In a world that is becoming increasingly reliant on digital architecture, the threat of malicious cyberattacks has become a very real and dangerous issue, especially for businesses. With most of our sensitive information stored somewhere on a digital database, experienced cyber criminals can use this to wreak havoc on business operations, often costing your company serious money.
Let’s take a look at the most common cyber threats businesses face today.
Ransomware
The Ransomware attack is the bread and butter of cybercriminals. These common attacks occur on a daily basis, affecting millions of businesses across the globe. As the name suggests, a ransomware attack is when a cybercriminal restricts an organization's access to valuable networks and information via encryption software until a ransom is paid to lift the restriction.
Small businesses are usually the preferred target, as they often don’t have strong digital backup and cyber security systems in place. For cybercrooks, this is a very lucrative endeavor that requires little effort on their part, which is why it is such a prevalent threat.
Malware Attack
Malware is another common threat faced by businesses. Malware is an umbrella term that refers to hostile code that is delivered to your devices via trojan horse software and viruses. This hostile program comes in various forms with a variety of agendas, including providing access to your business networks, and stealing and destroying sensitive data.
This can put both your employees and clients at risk of having their data stolen, making protection against it a top priority to maintain business integrity.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks occur when an attacker pretends to be a trusted contact and entices a user to click a malicious link, download a malicious file, or give them access to sensitive information, account details or credentials.
A phishing attack is when a cyber criminal convinces a user to follow a harmful link, either by posing as a trusted contact or service provider. Usually, if you click the link it downloads a small but malicious piece of software that can give the attacker access to your sensitive information such as account details, credentials, etc.
Insider Threats
The Insider Threat, as its namesake suggests, refers to a threat that originates from within the company, such as employees (past and present), contractors or business associates. These individuals will likely have access to vital company data and, as an insider, could very well know how to use it against you. While the motives will vary between individuals, insider attacks can cause serious harm to your business operations.
This is why it is crucial for organizations to employ strict security protocols for both internal and contracted individuals in the business that can be meticulously tracked, ensuring that the security of your data is protected from all angles.
Let us help protect you
With the complexity of cyber threats evolving every day, it is crucial that you partner with an experienced cybersecurity firm. BUI, in strong partnership with First Technology, can provide your business with a robust Cyber Security Ecosystem powered by advanced AI. We stay on top of the latest emerging trends in cyber security and threats, ensuring we provide our clients with the most invulnerable digital security solutions possible.
If you would like to learn more about our cyber-security solutions, please contact Jolene Strydom on jolenes@firsttechnology.co.za or 021 525 7000. Alternatively, please visit our website and get in touch.