While living in the digital age offers us modern conveniences and technology, it also provides criminals a new way to break in. Private corporations and the government face cyber threats not just daily, but multiple times a day. In fact, The Pentagon records 10 million attempts each day and The National Nuclear Security Administration reports 10 million hacks a day. It’s frightening to think what could happen if our country’s most sensitive information were hacked and sold to the highest bidder. While it’s not quite time to run for the hills, there are three steps your company should take to avoid cyber attacks.
1. Information is key.
Make your employees aware of the threats you face. Offer webinars or courses instructing your employees how to better detect attempted attacks or threats on their work devices. “See something, say something” should be your motto.
Cyber threats are not only reserved for PCs, but also mobile devices and, believe it or not, Macs. If your system has been breached, let your employees know about the incident, so they’ll understand how to avoid it. Additionally, barring any company sensitive information, let businesses in your industry know about any unusual cyber attacks. They could be experiencing the same attacks and may be able to offer helpful insight.
2. Get help when you need it.
Just like each new super flu virus, we need to understand what’s different about the virus and how to stop the spread of infection. If you suspect a pattern of attacks, contact a reputable security consultancy to help you reverse-engineer any newly discovered malware. These companies are experienced in malware forensics and can help you set up strong defenses against these new, advanced types of threats.
3. Train new recruits.
The Internet isn’t going away and neither are the threats. We need to ensure we have a steady flow of IT and network security personnel at the ready to fight. Invest in training and bring Americans into the cyber-security field, so we can be better prepared against both foreign and domestic cyber threats.
Cyber attacks are growing in number and frequency for private business and government agencies, alike. While there are continued discussions happening about how to regulate and document these threats, there are steps your company should take in order to protect your information. Make your leadership and employees aware of attacks and recent threats, so they will be better educated on what to look for. Lure hackers into your system, in order to gauge their attack pattern and use it against them. Finally, invest in your company’s future by campaigning for better cyber security training.
How does your company protect against cyber attacks?
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