BetterWorld Mission Critical Guide Series, Part 5: Cyber Security as a Service

Why Cybersecurity as a Service? Why Now?

Despite the common misconception that cyber-criminals only target larger enterprises, the vast majority of businesses are at risk of cybercrime. In fact, in a recent survey of 850 global organizations with sizes ranging from 10 to 1,000 employees, Vanson Bourne found that 64% had suffered cyber-attacks.

The truth is, cyber-criminals love remote access tools. Why? Because thanks to your remote access tools, they can gain access to your businesses and others from a single attack. To make matters worse, many companies have weak security practices, which makes them easy targets for ransomware. The fact that cyber-attacks among small and mid-sized businesses are becoming increasingly common, it is imperative not to ignore remote access security issues.

Remote work has been gaining popularity across businesses of all sizes. It provides flexibility to colleagues and opens up companies to a workforce without limits to city, state, or country. While the ability to work remote offers convenience for staff and a nice perk to provide prospects with, there are times when your staff will need to work remotely out of necessity.

A common tactic for bad actors is to capitalize on issues or events that trigger a gut response like fear in the reader. Email subject lines like “Corona News Flash” or “X New Cases in New York” stroke the flames of uneasiness and try to get a user to click without investigating if the email is even credible.

THINGS YOU CAN DO TODAY WHILE THE NEW NORMAL WORKS ITSELF OUT

With access to important documents and applications established, you need to ensure your connections are secure. Installing a secure VPN is a direct link to client servers but more security should be implemented. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is an extra layer of security which requires the end user to enter a second form of authentication, like a code sent to their phone to gain access to servers or other applications.

Enforcing better password protection practices are needed when more clients are working remotely. Eventually, not everyone will be working from home. They may go to a coffee shop or other public area, increasing the chances of their passwords to be stolen if they are not careful. Simple practices like not storing passwords to browsers and instead using a password vault can make it more difficult for unauthorized users to gain access.