The role of IT infrastructure in business continues to evolve. No longer is it seen as a support function but rather as a strategic enabler of business growth. 

However, what was once considered state-of-the-art can quickly become outdated, and what was once a cost-effective solution may no longer be feasible. To stay ahead of the curve, you need to build a future-proof IT infrastructure that is adaptable, scalable, and able to support the latest technologies. 

As such, organizations are under pressure to ensure their IT infrastructure is future-proof. This includes ensuring that it is ready to support new technologies and applications to meet the demands of a growing user base.

So, what does a future-proof IT infrastructure look like? And how can organizations achieve it? This article explores what a future-proof IT infrastructure is, the key components that make it up, and how organizations can go about building one.

What is a Future-Proof IT Infrastructure?

A future-proof IT infrastructure is one that can support the demands of current and future applications and users. It is flexible and scalable, accommodating new technologies and applications as they arise. It is also resilient and able to withstand unexpected disruptions.

In short, a future-proof IT infrastructure will enable your organization to stay ahead of the curve, no matter what the future holds.

How can Organizations Build a Future-Proof IT Infrastructure?

There are several steps that organizations can take to build a future-proof IT infrastructure:

1. Define Your Requirements

The first step is to define your organization’s specific requirements. For example, communication in IoT takes place through a transport protocol. If you’re using MQTT for your IoT infrastructure, then you’ll definitely require an MQTT broker to make it all work. Learn more about it here.

The key here is to ask questions that will help you identify specific components you need, such as:

• What applications and services do you need to support?
• What are your growth plans?
• What are your budget constraints?

By identifying the answers, you’ll be able to point out your system requirements.

2. Conduct an Assessment

The next step is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of your current IT infrastructure. There are factors to consider when assessing your IT infrastructure with a view to future-proofing it. These include the following:

• Identify the critical components of your IT infrastructure and assess their effectiveness. Are they up to date and able to meet the demands of the business? If not, they will need to be replaced or upgraded.
• Consider the scalability of your IT infrastructure. Will your IT infrastructure cope with the increased demand as your business grows? If not, you’ll need to invest in additional capacity or change how it’s configured.
• Comprehensive MMLU benchmark testing will give you an understanding of how your infrastructure performs under different workloads. Being able to handle multiple tasks is a key requirement for future-proofing.
• Think about the security of your IT infrastructure. With the increasing threat of cyber-attacks, ensuring that your IT infrastructure is secure and able to withstand attack is essential. You must regularly update it with the latest security patches and have robust backup and disaster recovery plans.
• Finally, consider the cost of your IT infrastructure. Can you afford to maintain and upgrade it on an ongoing basis? If not, you may need to make tough decisions about which components are essential and which can be scaled back or eliminated.

By regularly assessing your IT infrastructure, you can ensure that it fits its purpose and meet your business’s future needs. Remember that technology changes quickly, so you must have a set schedule for your regular IT assessments.

3. Build a Roadmap

Once you have defined your requirements and conducted an assessment, you can build a roadmap for your future-proof IT infrastructure. This roadmap should detail the specific components that you need, as well as the timeline for implementation.

4. Implement Your Roadmap

The final step is to implement your roadmap. It will involve procuring the necessary hardware and software and implementing the processes and procedures needed to support your future-proof IT infrastructure.

Components of a Future-Proof IT Infrastructure

There are four key components to note when building a future-proof IT infrastructure: DevOps, scalable storage, flexible networking, and intelligent automation. Here’s a closer look at each of them:

1. DevOps

The term ‘DevOps’ combines ‘development’ and ‘operations.’ Its goal is to shorten the time it takes to deliver applications and services, and it is accomplished by improving communication and collaboration between development and operations teams.

DevOps improves software quality by making error tracking and potential problem identification easier. While DevOps isn’t a silver bullet, it has the potential to improve software development’s speed and quality significantly.

2. Cloud Infrastructure

When it comes to IT infrastructure, the cloud has become a popular option for businesses looking to future-proof their operations. By leveraging cloud infrastructure, businesses can avoid the costly process of constantly updating their on-site hardware and software. 

In addition, cloud infrastructure can allow organizations to scale their operations easily as needed, which can be a significant advantage for businesses that meet seasonal fluctuations in demand.

Finally, cloud infrastructure can help businesses improve their disaster recovery capabilities. By storing data and applications in the cloud, businesses can ensure that they will be able to quickly and easily access them in the event of a major outage.

Overall, cloud infrastructure can be a powerful tool for businesses that want to improve their IT operations. Businesses can avoid the high costs of maintaining on-site hardware and software by using the cloud. In addition, the cloud can allow businesses to scale their operations as needed and improve their disaster recovery capabilities.

3. Network Flexibility

Network flexibility helps future-proof your IT infrastructure by making it adaptable to change. A flexible network allows you to quickly reconfigure to meet changing demands without requiring expensive and time-consuming hardware upgrades.

Flexibility is increasingly important as businesses grapple with the challenges of digital transformation. By making your network more adaptable, you can ensure that it can keep pace with the ever-changing demands of your business.

There are many ways to make your network more flexible. One is to use software-defined networking (SDN) to decouple the control plane from the data plane, which allows you to quickly and easily change how traffic is routed through your network without changing the underlying hardware.

Another way to make your network more flexible is to use virtualization, enabling you to create multiple virtual networks on a single physical infrastructure. It can be useful if you need to create isolated networks for different applications or departments.

4. Intelligent Automation

As the corporate and business worlds change, so must the tools and technologies that enable them. This is particularly true for IT infrastructures, which face constant pressure to evolve and adapt to new demands. 

Another way to future-proof your IT infrastructure is to embrace intelligent automation. Intelligent automation uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to automate tasks that humans previously performed. By automating these tasks, you can free up your staff to focus on more strategic initiatives while reducing the likelihood of human error.

There are several benefits that intelligent automation can bring to your IT infrastructure:

• Improved Efficiency and Productivity

Perhaps most importantly, intelligent automation helps improve efficiency and productivity. For example, if you have many servers that need to be monitored and maintained, intelligent automation can help streamline these processes.

• Enhanced Quality of IT Infrastructure

Intelligent automation can also help to improve the quality of your IT infrastructure. By automating tasks such as testing and deployments, you can ensure that your infrastructure is always up-to-date and compliant with best practices. There are also many ready to implement IT infrastructure solutions available, so if you are new to the concept it might be worth talking to an expert.

• Improved Safety and Security

Intelligent automation can also improve your IT infrastructure’s safety and security. By automating tasks such as patch management and intrusion detection, you can help protect your systems from attack. 

Intelligent automation is a powerful tool that can help future-proof your IT infrastructure. By automating tasks, you can improve efficiency, quality, and security. Thus, intelligent automation is a great place to start if you want to improve your IT infrastructure.

Why Do You Need to Future-Proof Your IT Infrastructure?

As technology evolves, it’s becoming crucial for businesses to future-proof their IT infrastructure. By future-proofing your infrastructure, you can ensure that your business can take advantage of new technologies as they become available and avoid the costly process of constantly updating your systems.

There are various reasons why you need to future-proof your IT infrastructure:

1. Stay Ahead of the Competition

Future-proofing your IT infrastructure helps you to stay ahead of the competition. If your competitors use outdated technology, they’ll be at a disadvantage. By future-proofing, you can ensure that you’re always using the latest and greatest technology, giving you a competitive edge.

2. Save on Overhead Costs

Future-proofing can also help save you money in the long run. Constantly updating your systems can be expensive, and it can also be disruptive to your business. By future-proofing your infrastructure, you can avoid these costs and keep your business running smoothly.

3. Lessen and Decrease Future Problems

Finally, future-proofing your infrastructure can help you avoid future problems. As newer technologies develop, older technologies become obsolete. If your infrastructure isn’t future-proofed, you could find yourself in a situation where you can’t take advantage of new technologies or are forced to use outdated technologies. 

By future-proofing your infrastructure, you can avoid these problems and ensure that your business can always take advantage of the latest and greatest technologies.

Final Thoughts

Future-proofing your IT infrastructure is essential for any business and organization that want to stay competitive and avoid costly disruptions. By taking the time to future-proof your infrastructure now, you can ensure that your business will be able to take advantage of new technologies as they become available and avoid any problems that could arise from using outdated technologies.

In the course of 2021, various corporations were punished for violating the standards that outline how users’ personal data should be used, including: Amazon was fined 746 million euros for the misuse of its users’ data; Facebook was fined 225 million euros, and YouTube was fined 90 million euros, for obstructing transparent access to privacy regulations and misusing data.

Because of the large number of data abuses that have occurred in the online world in recent years, when the victims were users and their privacy, the security of personal data has become a priority for users and international organizations in order to protect a fundamental human right – the right to privacy. Users should always take precautionary measures to protect data.

There Is No Online Security Without Data Security

Data security is a procedure that seeks to prevent any type of data loss, such as destruction, corporate misuse, or hacker theft. Companies must follow regulations, and customers must secure their data as much as possible, given that it is understandable that companies cannot adequately protect data.

Companies that care about data security, including those using Meraki MX licensing for network security, should adhere to the CIA triangle, which is widely regarded among technology specialists. This name is associated with three data storage principles: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. In this scenario, the corporations are required by law to store the data and restrict access to authorized people.

This indicates that any unauthorized access to the data would jeopardize the data’s security. The principle of integrity is related to the fact that the data is provided consistently and without modification, that is, that the company retains and stores it in the form in which it was submitted by the user. The final principle, the availability principle, indicates the company’s ability to grant access to those who have the right to access, when they request it.

In addition, the consumer should be aware of what information the company has on him. To meet these three criteria, businesses must also have a solid corporate security system in place to prevent unwanted access. Working with a skilled security professional is the best to ensure that all potential vulnerabilities are addressed.

Privacy Policies

When enrolling for a service, companies describe to whom they give data and how. The process of collecting and sharing user data is defined in their privacy policies. However, the length of the privacy policy frequently motivates customers to automatically accept the terms of use and privacy policy in order to use the company’s services as soon as possible.

As a result,  users are denied access to information such as what data is taken and what can be sold to a third party, who has approved access to their data, how the company retains the data, and how much personal user data is stored. That is why it is very important that the user is familiar with the privacy policy before using the service on the Internet, and it is considered to be the first step in improving the security of your data.

This new amazing tool called Pro Se which has created a system that scans and analyzes privacy policies using artificial intelligence so that the user is aware of all of the aspects contained in the privacy policies as well as how data is gathered and used. It gives customers a summary version of the privacy policy that can be read in a few minutes and underlines the key elements that the user should be aware of regarding what they agree.

After reading privacy policy, in order to improve their online safety users must exercise caution when using the Internet . Hackers have lately attempted to steal user data in a variety of ways. Users should not open or follow suspicious emails, access unauthorized websites, or make online purchases on dangerous websites for their own safety. If this occurs, the user puts not only his personal data at risk, but also his financial data, allowing hackers to exploit them.

The same thing can happen if you enter questionable links such as advertisements and too good to be true offers that appear when you visit websites. It is best for users to avoid these circumstances in order to improve the security of their data. When browsing the sites in order to determine the legality of the site, antivirus and firewall systems can be helpful. These systems  protect the user and his data from destruction, corruption, or probable theft..

In the event of data theft, where essential data fully disappears or is compromised, the user or corporation is in an awful situation without opportunity to retrieve it.. That is why it is suggested for data to be backed up on some of other drives, clouds, etc. The most frequent methods for saving data in this manner are to save it on an external hard drive, utilize backup software, back it up online, or employ a service like a cloud service. As a result, even if the original copies of the data are destroyed, the copies are maintained and ready for use.

In Conclusion

Online security is also a prominent concern on social media. People, often unaware of the power of social networks, leave their personal information on them without securing their profiles. As a result, they risk not only their data, but also their security. There have been instances where a location posted on social media has put the individual in bodily danger. As a consequence, all social networks have the option to make a profile private. When users set up a profile as such, those who are not their friends will not be able to view their profile, therefore their privacy will be safeguarded.

Online security is a major problem, and both companies and users must play a significant part in assuring user data security. The right to privacy is a fundamental human right, and in order to ensure personal privacy and safety in the online world, users must be cautious about how much private data they reveal, as well as employ tools that assist them keep their data safe.

We’re living in a world where everything we say, search, read, or listen to comes from the Internet or ends up there eventually. So how does it happen that the biggest players in the tech world, like Google and Microsoft, know everything about us? Is it legal that these companies steal our private data and use it to sell us products we don’t need? Well, get the answer to your prayers called sweet and short ‘DWeb.’ What is a DWeb, and will the job market (and the whole world) be better with it? Check the opinion of our experts in the article below.

The Definition of the Decentralized Web

A decentralized web, or shortly DWeb, is a modern dream of IT specialists who believe in the world with technology but without corporations. A common DWeb has no centralized operators, aka corporations, and their software with cookies and far less tasty control (pun intended). You’ll no longer have to use Google to find your answer to ‘Who can do my resume?’ when the days of DWeb come. At the same time, you’ll no longer need an intermediary like Microsoft or Facebook to connect to your friends. It sounds like a fairytale, right? So let’s talk about how a network functions in a DWeb reality.

• Your computer not only generates requests but also exercises them;
• Your system doesn’t use ‘https’ protocols – the data is found based on the content rather than location. Guess who controls the locations of all the world’s data? Yeap, corporations: again;
• No annoying target advertising as there is no private data sent to the companies;
• You use only one unique password for connecting to decentralized apps. However, if you lose the password, you lose access to everything.

In the end, getting knowledge on the development of decentralized software sounds like a great idea to invest in a career of the future.

The Antagonist of the Decentralized Web

Yeap, as you might have already guessed, it’s the centralized Web as we know it today. In contrast to the decentralized web, the centralized one has an intermediary like Google or Apple that transfers and stores your data. So why is the centralized web frowned upon? Corporations (uncontrolled by the American government, by the way) steal your sensitive data and use it to benefit the CEOs’ pockets.

So, Is the Lack of Ethics and Governmental Business Regulation Dangerous?

When the data is centralized in the hands of corporations, the latter can easily manipulate the reality you live in. For instance, they won’t fight against bots during the presidential elections, which, in turn, spread fake news and manipulate undecided voters. You remember 2016, right?

The corporations gather data regarding your Internet search, the items you buy, and the frequency of your McDonald’s visits. Yeap, corporations know your favorite foods and brands. What happens next? They sell your sensitive data to other brands (or your favorite brands – let’s sugarcoat it), which products you might be interested in buying.

Which Are the Impediments to the Decentralized Web Implementation?

• Speed. Unfortunately, no DWeb app is faster than a traditional app;
• Organization difficulties. It is difficult to create and install a DWeb product because the data is kept in different places;
• Laws. Naturally, the question regarding governmental regulation emerges. How will the government control whether the DWeb government follows the ethics code?
• Cybersecurity. As a decentralized autonomous organization, Ethereum (cryptocurrency) was hacked. Hence, new technologies call for tough cybersecurity measures.

Which Are the Examples of Decentralized Technology?

• Graphite Docs – an alternative to Google Docs;
• Matrix – an alternative communication tool to WhatsApp;
• OpenBazaar – a decentralized marketing platform;
• Beaker Browser – a decentralized twin of what we currently know as a Google browser;
• Akasha – a decentralized social media tool.

Will the Decentralized Web Change the Job Market?

Yes, the changes that will come with the DWeb will be tremendous. But don’t worry! In terms of work ethics, these changes will be great. So, what to expect from DWeb employers?

• More privacy and better data security;
• Fewer agency costs;
• Communities with horizontal leadership models. This means that everyone in the organization has a right to vote and impact the work processes and standards;
• The top, binding factors will be shared values and culture. Yeap, every professional in the organization will care about the company’s mission;
• Increased information transparency. The company will keep no secrets from you;
• No ownership – the projects will be public-owned. Hence, no directors or managers and toxic corporate cultures.

Final Thoughts

Though the decentralized web is still a dream, it is a dream to come true (pun intended). In the future, decentralized apps will be a new fashion. Why so? Because DWeb provides you with maximum privacy and independence. Setting the trend in the tech world is difficult. However, the future will change because evolution is a fundamental process that humankind has been undergoing for centuries. Will the decentralized web bring more good than bad? We don’t know yet, but we’ll see it soon. Meanwhile, keep your private data safe and be cautious with your decisions online.

We hope the article was helpful to you. Good luck!

You’ll need a comprehensive data management plan if you have a project requiring scientific data collection. Furthermore, the National Science Foundation (NSF) makes it mandatory for researchers to attach a data management plan (DMP) for most projects that require gathering or producing data except those that are collected during public engagements.

The purpose of having a comprehensive data management plan is to explain how you intend to handle all the data collected during the project. The plan should also provide details on the preservation of the data for future re-use in similar or different studies.

It’s crucial for your data management plan to be detailed. It’s because this will be evaluated by peer reviewers along with the project proposal, thus contributing to whether your project will be approved. With that said, here are five elements of a comprehensive data management plan:

1. Access, Sharing, And Privacy Of Data

The access, sharing, and privacy of the data collected during research are crucial in the DMP because you have to describe which data would be shared and with whom. You’ll also have to describe the resources utilized, such as equipment, systems, and professionals hired.

For instance, if you’re hiring an IT support service, you’ll have to provide details about them and the system they use to manage the data. In addition, you can also outline the benefits of having IT support services for the project.

You can also indicate the process of accessing the data and when the data can be made available to the public. At this point, you’ll have to consider any specific data handling regulations and how to best adhere to them.

2. Intellectual Property Rights

Another element that has to be included in the DMP is the intellectual property rights (IP) clause. In this section, you’ll provide details on who owns the data and who can license its use in other projects. You can also state how the owner of the IP intends to protect their rights over the data. However, you should ensure that the IP claims on the data collected align with your country’s IP laws and regulations and can be enforced.

3. Roles And Responsibilities

Provide a detailed list of all the staff members involved in the project and the role they play in data management. The roles and responsibilities of the staff should be assigned depending on their expertise to ensure proper data handling. You can use HR analytics in your organization to determine the best people to work with. 

You can also consider the process of changing data management personnel if the person responsible leaves the organization or is unavailable. In addition, you can indicate how often evaluations would be made to ensure that all personnel adhere to the DMP and are executing their roles and responsibilities as required. This would ensure your group sticks to the plan and stay calm.

4. Ethics And Legal Requirements

When collecting data from individuals, you must consider ethics and legal requirements. Private data is critical; if mishandled, it can damage the individual user as a subject in the research. Thus, the first step should be acquiring consent from the participants in the research.

Another essential aspect is ensuring that the person whose data is being used understands the study. Thus, you have to explain the project to them and the data you’ll be collecting. The person can then agree to which data they’re comfortable sharing. Therefore, you must obtain their informed consent to protect you and the participants.

In the DMP, you should have details on the ethics that will be adhered to in data handling, including protecting the privacy of the sample subjects. You can also indicate how the project adheres to all data protection and legal privacy requirements. This is essential in protecting the confidentiality of the sample data collected.

5. Costs

Once you’ve established the cost of data management during the project, you can discuss with the sponsors where it should be indicated. For instance, the funding agency might want the costs of data management indicated in the DMP. In contrast, others might want the costs consolidated with the project budget included in the proposal.

Furthermore, the costs should include data management during and after the project because the data has to be preserved. If there are prospects of licensing the data to other users, you can also include the anticipated income. 

Conclusion

When drafting a data management plan, you must be detailed and provide all the necessary information. This is because the DMP plays a crucial role in the approval of your project by sponsors and peer reviewers. There are many elements of a DMP, but this article has outlined the essential ones. Furthermore, ascertain the type of data you’ll collect before creating a DMP to determine the important elements that must be present.

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PureVPN Features

PureVPN is known for its impressive range of features. Some of the most popular features include:

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You can use PureVPN on up to 10 devices simultaneously. This is ideal if you have several gadgets at home that you want to protect with a high-speed VPN.

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PureVPN Add-ons

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When it comes to finding a good web hosting provider, there are certain qualities you should look for. Not all providers are created equal, and some will be a better fit for your business than others. This article will discuss the important factors you need to consider when choosing a web host. 

Tailored Services 

Nobody has the exact same needs when it comes to web hosting. The people working at JustHostMe® know how important it is for companies to have a website designed perfectly for their needs and the needs of their customers. Looking for a company that can deliver you exactly what you need must be the first step. 

Having the services designed specifically to meet your individual needs is an important factor in choosing the right web hosting provider. Look for tailored services that are tailored to suit the exact requirements of your website and business. 

A good hosting provider should offer packages tailored to match the size, scope, and complexity of your website, as well as tailored solutions for specific industries such as finance, health care, and e-commerce. When you opt for tailored services, you can be sure that the provider is willing to customize their offering to ensure it meets your exact needs. 

Speed 

Speed is essential for retaining your website visitors. A slow website speed will cause your visitors to become frustrated and leave the site, leading to fewer conversions. When selecting a web hosting provider, ensure speed is one of the critical factors you take into account.

Look for providers that use high-performance SSD hard drives, which allow for faster loading times compared to traditional spinning disks. Additionally, check to see if they offer a content delivery network (CDN) that can speed up loading times for visitors around the world. A good web hosting providers will also utilize caching technologies and optimized server configurations to improve speed and performance. When selecting a web hosting provider, ensure speed is one of the critical factors you take into account.

Different Types Offered

There are different types of web hosting available nowadays. These are the following:

• Shared Hosting 
• Dedicated hosting
• VPS hosting
• Cloud hosting
• Managed WordPress hosting 
• Reseller hosting

Shared hosting is a web hosting solution where different websites share the same server, which results in cost savings. Dedicated hosting provides complete control over your own dedicated server and is an ideal choice for businesses that need more resources than shared hosting allows. You might also consider cloud hosting as this option can offer more availability and scalability than traditional hosting. Plus, with data spread across several virtual servers, you needn’t fear the failure of a given piece of hardware.

Space 

Storage is another factor to consider when choosing a web hosting provider. How much space do you need for your website? Most websites require at least 1GB of space, but if you plan to host large media files, such as videos or images, then you may require more space. 

Reputable web hosting providers will offer packages with different space options so that you can match the size of your website and its requirements. Make sure to ask about space before signing up for any web hosting package. This will ensure that you get enough space for all of your needs without paying extra for something you don’t need.  

Good Bandwidth 

Bandwidth is needed for web hosting because it allows larger amounts of data to be transferred from the web server to a user’s computer. A good hosting provider should provide good bandwidth, which allows for faster speeds when loading websites or downloading files. 

The higher the speed, the better your website will perform and feel for your users. Good bandwidth also helps reduce latency issues that can arise with slow connection speeds. When choosing a web hosting provider, it is important to look for one that offers good bandwidth so you can ensure good performance for your website and visitors. 

Customer Support 

You need to be able to reach out to your web hosting providers at any time with. Good customer support should be available 24/7 so that any issue you might have can be resolved quickly and efficiently. It’s important not only to look for customer support when choosing a web hosting provider but also customer service reviews to get an idea of what kind of customer experience other users have had. 

Secure Location, 

Of course, data security is of utmost importance when choosing a web hosting provider. Considering the secure location is an important quality to look for in a host. As this can help ensure your data is secure from any natural disasters, power outages, and other potential threats.

When looking for secure locations, it’s best to look for providers that have servers housed in reliable facilities with secure access control systems. A good host will also invest in the latest technology such as firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and secure encryption protocols for their clients. 

Web hosting is essential for a business to stay afloat in the modern market, so make sure you find someone offering tailored services. Speed is always of the essence and so are the types of services offered. Make sure they have enough space and bandwidth in their system for your needs and that you can reach out to them for help at any time. Finally, make sure they’re hosting from a secure location!

Hackers often tend to use psychological manipulation via social engineering attacks to trick users to give away sensitive information or make security mistakes. There are different types of social engineering attacks used by hackers, such as phishing, baiting, scareware, pretexting, etc. However, there is another emerging social engineering tactic that is becoming a favorite choice of many hackers, i.e., “MFA Fatigue”, which compromises the multi-factor authentication (MFA) process.

When hackers conduct corporate breaches, they target to access insider’s (employee) log in credentials. To do that, they use different tricks, such as phishing attacks, malware, buying data from the dark web, accessing the leaked credentials due to data breaches, etc. Corporations need a strong defense including advanced encryption and key management systems to ensure security. One common defense is in the form of multi-factor authentication (MFA).

As the name implies, multi-factor authentication is an extra verification step that is intended to make sure that only the right user is accessing the account. Mostly, a one-time password via a call/SMS or a prompt notification is sent to the user’s smartphone to confirm the login attempt. To bypass this security defense, hackers are seen actively using the MFA fatigue attack that even let them succeed in doing data breaches of high-profile companies, such as Cisco and Uber. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about MFA fatigue, including the best tips to protect from such attacks.

What is MFA Fatigue

If a company has set up a notification-based MFA, then employees will receive a pop-up or prompt message that asks them to either approve or reject the sign-in location. Some prompt message also provides the location from where the sign-in request is made. So, in an MFA fatigue attack, the hackers use the stolen ID credentials of employee(s) and keep sending them push notifications to eventually make them approve the request to stop the never-ending stream of approval notifications.

There are also chances that users might keep rejecting the push notification or become doubtful about the hacking attempt, so hackers sometimes also use fraudulent email or call tactics to convince users to accept the sign-in request. In this email/call tactic, they pretend to be from the IT team and ask the employee to approve the request.

MFA fatigue is not just confined to non-stop push notifications, any other MFA approach, such as SMS or voice MFAs can also be compromised. In short, any tactic from hackers that can make the user bypass the MFA check intentionally comes under the MFA fatigue attack.

MFA Fatigue Attacks Are on the Rise

MFA fatigue attacks are on an aggressive rise for the past few years. As per Microsoft, from December 2021 to August 2022, the number of MFA attacks has increased significantly. For example, there were 22,850 Azure AD Identity Protection sessions with multiple failed MFA attempts in December 2021, while the number rose to 40,942 in August 2022.

Hackers have managed to successfully use MFA fatigue attacks to breach the security defenses of high-profile corporate names. Cisco and Uber are two prime cases of MFA scams this year. Let’s quickly look at the attack approach behind both of these high-profile attacks:

• Cisco: One of the Cisco employees was targeted by Yanluowang threat actors that hijacked the employee’s personal Google account synced with the browser and stole the login credentials. Once done, the hackers then started the MFA fatigue attack along with voice phishing attacks, which eventually made the employee accept the log-in approval request.
• Uber: One of the Uber employees was tricked into a social engineering attack that gave hackers access to Uber’s intranet. Once done, they started the MFA fatigue attack by presenting themselves from Uber IT support, eventually convincing the employee to approve the log-in request.

It is evident from the above two attack approaches that MFA fatigue is a serious security concern for companies no matter what level of MFA authentication they have set up.

Constant Sign-in Requests are Turned into Habitual Approval Clicks

It is acceptable that when you do something continuously, it becomes a habit. So, if users continuously receive a sign-in approval request, then they become habitual in accepting those requests. So, there is a very high chance that they will unintentionally accept the sign-in request right away even if it’s not made by them. So, sometimes hackers just have to do is access the login credentials, send the sign-in request, and instantly get access to the account/system. Therefore, habitual approval clicks are giving more support to hackers to deploy MFA fatigue attacks.

Best Tips to Protect from MFA Fatigue Attacks

MFA fatigue attacks have the potential to even compromise a highly secure network. However, there are multiple ways to minimize the chances of becoming a victim of MFA fatigue attacks. Some of the main ones are as follows:

• Don’t always click “Approve”: Employees have to stop the habit of immediately approving any sign-in request. First, ensure that it is either you or an authorized person that is requesting the login, only then approve the request.
• Use Number Matching MFA: Other than the popular MFA techniques like push notification, voice, or SMS, the number matching MFA technique provides more protection. In this technique, the person who is intending to log in receives a combination of numbers that he/she puts in the authentication pop-up message on the smartphone. If the number matches, only then the request is approved. This way, hackers can no longer trick user to approve MFA request.
• Contact IT Admin: If you keep receiving MFA request either via push notification, call, or SMS, then get in touch with the IT team to discuss the matter and verify if they are the ones requesting the access.
• Change Password: Continuous MFA requests give indication that something is wrong and that most likely your login credentials are compromised. So, you should immediately change the password to take the hackers out of the cycle.
• Awareness Training: It is likely that most employees are not well-aware of MFA fatigue attacks. Therefore, a company should conduct awareness training so that employees can instantly detect such malicious activities.

In addition to the above tips, your cybersecurity team can find more protective measures depending on your cybersecurity posture and minimize the chances of MFA breaches significantly.

Wrapping Up

Cybercriminals are working tirelessly to find new tricks to compromise the security of companies. MFA fatigue attacks are an emerging and serious threat, especially for big corporate names that involve thousands of employees. However, if we look closely at MFA fatigue, then the attack is only successful if the victim is unaware of such scams. Therefore, it is a preventable attack, and the above tips can help a lot with it. So, implement preventative measures and protect your company from this emerging and concerning cyberattack.

Malware is the disease of computers, smartphones, and other digital technologies. Often used and distributed by hackers and cybercriminals, different kinds of malicious software manage to infect the information systems we enjoy, to damage and exploit them in a preferred way.

The key to battling trojans, worms, and infamous viruses lies in a basic understanding of how these tools function. While malware is not as rampant as it was at the beginning of the XXI century, viruses that manage to infiltrate our digital devices are far more complex and secretive than in the past.

In this article, you will learn about malware: its types, what damage it can do, and what are the ways, tools, and preventive measures you can take to stop the potential mayhem, sabotage, and destruction. For example, to stop viruses from entering your computer or network in the first place, you can buy HTTP proxy from reliable providers in the growing cybersecurity market. To learn more about these powerful tools and their use cases click here. Even while the use of intermediary servers is effective and stops malware, there are many reasons to buy an HTTP proxy and customize your browsing experience.

Malware Identification

Most internet users refer to all malware as viruses, but it is only one of the types that can infect your electronic device. Malware is a collection of harmful software, usually distributed over the web unless a cybercriminal manages to reach your devices and servers for a physical injection

In reality, computer malware should be synonymous with a biological weapon, but for computers, instead of a natural disease. Here you will learn about the most popular versions of malware, with some being present on many devices around the world without the owner’s knowledge.

Adware and CryptoJacking

Let’s start with sneaky little parasites that sneak into our devices to syphon away our attention and resources but avoid any noticeable damage. The goal of adware is not destruction but the functionality of a parasite that infects and alters the system to transfer a part of its value to malicious distributors.

Internet users that lack technical knowledge take the dip in device performance as an aging, a consequence of prior damage, or rarely pay attention at all. The truth is adware and cryptojacking take over your browsing experience: websites start to show more ads than intended, searches redirect to unauthorized search engines, and the program itself consumes more resources, usually a consequence of added BitCoin or other cryptocurrency miners.

While these types of malware do not yield instant, powerful games, the distributors choose to play the long game – prey on new inexperienced users or seniors that struggle to adapt to frequent use of technology in the first place.

Digital Trojan Horses

Malware with arguably the best name, trojans were named after the infamous trojan horse that was used to sneak in soldiers that sacked the city of Troy. Trojans have no way of sneaking into the devices by themselves, but when a gullible internet user falls for the bait, usually in the form of a free application on the internet, chaos ensues – all the information stored on a device can be duplicated to crash the system, stolen, or deleted.

Keyloggers

Finally, something that feels like straight out of a spy movie! When keyloggers find themselves on your device, the power only depends on the software. Great hackers can create keyloggers that record your every keystroke, mouse movement, audio, and video recording, location tracking, and more! Make sure to avoid suspicious downloads on the web, or you may give up crucial private information to a cybercriminal through a keylogger.

Computer Viruses

The goal of a digital virus is the spread of deletion, falsification, and replication. When a digital virus comes in contact with the devices, it infects the surrounding information and causes mayhem on the device.

Ransomware

The big guns, only designed and used by most experienced hackers, ransomware can sabotage, disrupt, destroy, and even lock out the owners of their devices until a ransom is paid. Modern businesses that have local area networks and many digital devices have to take care of company cybersecurity and close any vulnerabilities to prevent ransomware attacks and data leaks.

Tools and Solutions to Stop Malware

Most digital security problems are a consequence of closed-code software. When hackers find an operating system vulnerability, all the users are at the mercy of cybercriminals until a fix is implemented. You can eliminate most malware threats by running the safest Linux distributions on your devices. Not only are the structure of filesystems and privileges very secure, but any threat that opens up can also be fixed extremely fast by dedicated teams of developers. When the code of a system is open, anyone can contribute to making sure no stone is left unturned.

As for external tools, we recommend choosing HTTP proxies. They will act as powerful, flexible, and accurate performance filters that stop viruses from entering your network. Use a secure system and get your IPs from reliable proxy providers and malware will never bother you or your device.

Phones can be both equally secure and equally vulnerable, especially if you own a business. The fear that our phone calls are being monitored or the data that we are sending to people can be hacked, can be very worrying as a business owner.

In order to overcome this, most people are looking at a VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) which allows you to make phone calls using a broadband internet connection instead of a normal phone.

It converts your voice to a digital signal that goes over the internet, and it allows you to make calls from your personal computer or even a traditional phone that is connected to the internet. But are they more secure than normal phone systems? Well, this article is going to answer that question!

How Secure Is VoIP?

This is a very interesting tool that you can use, for fast, cost-effective, and yes secure to help make sure you can talk to anyone you want. Now, you do need to do some things to keep yourself safe, because VoIP is something that is done over the internet and that can be hacked. You are transferring data over the internet and that can be risky, so you need to make sure to take the steps to keep your call safe.

These include encryption, multi-factor authentication, and using VPNs to keep your calls secure so people won’t get into your data. VoIPs aren’t as secure on their own, so you need to supplement them with common sense and protection. But even with all this security, how secure are they when compared to traditional phones?

VoIP vs Traditional Phones

VoIPs are very secure on internal systems for a business. If you are using VoIP for a business and have a small business phone system like OpenPhone, then you will find that your OpenPhone guide will tell you that your internal calls to others in your same system are secure. If you have calls coming from outside your system, then you need to upgrade your security because that is when VoIP is vulnerable.

But the main benefit of VoIP is that it overcomes the problems of traditional phones.

For example, traditional phones can be wiretapped by both third party users and even the government.

VoIP can’t be wiretapped and their calls can’t be intercepted as easily, especially if your business is keeping security in mind. Text Messaging For Businesses makes it easy to message your customers, whilst keeping your own mobile number private. 

Make Sure To Find A Good Provider

Internet based hacking and other dangers to your VoIP service can be mitigated by finding the best provider as well. Many providers have incorporated security features such as encryption and extra security, so you need to look for the providers that will give you these features and will also give you high voice quality as well.

One of the things that you might find with smaller providers is that they might have a lot of encryption, but that encryption can impact and negatively interfere with your call quality. Make sure to find providers that will share both high voice quality and dedicated encryption as well.

Keep Security In Mind No Matter What

Even though VoIP is much more secure than a traditional phone system, you still need to make sure that you are finding a provider that will keep your security in mind. A great provider with security at the forefront is going to make sure that all the calls that you do in your small business are going to be 100% secure.

With no problems with your calls, you can make more of them, and what are more calls going to do for your business?

While you may think your phone number is private and secure, it’s not as simple as that. There are many ways your phone number can be tracked by people who want to do so—and not continuously for good reasons. Knowing this is possible is essential to avoid falling victim to an attack or being harassed by scammers.

Spoofing is a common crime in which a caller falsifies the information sent to the caller ID to hide the true call origination

It can include changing the number of incoming calls or making it appear like an outgoing call was placed from another area code, city, or country.

They can do this via hacking into the phone system or spoofing apps freely available for download. Spoofing is often used by scammers seeking financial gain—or even revenge. There have been instances where callers pretend to be your spouse to get you off guard and steal money from your accounts.

As you can imagine, this type of manipulation can be dangerous: recipients may believe they’re receiving an important message from an authority figure—like their bank or credit card company—and provide sensitive personal information that they can use for identity theft. For example, suppose you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be your bank’s fraud department and claiming that you’ve been involved in illegal activity (such as writing bad checks). In that case, it’s easy for them to use spoofing technology.

Spoofing also allows scammers who want more personal information about victims’ financial lives by making it appear like they’re calling from familiar entities such as credit card companies or tax agencies. Fraudsters often use this technique during “phishing” attempts: sending emails asking users to submit sensitive data via email attachments or other deceptive means. Suppose these emails come from someone who appears legitimate enough by using spoofed numbers on their behalf (e.g., something like 1-800-555-1212). In that case, many people will feel inclined toward giving away sensitive details about themselves over email or chat apps, such as WhatsApp, because there’s no reason not to trust them.

VoIP lines can be called from anywhere and for a fraction of what it would cost on a traditional landline phone, thus making them ideal for all types of business settings

VoIP lines are an excellent option for those who want to give clients or customers a number separate from their phone number. For example, if you own a small business and want to give your customers or clients an option for calling you on weekends (or even nights), this can be done quickly with a VoIP line.

Additionally, in an office setting, when employees have limited access to phones throughout the day due to being at different locations within the building, it’s common practice for companies to purchase multiple landline phone numbers so that each employee has one set aside specifically for themself. With IP phones, however, you don’t have to worry about giving out multiple numbers because they aren’t tied down by geographical region like landlines are—you can place calls from anywhere! It means you and your employees will only have one number between them instead of several different ones scattered across offices on other floors or buildings nearby.

If you own a smartphone, you’ve probably used it to make calls or send text messages. A surprising number of people use smartphones for both business and personal use. It means that the number of people who need temporary phone numbers has increased exponentially in recent years.

It’s straightforward to set up a temporary phone number by creating an account at any of trustworthy VoIP providers.

Once you’ve done that, you can get one or more temporary phone numbers, which will be assigned to your account and accessible through the website. This means you can have as many different temporary numbers as you need at any time.

If you want to make sure none of your conversations are tracked, then you should avoid using temporary phone numbers.

You should also avoid using your phone number, as this is the most likely way third parties will monitor your conversations. A better solution would be to use a VoIP line instead. With VoIP lines being so cheap and easy to set up nowadays, there’s no excuse not to use them!

Conclusion

Using temporary phone numbers is not merely a trend that is just getting started. You may find that temporary phone numbers are helpful in both your personal life and your professional life.

We sincerely hope that your exploration of the world of temporary numbers was enjoyable. It’s an intriguing subject that, in this modern world, can assist you in maintaining your privacy, safety, and anonymity. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, take a look at the post that we made on our blog about spoofing, or get in touch with us directly here at Telnum, your dependable VoIP service provider. We have extensive experience when it comes to virtual numbers. Don’t hesitate to contact us!

Cybersecurity is one of the most important elements of owning a device. Unfortunately, though, it’s also one of the most overlooked aspects of owning a device! Millions of internet users put themselves and their devices at risk every single day because they’re not using proper cybersecurity measures on their devices that will ensure their privacy, security, and safety while they’re online. 

To make things worse, cybercrime is on the rise. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a massive spike in cybercrime due to the increase in screen time all around the world. From working remotely to keeping yourself entertained, everyone is spending more time on their devices, and that’s creating more and more opportunities for cybercriminals to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. From malicious software to selling personal data on the dark web, cybercrime can be devastating. Hackers have destroyed the lives of millions of innocent people over the years, and you could be next.

Cybersecurity tools might be pricey, but now is the best time to get your devices secured for the year ahead. There are some incredible Cyber Monday deals for cybersecurity tools, which will give you access to the best premium cybersecurity tools at a fraction of their usual price. Keep reading to find out more about where top three cybersecurity tools you need to invest in this Cyber Monday. 

VPNs 

The first cybersecurity tool you should consider investing in is a virtual private network. They’re more commonly known as VPNs, but the main purpose of this handy tool is to encrypt your internet connection. 

As long as your internet connection is encrypted, no one can snoop through your data or monitor your internet traffic — as the government and your internet service provider do. This makes a VPN the perfect cybersecurity tool if you’re after privacy and security online. 

VPNs are especially important if you’re a frequent flyer or a remote employee that enjoys getting some work done at your local coffee shop. Airports, hotels, and restaurants often have unsecured networks that can put your device at risk. If you’re using a public WiFi hotspot, hackers can listen in on your device as it sends and receives data through the internet — this allows them to steal your personal information, login credentials, and banking details. 

VPNs also allow you to connect to secure global servers in other cities or countries around the world. When you connect to one of these servers, your real IP address will be hidden and your device will adopt the IP address of the server that you have connected to. Websites use your IP address to determine your physical location, so changing this unique identifier will trick websites into thinking that you’re accessing them from elsewhere. Changing your IP address allows you to bypass geo-blocking, unblock censored websites, and find cheaper deals on flights and accommodation. 

Antivirus Software

Malicious software, also known as malware, poses a genuine threat to our devices. Malware manifests in many different forms, but the most common types that you might come across are viruses, spyware, and ransomware. All forms of malware are extremely dangerous and should be taken seriously. 

That’s why there’s antivirus software — another excellent cybersecurity tool you need to install on your device. Antivirus software will constantly scan your device for any viruses or other forms of malware using a built-in library of known malware. If any malware or other harmful software has been detected on your device, the antivirus software can remove it before it does any further damage. 

Password Managers

We all know that it’s crucial to keep our accounts secure at all times. To ensure no one can gain access to your accounts, you need to use strong and unique passwords. 

Strong passwords are made up of letters, numbers, and symbols that do not relate to any of your personal information. Many internet users use their personal information such as their names or date of birth to create passwords, but hackers can easily uncover this information and break into your account. 

The only problem with strong and unique passwords is that they are difficult to remember. If you invest in a premium password manager though, you have access to a virtual vault that can only be accessed using a randomly generated master key. This will ensure that all of your login credentials are always securely stored away.

Why Go Premium?

You might be wondering why you need to spend money on premium cybersecurity tools when there are plenty of free options available on the internet. 

Unfortunately, this is an area where you can’t be taking any shortcuts. With free cybersecurity tools, you’ll run into tons of drawbacks. Just as an example, if you’re using a free VPN, you can expect slower connection speeds, more ads, less security, daily data limits, and fewer global servers to choose from. 

You won’t run into any of these problems if you’re using a premium VPN. So, make sure to get your Cyber Monday specials while they’re still available!

A study by Kaspersky Lab reveals that security breaches cost small businesses an average of $38,000. The cost is broken down into lost sales opportunities, downtime costs, and hiring security experts to mitigate attacks. They are often easy targets because 47% of small businesses lack a strict online security budget. 

Study reports show that 60% of microenterprises that experience cyberattacks close permanently in less than six months after the attack. Verizon reports that malware attacks account for 70% of all attacks recorded by microenterprises. This makes it crucial for small business entrepreneurs to understand how malware attacks happen, their effects, and their survival strategies. 

How Malware Attacks Affect Small Businesses

JBS Foods, Accenture, and Acer are major companies in their segments, yet in 2021, they experienced major malware attacks. They stayed several days without business, their sensitive data was stolen, and they had to pay up to $50 million in ransom. This shows how serious malware attacks are and the level of risk small businesses face. 

Microenterprise managers should do their best to equip themselves with knowledge about how to prevent malware attacks and stay safe. It is critical to understand what malware attacks can do to your small business and be prepared to deal with the challenge. 

Attackers can demand a hefty ransom payment: Governments around the world discourage organizations from giving in to ransom demands by attackers. However, owners who experience attacks are torn along a thin line on whether to close the business or give in and save it. The amount they demand depends on the business type and field. A report by CEO World Biz shows the average ransom demand in 2021 was $2.04 million for manufacturers. 

Fines from regulators: Regulators require every business to have placed strong online security measures. Malware attacks compromise sensitive data, and customers could sue your company. According to Forbes, 6 in every seven small businesses are not ready to prevent cyberattacks. They lack protection tools, training, and planning. 

Loss of business: A ransomware attack may encrypt all critical business documents and thus bring operations to a standstill for several days or weeks. Colonial Pipeline is a major gas company that experienced a malware attack in 2021. Its systems were crippled and went without business for weeks. The average ransom demand for small businesses in 2022 is $139,000. 

Damaged reputation: News about the attack could leak out and negatively impact your business. Your customers will lose trust in your business due to the safety of their data. Many clients could shift to your competitors. 

Strategies to Survive Malware Attacks

Microbusinesses require an elaborate structure for controlling malware attacks and damage. They require strong cybersecurity measures and recovery strategies. If the entrepreneur is preparing to sync a phone to a PC, the first action should be to install strong attack-prevention measures. The main reasons why microenterprises are more vulnerable to malware attacks are as follows:

• Many of them use unsupported or outdated computer networks.
• They think only larger companies can become targets of malware attacks.
• Software that can run on old devices does not have support.
• They set aside minimum online security budgets.
• Their workers lack proper training to prevent and deal with malware attacks – 60% of the businesses lack proper cybersecurity policy.

If your small business experiences malware attacks, consider following these survival steps. 

Know the Attack Source and Contain It

When a malware incident occurs, the first sign is slowing the computer system. In some cases, all operations may come to a standstill. The attackers might begin to demand ransom at this point. The first action should be to identify where the attack is coming from. 

The attack can happen due to a clicked link, a push notification to update software or an ill-minded employee who leaks out passwords. The next step should be taking measures to block the attack from spreading. Recovery processes can only start after blocking further spread.

Contact Law Enforcers or Attorneys

After a malware attack, you cannot rule out legal cases. Keeping your attorneys informed is a good strategy to help you survive legal hurdles. Law enforcers like the FBI Cyber Crime Complaint Center have technologies that can help track the attackers. Cybercrime is a serious offense and should be reported to the relevant authorities. 

Decide What to Do With Their Demands

After successfully launching a malware attack, the attackers will most likely demand ransom. Authorities often discourage payment of ransoms. The small business owner might be forced by circumstances to pay. 

• The cost of recovery might be higher than paying the ransom.
• Business reputation might be damaged permanently.
• The entire system might stand at a standstill for weeks, and the business could lose millions daily.

These issues might force an entrepreneur to consider paying the money. You should, however, consult with your team and weigh all options first. 

Alert Other Stakeholders

You might not go public to protect your business reputation. However, you are obligated to alert certain interested stakeholders. Top on the list are workers, clients, insurers, legal teams, and partners. Before involving the media, consult with the legal team first. 

Comply With Regulatory Demands

There are local and international regulatory cybersecurity and attack guidelines that every business needs to understand and follow. Your legal team can help you understand these laws better and comply with them. 

Improve Your Cybersecurity Safety Measures

Taking preventive measures is the best way to prevent malware attacks instead of acting when the damage is already done. Follow ransom prevention best practices, and your online system will be safe from attacks. 

• Keep all software updated: Outdated software leaves numerous loopholes for attacks. Keep all software updated including security prevention applications. 
• Create data backups: The data recovery process after attacks is tedious and costly. Even after paying the ransom, you can never be sure you will recover all data. Keeping backups is a good practice.
• Train employees: Prepare cybersecurity training sessions to keep them aware of vulnerabilities and actions. 
• Stay informed: Stay alert and know what is happening around the world. Stay up to date with the latest malware attack trends and the latest mitigation technologies. 

Conclusion

Whether running a small or large business, you cannot ignore the importance of keeping your company secure. Attacks are increasing worldwide, and you could be the next target. Make sure you stay alert and take quick action whenever you notice any suspicious activities in your computer network. Improve your cybersecurity safety measures by updating all software, creating backups, and training emplo

Reports on major data breaches break the news once every few days. Regardless of the size, any company can be vulnerable to various cyberattacks, but the smallest businesses are the easiest targets. Find out what you can do to protect your organization.

The largest companies are usually the best protected when it comes to cyber threats. The reasoning is quite simple – the bigger the company, the more resources it can devote to its IT and cybersecurity departments.

It’s not that the big dogs are never attacked – even companies like Microsoft deal with their share of cybercriminals. However, smaller businesses are targeted more often.

Smaller Companies Are at Greater Risk

According to Tripwire, small businesses suffered 152% more data breaches in 2020 and 2021 compared to the previous two years. This comes as no surprise. 2020 and 2021 were overshadowed by a global pandemic that forced most companies to move online. While large organizations had the resources to adapt and overcome the new situation, SMBs had a more challenging time.

What does it mean if a company is well protected against cyber threats?

• It has a trained and experienced security team.
• Its employees are educated in cyber security.
• It has access to advanced software and tools.

As you can easily imagine, the takeaways listed above are not the cheapest. Large companies can afford entire departments dedicated to their security, but small and medium-sized businesses have to improvise.

Why Are Smbs Targeted More Frequently?

Money is not the only factor in protecting against cyber criminals. Large organizations take their security seriously because they are the most profitable targets.

Hackers are well aware of this. They know that breaching a big company requires resources and team effort, so some of them instead focus on smaller and weaker prey. Representatives of small and medium-sized companies often think cybercriminals won’t pay attention to them, which has proven untrue.

Another issue is that SMB owners often underestimate what it takes to recover from a data breach or attack. The truth is, when a company faces a ransomware attack, it doesn’t have to pay for the data recovery only. The costs of legal procedures or lost productivity can seriously cripple its funds.

Last but not least, publicity and trust are also important. While large companies can afford to lose some of their customers and contractors without going bankrupt, small businesses have to care about their reputation.

What Can Be Done to Protect a Company From Cyber Threats?

Both large and small companies can be vulnerable to cyber threats, but the latter have it more difficult. In the post-pandemic world, there is a growing demand for remote services and jobs. Organizations are expected to work online, but it is not that simple – especially regarding security.

So What Can You Do to Protect Your Business?

1. Limit your employees’ access to data. If every one of your workers has access to every portion of client and contractor data, you risk losing that information. It only takes one person to (willingly or not) leak sensitive data and generate huge losses.
2. Invest in security tools. Nowadays, almost every business operates online. Sending, storing, and receiving data comes with risks, so it’s worth investing in the right security tools. An additional firewall, a secure VPN, and a good antivirus can help you fight hackers trying to access your data.
3. Create data backups. Sometimes a backup can save your life after an attack or even a system malfunction. If you’re not already backing up your information, start immediately.
4. Educate people. Have you ever heard of phishing? If not, you should learn about it and teach your employees. Criminals use phishing to scam their victims by convincing them that they are contacting someone they trust – a coworker or a company CEO, for example. In recent years, phishing has become one of the most effective methods of stealing data from individuals and companies.
5. Keep your software up to date. Many cyber attacks occur because organizations fail to update their software. Hackers look for vulnerabilities and exploit them to get into corporate networks, steal data, or distribute malware. These vulnerabilities can be addressed. System updates exist because they patch holes so hackers can no longer exploit them.

Teach Yourself About Online Security

These days, every business should invest in online security. Thieves and criminals no longer operate only in dark alleys. When it comes to cyber threats, preparedness is the best protection.