A major threat to any business is a cyber-attack, which is the result of gaps between the security team and the company and leads to halting all business activities. To make sure that these attacks are prevented is the responsibility of the security team, but firms also have to be a part of comprehensive strategy planning on cyber-attacks. These attacks are expected to cost $6 trillion annually in this year, which is double the loss incurred by these attacks in the year 2015.
To target single or multiple computers on a network, a cyber-attack is an assault by cyber criminals or group that use one or more computers. These attacks may be against an individual, company, or even the government and may damage or steal personal or financial data, steal money or intellectual property, etc.
The World Wide Web which was invented in 1989 is being used by more than 4.66 billion internet users around the globe, which is more than half of the total population of 7.8 billion. The number of active users and devices on the internet will be increasing as IoT devices are emerging.
To help prevent these attacks, there are software programs along with various malicious software and programs available on the internet. There is an increasing need to protect data as data-generation on a daily basis is increasing and most of the time, the motive of any of these attacks is to steal or corrupt data.
Phishing and malware are the top attacks caused by cyber criminals. Phishing includes fraudulently obtaining confidential data such as usernames, passwords, or bank details by disguising oneself as a popular individual or entity. Malware attacks are performed using malicious software and programs installed on a user’s computer without their knowledge.
Organizations fear hacking groups more than nations as a possible origin and the most likely source of these attacks. However, the origin of these attacks is unknown most of the time.
A day-zero attack is quite challenging to prevent, which leaves them waiting for attacks or breaches and can act only to mitigate the damage.
Cyber-attack prevention requires employers to join hands with employees
Protection of data rather than just harvesting it should be the main concern of any business that operates on the internet. Companies lack security awareness, which should become the utmost priority. Firms will never become 100 per cent secure even if they do the best to prevent attacks
There has to be a boost in cyber protection with security software, vulnerability management, and employee training to take on any attack.
With simulations in a secure environment, companies can check whether they are safe from attacks, for which there are various security companies available who specialize in such simulations. These companies can help conduct one without harming the network and data. This will help businesses to identify their flaws and provide them a better perspective regarding their current security policies.
Also, these results would mitigate any detected vulnerability and allow organizations to make the necessary changes in preventing future cyber-attacks.
Also, cyber security awareness training helps in the long run to prevent attacks. Employers need to join hands with employees by providing them training on security and develop a robust version of the training program for future employees.
As per an OTA report, more than 90 per cent of breaches could be prevented, out of which, 29 per cent were caused by employees accidentally.
Another FireEye report found that 49 per cent of all organisations feel that they are ready for a full-fledged cyber-attack.
In order to be ready for an attack there are some guidelines which include the following: No employee should click on malicious links, there should be a manual procedure to keep the business going on in case of an attack, there should be a communication tool in place to alert and forward instructions to the business in case of a cyber-attack, business should be tested for security responders, IT recovery teams, and users, there should be cyber-attack responders in place, business applications that are critical should be known to employers and employees, there should be a plan to handle the damage of such cyber-attacks and there has to be a disaster recovery (DR) team with a DR plan.
Although cyber-attacks will never be prevented 100 per cent, with the above guidelines in place the business will have a plan to deal with the attacks.
Also Read: Remote working can cause fear regarding Cyber-security
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