It’s fair to say no business wants to experience a data breach. That is stating the obvious, admittedly. Yet despite the growing threats and sophistication of modern cybercriminals, too many organizations overlook their security requirements.
A company could feel that a standard antivirus software package and some common sense will keep them protected. However, they could still be left vulnerable to a data breach that causes irreparable damage.
The first step in avoiding your precious data from being stolen is to know what you’re up against. To stop a loss in profits, reputation, and customer numbers, here are common types of data breaches your business must avoid.
Malware
It is likely you are aware of malware and the damage it can cause. Proofpoint spotlights it as one of the biggest threats when it comes to data breaches. However, malware attacks come in many different shapes and sizes – and you need to be aware of what’s out there.
For instance, common forms of malware include:
- Adware
- Viruses
- Trojans
- Worms
- Bots
- Spyware
- Ransomware
As you would expect each one presents a distinct attack approach, although they all have the same end goal. Knowing about these (and thoroughly training each of your employees) is key to protecting against data breaches.
Human error
Expanding on the training of employees, the main reason this should be at the top of your priorities is simple: human error. Whether it is due to an oversight or anger, one of your staff members could lead to adware or ransomware gaining entry to your company’s data.
Stamping out all human error can be difficult. Education will help significantly in preventing accidental negligence. However, trying to stop a disgruntled or swayed employee from sharing inside access to your business could be trickier.
Physical theft
Your primary focus might be on digital cyberthreats. Yet do not underestimate the threat of physical theft. All it takes is for a laptop to be stolen for your physical records to be placed at risk.
Plus, due to hybrid working is increasing in popularity, it doesn’t necessarily have to be your business premises that needs to be breached. A worker’s home could be the target for instance, where a thief can take their laptop or company phone and gain indirect access inside your organization.
Exploited applications
Any modern business makes use of a wide variety of applications and software tools. After all, these help with everything from automation to improving the efficiency of processes. The problem is these can be exploited by cybercriminals to get to your data.
One of the most common ways this happens is with outdated applications. Have you ever wondered why you need to continually update a lot of apps? There are some improvements included, yes, but a lot of the time is to patch up certain security holes that have been discovered.
It goes without saying, but you must download and install these updates as soon as they appear. Don’t put them off – otherwise your apps could become vulnerable to attacks.
