FIVE CRITICAL SOLUTIONS TO AVOID CYBER ATTACKS
As technology advances, life has become both more comfortable and dangerous. Individuals, corporations and even government bodies are victims of cyberattacks. In one year, almost 450 cyber-attacks happened against the Australian government. According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) report, a cybercrime once is reported every ten minutes. In the year 2019, Australians lost 634 million dollars due to cyber-attacks and this figure is estimated from the reported cases alone. There are certain protocols that individuals or corporations can follow to help guard their cyberspace.
1. Penetration Testing
Ethical hacking or pen test is a security program which prepares contingency plans for possible attacks. Through simulations of cyber attacks, they identify the system’s vulnerabilities using a threat modelling technique and determine how someone may exploit it. With the help of the data, Penetration testing services provide innovative resolutions to improve the security system. The service companies conduct employee awareness and training programs to enable individuals to respond strategically.
Regular pen testing will ensure that the company’s system is updated and secure from any modern forms of attack as experienced pen tests will be up to date with the latest hacking techniques. There are various types of pen tests: Network Security Penetration Testing, Cloud-based and Wireless Penetration Testing. The service providers who specialise in the field can determine the tests the client’s system requires and efficiently cater to their needs.
2. Training Employees:
Employees can be great resources in making strategic decisions to protect the system from a cyber attack. Ironically, employees are often the doorways to cybercrimes if they are untrained. Companies must invest in training their employees who might file sensitive data with a weak password or use an unsecured network. Almost ninety per cent of cyber-attacks are due to the ignorance of the staff. Training and awareness programs within the organisation can reduce the possibility of phishing attacks. Social engineering hackers use data found in social platforms to hack systems. Employees must be discouraged from sharing information about the company on social media or sharing their passwords.
3. MFA and Encryption:
Multiple Factor Authentication (MFA) builds up walls of security which will discourage cybercriminals. Encrypting data with advanced tools is essential to protect data. Instead of saving all information in a single source, one should use multiple segments of windows to store data. Hackers will not be able to exploit all privacy through a single system in this way. One can also use cloud solutions to ensure that data is backed up in the system.
4. Avail Professional Cyber Security Services
Even if the employees are trained enough to avoid inviting cyber attacks, they might not be well-equipped with the security programs that a professional can offer. An in-house cybersecurity team can be expensive and time-consuming. The practical solution is to outsource cybersecurity to specialised service providers. When it comes to availing anti-malware software, CAPTA technology and penetrative testing outsourcing is a cost-effective and reliable solution.
5. Updated and Patched Software:
A hacker is most likely to attack through exploiting the code defects. Cybercriminals can target any application or software through any employee’s system. If left undetected, security can be left vulnerable for years before they are patched. Keeping the software updated will ensure that the software vendor supports cyberspace. Activating firewalls is another effective solution to keep off cybercriminals from hacking into the system.
The Cyber Security Strategy 2020, launched by the ACSC, improves the protection of individuals, businesses and governments from cybercrimes. The ten-year budget is estimated to be at 1.67 billion dollars. Despite its many attempts, the Australian government reports an increasing number of cyberattacks. Awareness of protection and protocols under an attack is essential to safeguard cyberspace. Individuals and corporations are equally responsible for cooperating with the government to improve cybersecurity.
