Cyberattacks: How to Protect Yourself.
“Being a victim of a digital attack is only a matter of time”, Hugo Álvarez Rodríguez warns us. No one in the world of business likes to believe there’s a real threat on the internet but… Why deny what’s evident?
Hugo is an expert in cybersecurity, a field in which he has been working for the past ten years, helping companies and tech departments protect their network of devices, data and information from cyberattacks.
There has been an increase in cyberattacks all over the world in recent years and it’s not only big multinationals or important government departments that are on the spotlight. Both big corporations as well as SMEs are forced to defend themselves or, at least, try to minimise the damage.
According to Hiscox insurance, 43% of companies have been affected by a cyberthreat. Are we witnessing the professionalisation of hacker activity? There is an increasing amount of elements that can be hacked and it has become easier for the people behind the attacks. That’s why, in recent years, the number of cybercriminals has increased as well.
Most of the attacks use company networks as their point of access. Their main goal is to acquire valuable information in order to sell it or blackmail the company. Almost every threat falls into one of these three groups:
- Phishing: Massive attacks by email that take advantage of most users’ innocence.
- Ransomware: Encrypting information via a virus.
- Breach: A data breach is a security violation, in which sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen or used by an individual unauthorised to do so.
Quite the Headache for Companies
Workers’ emails have become the point of access to the data of any company. “99% successful cybersecurity breaches involve emails or web browsers”, Hugo explains.
We’re making a mistake, thus, in thinking that our information is of no good to cybercriminals or that network protection is something reserved only for big companies. We live in an environment that is moving towards full connectivity and in which crucial information is online… Cybersecurity must always be a priority.
Also, it’s estimated that cybercriminal intromissions cost companies an average 78 300 annual euros, according to a Hiscox study. Things being the way they are, the question is not whether they will receive an attack or not, but rather when. Hugo warns us: it is just a matter of time.
And You… Do You Know How to Protect Yourself?
“There’s a virtuous cycle that never ends: you must first isolate, then detect and, finally, fix. Fixing is finding a solution to the problem, whether by erasing it or putting it into quarantine". This is the cycle used by Hugo’s team and the one that has differentiated them from their competition, always staying one step ahead in the detection of threats.
It’s important to know how to protect yourself in the early stages of a possible attack. Do you know how to defend your business from these attacks? Here are some simple steps:
- Making Back-Ups and Keeping Your Software Constantly Updated: Periodicity, both in making back-ups and in updating your software, is a key asset for every company. It’s fundamental that both aspects are taken care of in order to minimise the damage of a potential cyberattack.
- Use Quality Software: Don’t make the mistake of getting obsolete software to save some money. You could be jeopardising the whole company by exposing it to a severe intrusion.
- Train Your IT Personnel: Your starting point should be understanding cybercriminals, who are sharp, silent and quick. That’s why it’s of crucial importance to have professionals on your side who know how these types of cyberattacks are designed and launched.
- Devote a Certain Percentage of Your Annual Budget to Cybersecurity: Para ello, atesora un porcentaje de tu presupuesto cada año. Ultimately, it would be ideal not only to train your IT personnel, but rather have a specific department for the company’s cybersecurity.
- Raise Awareness in the Company, Get Your Employees Involved and Train the Whole Organisations: “We’re unprotected. And if you receive an attack, the blame will always fall on the company, not on the worker”. Hugo often reminds his clients that the company is completely responsible for taking part in its own defence. All the team must be aware of the danger that these types of intromissions present in the world of today. This training can take place in different ways, from daily training activities to informal discussions.
Before you know who your adversary is, know who you are and anticipate the attack. In Hugo’s own words: “You have to be paranoid. My advice is: Always be paranoid. When you receive something, if you have doubts, don’t open it”.