Cybersecurity attacks have taken over the headlines in 2021, with networking and cybersecurity firm SonicWall reporting 304.7 million ransomware attacks as of June 2021 – a number higher than the total number of attacks in the entirety of 2020. SeedSpark is constantly monitoring the cybersecurity landscape to understand how today’s top attacks are affecting businesses both small and large. We’ve introduced new tools with SeedSpark Cybersecurity that provide reliable protection for our clients, but individual users are the first line of defense against attacks. Here are the biggest cybersecurity lessons that we’ve learned in 2021:
Make Backups a Priority
Performing regular backups that take a complete snapshot of your entire data library can be the difference between bouncing back from a disaster and dragging out its impact.
While weekly backups are recommended as the industry standard, many services perform daily backups that work to minimize data loss while maximizing security.
Use Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity
While definition-based cybersecurity solutions have been a longstanding foundation in the industry, artificial intelligence is changing the game as attacks themselves continue to evolve. Rather than focusing on fighting predetermined threats, AI-powered cybersecurity brings together definitions-based defense and intelligent solutions that evolve with the threats, creating a layer of protection that learns the latest threats and prepares a defense.
Provide Training for Your Employees
Attacks come in all shapes and sizes, but social engineering is still the top way that hackers weasel their way into a company’s data. As mentioned earlier, the first line of defense in every cybersecurity plan is your team.
Providing basic ongoing cybersecurity training helps each person understand what to look for in an attack, helping them report suspicious emails and protect your company’s data against malicious attacks.
Keep Your Hardware Protected
Many companies focus on cybersecurity software, but fail to remember to defend against the most basic in-person attacks. With hybrid workplaces becoming the norm, “the office” could be anywhere from your bedroom to a coffee shop. It’s important to remember to never leave your device unattended in public. Even in the office, simply locking your desktop before stepping away for a coffee refill can help keep your work and your data protected.
Enhanced Password Security
Did you know that 57 percent of people who have been scammed in phishing attacks are still using the same password – yes, the password that was likely compromised. Using a password that uses a combination of numbers and special characters is a great first step, but a passphrase is becoming an even better option for many! Changing this password every 6 months helps ensure that your account is always secure, especially in the case of unreported or underreported data breaches.
While each of these is a good step toward stronger cybersecurity, our team at SeedSpark offers a complete solution through our SeedSpark Cybersecurity suite. Through a partnership with SeninelOne, our team is proud to offer AI-powered cybersecurity to our clients in addition to network security, email security, regular data backups, and more.
Contact our team and schedule a free 30-minute cybersecurity assessment. SeedSpark works with clients of every size, leveraging the right technology to meet today’s needs while preparing their business for tomorrow.
