Did you know that nearly 50% of businesses fail within the first five years? The good news is that there are steps you can take to prevent this scenario. One of the most important responsibilities that business owners have is keeping data safe in their organization.

In context, this means understanding how to recognize cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threats. Otherwise, your sensitive information will be at risk of compromise.

We’ve put together a brief guide on common cybersecurity threats that you should keep in mind. Let’s get started.

Malware Attacks

As you might guess, this is one of the most common that business owners deal with.

Malware is a broad term that includes any type of malicious software. This can be viruses, worms, spyware, and more. The goal of malware is to damage or gain access to data on your network.

One common type of malware is ransomware. This happens when an attacker encrypts your business data and then demands a ransom to decrypt it.

This can be a very costly problem, so it’s important to have backups of your data in case this happens.

Phishing Attacks

Phishing is another common type of attack that business owners need to be aware of. This is when an attacker attempts to trick someone into giving them sensitive information.

They might do this by pretending to be from a trusted organization or by sending an email that looks like it’s from a legitimate source. If you get an email that looks suspicious, don’t click on any links or attachments.

Instead, contact the sender to verify that the message is legitimate.

Denial of Service Attacks

A denial of service attack (DoS) is when an attacker tries to prevent legitimate users from accessing a system.

They might do this by flooding the system with requests or by taking it offline completely. This can be a major problem for businesses, as it can prevent employees from being able to work.

Lack of Employee Training

One of the biggest cybersecurity threats that businesses face is a lack of employee training. Many people don’t know how to spot a phishing email or what to do if they think their computer has been infected with malware. As a result, they can inadvertently put your whole network at risk.

Make sure you provide employees with training on how to spot and avoid attacks. You should also have a plan in place for what to do if an attack does occur.

What Are the Signs of a Security Problem?

There are a few signs that could indicate that your business is having a security problem. If you notice any of the following, it’s worth investigating further.

Let’s take a closer look.

Unexplained Changes to Data or Systems

If you notice that data or files have been changed without any explanation, it’s possible that an attacker has gained access to your network.

However, you should be absolutely sure that this situation did not occur due to employee activity. It’s much easier to deal with employee-related issues than it is to perform a comprehensive investigation.

Unexplained Increase in Network Activity

This is a sign of a possible denial of service attack.

If you notice that your network is being hit with more traffic than usual, it’s worth investigating to see if this is the case. It will also help you prevent your utility bills from climbing higher than they should.

In some cases, an uptick in network activity could significantly hinder how productive your company is. Common consequences include slower download speeds, lagging APIs, etc.

Increased Number of Customer Complaints

If you start to receive an increased number of customer complaints, it’s possible that someone has gained access to your customer database. This is a serious problem, as it could lead to identity theft or fraud.

In a case like this, it’s often best to work with a professional like Cybriant in order to determine the cause of the issue. Many businesses simply do not have the experience or resources to do so on their own.

This is especially true for small companies with low budgets.

How Can You Protect Your Business?

There are a few key steps you can take to protect your business from cybersecurity threats.

One of the most important is to regularly audit your security architecture. This will help you identify any weaknesses in your system so that you can address them.

You should also have a plan in place for what to do if an attack does occur. This plan should include steps for how to contain the damage and how to recover any lost data.

It’s also important to provide employees with training on how to spot and avoid attacks. As we mentioned earlier, many people don’t know how to spot a phishing email or what to do if they think their computer has been infected with malware.

Finally, working with a professional can help ensure that you recognize and resolve any issues that you might have. It can also help you prevent other problems from arising.

You Can’t Overlook Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities and Threats

Although it might seem difficult at first to manage cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threats, it’s important to remember that you can’t neglect them. By taking the time to understand the issue, you can help protect your business from attacks in the future.

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