As our reliance on technology has expanded exponentially, so too has the risk posed by cybercriminals. The preponderance of interconnectivity in today’s world, buttressed by work from home policies; cloud computing; and the Internet of Things, among others, has engendered an environment where everything from work emails to doorbell cameras are now potential vulnerabilities in ever-more complex networks. 

As cyberattacks ramp up dramatically in both threat and ambition, an ironclad cybersecurity gameplan is more important than ever, whatever the sector. 

Cybersecurity is a system of processes built to defend an individual’s and organisation’s tech infrastructure, including files, system data, devices, financial assets – anything that is connected to the internet. The threats most commonly organised against include ransomware attacks, computer viruses, and anything else that poses a significant threat to the target’s safety or operations. 

Stringent password protocols, multi-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption and access controls are all standard approaches to fortify an otherwise vulnerable network. Employing each of these as facets of a comprehensive and wide-ranging cybersecurity strategy ensures organisations best position themselves against the threat of cyberattack, wherever it may stem from. 

Examples of Cybercriminal Threats

The nature and attack vector of potential threats are as varied as the networked systems they prey upon. This is why a broad-based cybersecurity gameplan is critical to covering all bases and ensuring protection, as well as peace of mind. 

Some common examples of cybersecurity threats that firms and decisionmakers need be aware of include: 

Malware – “Malicious Software” is any application or piece of code written with the intent to harm the system it is uploaded into, usually unwittingly. Its wide definition means that most if not all cybersecurity threats involve malware in one fashion or another. Malware allows hackers and other cybercriminals to gain unauthorised access to a system, allowing them to access sensitive data, comandeer computer systems remotely, or hold systems hostage for money (this is commonly referred to as a ransomware attack, see below). In a world increasingly linked by the Internet of Things, where computers can control everything from gateway access to a factory floor, malware also allows bad actors to do serious physical damage to an organisation’s real-world assets. 

Ransomware – A specific type of malware that locks out intended users from a system, until a ransom is paid to the attacker. Ransomware attacks are exceedingly dangerous as they allow for multiple avenues of extortion: Payment to receive the encryption key, but also additional payment to prevent the leaking of sensitive information. Worst of all, when dealing with criminals, there is no guarantee on the criminal’s part that they will release their hold on an infected system once a ransom has been paid. 

Phishing – As the name implies, these attacks hang out bait for unsuspecting authorised users to open the doors, as it were, to attackers. They most regularly come in the form of emails with attachments or links, inviting the users to unknowingly download malware themselves. Particularly sophisticated forms of phishing might even involve foreknowledge of an individual in a sensitive position within an organisation, to fine-tune the bait to their profile, and increase the likelihood of that individual taking an unwise action.  

Insider Threats – Cyberattacks that result from phishing can be harder to identify because they are, by definition, insider threats. This means that the attack comes from within, by a user with authorisation to use the systems they are manipulating. This is hard enough to detect when, as in the case of phishing scams, these incidents are accidental. In the case of bad actors, however, where an inside threat is a conscious decision by a cybercriminal within the organisation, that individual potentially has the systems knowledge to cover their tracks and make themselves even harder to detect. 

DDoS Attacks – A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack seeks to crash a target server by overwhelming it with too much traffic for the server to process, usually employing bots to trigger the requests to the server. DDoS attacks are often coupled with ransomware attacks, with cybercriminals threatening systems with a DDoS attack unless ransom is paid in a timely manner. 

What are Some Critical Cybersecurity Best Practices?

The following cybersecurity best practices can help arm your organisation against attackers, but they are by no means definitive. Make sure your organisation isn’t leaving itself vulnerable to predators by educating you and your team on how to best prepare a defence against potential threats, through Alberon’s comprehensive cybersecurity training program. 

Security Awareness Training – Knowing your enemy is half the battle. And by ensuring your team is trained in cybersecurity best practice, from the top of your organisation to the bottom, you build the foundations of a defensive posture against cyberattack. Educating authorised users on how everyday shortcuts can increase your organisation’s risk factor, like using the same password across multiple devices, can tidy up poor practice and encourage mindfulness about cybersecurity issues. 

Identity and Access Management – IAM sets out to clearly define the roles and permissions of each authorised user, setting out the conditions under which access to specific systems is granted or denied. This ensures that nobody has access to systems they do not need access to, limiting the threat of contagion should a breach occur. 

Attack Surface Management – ASM is the continuous testing of a system for vulnerabilities, usually with cybersecurity experts or “white hat” hackers actively probing the system for weaknesses to exploit. Once identified, these vulnerabilities can be anaylsed and then patched out, allowing for greater all-round defensive posture as hostile actors can be pre-empted proactively. 

Disaster Recovery – In the event that an attack cannot be thwarted in time, having a protocol in place to mitigate such disasters is critical. Take the above example of ransomware attacks: If a business’ entire system is backed up in a remote location, then even if users get locked out by a ransomware attack, the ability to quickly restore from a safe backup could mean a business is able to avoid engaging with their attackers altogether.