further action needs to be taken.
(To learn more, you can contact IT Support Los Angeles.)
(3) Multi-Layer Firewall
A multi-layer firewall is a firewall that has multiple layers. Multi-layer firewalls use dynamic packet filtering technology to block malicious traffic before it enters the network. A multi-layer firewall can also monitor business network connections, actively monitoring packets and flagging potentially threatening attempts. This helps minimize the damage in case of a breach, giving you time to terminate the access to sensitive resources.
The first layer in a multi-layer firewall is a network layer, which ensures that the network traffic is from one of your allowed IP addresses and not from an unknown source. The second layer is a transport layer, which ensures that the incoming data packets are in proper sequence and have no errors or missing information. The third layer is an application layer, which examines each packet before it enters your network to ensure it’s legitimate and not malicious software trying to access your system.
(4) Security Patch Management Tools
With the exponential growth of cyber threats, it is essential that small businesses stay up-to-date with the latest security updates. Security patches are software updates that fix bugs and security vulnerabilities. They are important because they are often the first line of defense against cyberattacks. Security patches can be free or paid; some require a reboot to install, while others do not. The best way for a business owner to know if he needs a particular type of security patch is by using an app like Patch Manager from Microsoft (available on Windows 7, 8 and 10) or WSUS Offline Update from SCCM/MDT/ConfigMgr 2007 SP2+ (free).
(5) Identity and Access Management
Identity and access management is the process of managing and controlling access to resources. It's a key component of cybersecurity because it helps ensure that only authorized people have access to the network, applications, or data. This can be done in many ways, such as:
Implementing multifactor authentication for all users.
Allowing remote access only after authenticating with two-factor (or more) verification using something you know (password) and something you have (token or phone).
(6) Managed Cybersecurity Solutions
Managed cybersecurity service providers can offer different types of cybersecurity solutions to minimize security risks. Security services will vary from one managed cybersecurity provider to another, but you can expect all managed cybersecurity providers to provide audits and assessments, end-user training and education, vendor risk management, and incident response services. Managed cybersecurity providers like Managed IT Services Los Angeles can also help identify the internal and external security vulnerabilities of your business by evaluating the security policies, reviewing security architecture, and utilizing penetration testing to fill the gaps in your business network infrastructure.
About the author
Brent Whitfield
Brent Whitfield is the CEO of DCG Technical Solutions LLC. DCG provides specialist advice and IT Consulting Los Angeles area businesses need to remain competitive and productive while being sensitive to limited IT budgets.
Brent has been featured in Fast Company, CNBC, Network Computing, Reuters, and Yahoo Business. He also leads SMBTN – Los Angeles, an MSP peer group that focuses on continuing education for MSPs and IT professionals. https://www.dcgla.com was recognized among the Top 10 Fastest Growing MSPs in North America by MSP mentors. Stay connected via LinkedIn.
