Digital transformation, hybrid work models, the Internet of Things (IoT), and the incredible dependence on mobile devices are certain aspects that have increased cybersecurity threats in recent years for small and medium-sized businesses.
Not even the most renowned companies are exempt from computer security attacks, in fact, these companies are the ones that remain most vulnerable to being attacked by hackers.
But what risks are we talking about? Next, we will share 6 cybersecurity threats you should be concerned about as a business owner.
1. Malware and bots
If your computer has ever been attacked by a virus, you already have an idea of how malicious software affects it.
Malware is a malicious file or code, designed to break into a computer, server, client, or computer network. Some of the most common goals that your design is.
- Leak private information;
- Obtain unauthorized access to a system;
- Oppose access to certain information;
- Infect, explore, steal, or perform virtually any behavior the attacker desires.
- Using malware, hackers take over any electronic device and steal your passwords. It also enables financial crimes to be carried out.
In addition, without knowing it, the cybernaut can contaminate their contacts through email or their social networks.
The latter is expanding at a dizzying pace, even when social media communication channels have security systems in place to minimize such risks.
2. Phishing attacks
This practice consists of criminals tricking netizens into sharing personal information, thus using it to commit scams.
One of the most common forms of phishing is when people receive an email from a government or financial entity, requesting confidential information.
Phishing is a small part of a bigger issue known as social manipulation. This is based on persuading people through emotions to get their personal data.
For this reason, emails requesting confidential information should not be trusted. Keep in mind that no financial or government institution will ask to verify data by email without your authorization.
3. Spam (junk mail) and supply chain attacks
Spam refers to unsolicited communication sent in bulk. It is usually done through email but there is also spam through social networks or text messages (SMS).
Avoiding spam is the most difficult action for cybersecurity, since sending emails is free. Mass emailing may include links to Trojan files.
More than one person has had their email account hacked for connecting to a free network in a public place like a coffee shop or airport.
The truth is that hackers access usernames and passwords, to later ask friends for money for personal emergencies.
At the same time, In recent years, many companies have been victims of attacks on their supply chains.
The risk that these attacks represent is that they not only affect the provider companies, but also those that use their services.
So much has been damaged by this threat that many governments are considering implementing regulatory frameworks that encourage cybersecurity measures in companies.
4. Rise of ransomware
These crimes hit the front page of the news regarding cyberattacks in recent years.
They are an excellent source of income for criminals since they make money for unlocking encrypted systems, but also for bribing those who steal information not to publish or sell it on the dark web.
As if that were not enough, ransomware has become a digital asset offered on the dark web as malware as a service (MaaS).
That is why hackers who do not have specializations in the matter, use this type of cybercrime.
5. Advanced Persistent Threats and Internal threats
It consists of an attack campaign that is carried out over a certain period of time. The fundamental purpose is to access the network of a certain organization in an unauthorized way.
Hackers have the ability to stay on the network for a long time and use methodologies to avoid detection. They can steal a lot of sensitive data.
Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) require a high level of expertise, planning, and experience on the part of hackers.
This is why APTs are launched against strong points such as multinationals, governments, or financial institutions.
Companies do not escape the clutches of their own staff. When companies grant unlimited access to their systems.
The same employees or members of the organization can be a threat to digital security. Cyber Security from Virtu classes of insider threats that include:
- Careless Insider: This is a member of the company who accidentally causes damage to cybersecurity, leaving systems in check.
- Malicious insider: consists of a person who uses their access rights to carry out malicious actions. Among them are the theft of information for personal gain.
- Compromised Insider: This is a hacker who compromises a user’s account and pretends to be a user with access rights.
6. Cloud security threats
Cloud-native platforms can be difficult to secure in some cases since they are dynamic in nature and composed of many entities. Threats to cybersecurity in the cloud are:
- Low visibility: traditional cybersecurity mechanisms do not allow serverless environments to be seen, this is a perfect environment for hackers to go undetected.
- Base Image Vulnerability: Countless cloud-native platforms are based on Docker containers, which work via images. If these resources are vulnerable, all containers will also be vulnerable.
- Serverless permissions: Hackers can use flaws in an application’s permission settings to compromise a server’s performance.
- Open source components: iCloud native platforms consist of open-source components with certain dependencies. They may have cybersecurity flaws or license issues.
- Many entities: Today’s applications can contain thousands of containers and dozens of microservices. Each of them is vulnerable to failure.
- As you can see, all companies could be the target of a cyberattack if they do not have tools that guarantee security in all their business operations.
To conclude
And these are the most common flaws as threats to cybersecurity in companies! We hope that this article has been useful to you in detecting any cyber attack in your company.
