2017 has been a year marked by unprecedented data breaches, the sum total of which accounts for billions of compromised documents and user accounts. Those targeted include Deloitte, Gmail, Equifax, Yahoo, FAFSA through the IRS, and the list continues to grow. Certain industries, including healthcare and financial services, were hit harder than others. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania residents and businesses were not spared the sting of cybercrime, with the following incidents representing the worst of 2017's data breaches.
If anything, these recent breaches show the growing variety of cyber threats. From ransomware and point-of-sale hacks to email and SMS phishing, these threats have become increasingly ubiquitous. But why? This growth can be attributed to a number of factors: diversification of attack type, decreased cost of premade hacking materials and their availability on the dark web, increased use of file-less attacks, and expanded reliance on smart devices including IoT products.
So how does one contend with these factors? By leveraging third-party expertise that provides tailored, proactive IT infrastructure. In partnering with an IT provider, such as iCorps, you can utilize resources including, but not limited to, the following:
Unfortunately, many companies wait until it is too late to develop a security posture befitting their size, scope, and clientele. Others operate under the assumption that cybersecurity ends with setting up a firewall - the "set it and forget it" mindset. This is simply not the case. In the event of a data breach, businesses must contend with lost company profits and time, and compromised employee security, hardware, data, and intellectual property. For those businesses that are able to recover from a security event, the process is arduous and costly. Instead of relying on this reactive, "damage control" approach, consider a proactive security infrastructure that will mitigate these potential issues.
Another essential component of preventative security is employee education. End-users often prove the weakest link in companies with a fortified IT infrastructure. Fortunately, there are many ways to close this cyber-awareness gap: setting up multi-factor authentication, and installing software that automatically scans incoming emails for malware or suspicious attachments. Incorporate routine, engaging content on security best practices. You can also utilize third-party expertise. iCorps offers on-site, customized cybersecurity training, tailored to meet your staff's needs.
Of course, employee education will only go so far without supporting, company-wide cybersecurity standards. What policies do you have to secure your data? Given the rising number of remote workers, do those policies also cover mobile devices? Once an afterthought, these questions must now be an essential component of your company's proactive strategy. They protect your clients, employees, and intellectual property. Not only do cybersecurity policies alert users to expectations and best practices, they allow for more consistent understanding across all management levels.
Don't know what to include in your cybersecurity policies? IT security experts can help develop and implement a set of policies that address the unique features of your business. Not only would these policies be crafted around industry best practices, but they would also ensure your company is compliant with national and state-specific regulations. By outsourcing to a third party, whose job it is to monitor changes in data regulation and reporting, you can better allocate your time, focusing instead on growing your business.
There is no substitute for a well-thought-out, customized cybersecurity plan. Do not let the growing threat of cybercrime distract from your businesses' goals, profits, and prospects. While reviewing the state of your security posture, remember to:
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