Cybercriminals are an unfortunate fact of life in 2020 and businesses of all sizes are at risk from their malicious intentions. Every week it seems that a new, high-profile hack has occurred, but that often fails to address the smaller businesses that are far more likely to face a cyberattack.
The key to minimizing the risks of a cyberattack is to know how to spot when you are under threat. There are a variety of ways to achieve this. While it can be stressful to think about coming under the scrutiny of hackers, the potential risk of not addressing the issues is far greater.
Here are the best ways to detect a cyber threat in 2020. Learn to spot the signs and your business will be far more secure.
Email Phishing
One of the most common methods used by hackers is phishing. This is when cybercriminals, usually via email, pretend to be a legitimate account or customer, and convince users to open an email attachment or click on a link. Either action will result in exposure to malware of some kind. Make sure that employees are aware of how to identify potentially risky communication, and they also know not to click on suspicious attachments or links.
Endpoint Monitoring
Most cyberattacks start with the individual, and that means that all members of your workforce that act as endpoint users need robust cybersecurity training sessions. Contextual awareness is key, because the faster that someone knows that their devices or networks have been compromised, the quicker your accident response can act. Security experts McAfee have a number of recommendations for endpoint detection and response.
Suspicious Network Activity
Again, this is all about ensuring that your team is aware of the signs of a cyber threat. Suspicious activity can be a sign that a system has been attacked or is currently under attack. One of the most common signs is to find that password access to your system is denied. This indicates that a password has been used by a malicious actor who is making system changes to lock you out. Make sure that password management is a priority in your business.
Network Slowdown
Network traffic can spike during a breach, so if your system is slower than usual, this can often be a sign that you are being attacked. If a network slowdown is reported by any member of your team, it’s a good idea to launch your incident response plan immediately. Even if your team discovers no breach, it is better to test than simply hope that network slowdown is normal.
Adware and Pop-Ups
Browsing the Internet exposes endpoints to potential dangers and pop-ups, adware, and malvertising are all subjects that you need to have some awareness of. Know how to identify risky online activity and ensure that your teams are aware of what they can and can’t click on when using the business network or any business devices. However, you should also ensure that they practice security protocols on their own devices as well, especially in a BYOD environment.
Coming under attack from online criminals can be incredibly damaging to a business and there are no business models that are immune to the attention of hackers. Make sure that your digital security is fully optimized with a training culture that keeps your workforce up to date on the latest threats. That way your business will be more likely to have a defense system that will encourage hackers to head elsewhere.
