Multiple stages of a cyber attack on your business

Oct. 4, 2017 - PRLog -- There are multiple stages of a cyber attack on your business and you should be ready for these security threats.

So far, this year has been a challenge to organizations regarding cyber attacks.  Gone are the days of a reactive approach when it comes to IT management and IT security.  There is no longer we are too small thinking as everyone is a target to cyber criminals and the fact that there are more small businesses with limited budgets when it comes to IT security only increase the chances you will be hit by a cyber attack.

As sophisticated cyber attack techniques continue and they are becoming more hidden than before, it is important you understand the various stages as well as how to prepare for each stage.

Stage 1 – Planning the cyber attack

It is impossible to estimate when a cyber attack will take place however you can reduce the possibility with a few steps.  Managed IT services provider and IT departments always recommend ongoing user education as well as ensuring the entire organization has a clear understanding of the several types of cyber attacks and cyber threats.

Phishing cyber attacks is one example where hackers will use an unsuspecting employee. They impersonate by sending emails to members of staff requesting a bank transfer or a password.  They learn patterns and try to keep things normal so the payment is not questioned.  By educating users, you can get them to look if there is anything unusual.  What is the tone of the email or is the font different or even the spacing?  Even the email address may be very similar such as "itconsulting@365itsoltions.com" instead of "itconsulting@365itsolutions.com".

Stage 2 – When a cyber attack takes place

No one wants a cyber attack to take place but you should be prepared with a detailed and well-rehearsed response plan that can immediately kick into action once it has been discovered.

Reporting an attack to the authorities is important even if no loss of money or data.  Multiple government agencies keep track of these events and work proactively at stopping them. If not reported or reported in a timely manner, this can damage your reputation as it can leave customers, suppliers, and staff feel betrayed. Therefore having a strategy is crucial to protecting your business even thou the cyber attack took place.

Stage 3 – After the cyber attack is done

This is where things get interesting since a cyber attack is very time consuming to all parties involved including the organization, providers such as IT consultants and suppliers/clients depending on the structure of your organization.  If your business is hit by a cyber attack, you need a technical side of the business to figure out what happened once the network was breached.

What caused the issue? Was it a server missing patches? Was it an unpatched Windows workstations? What about the firewall? Email? As you can see the list is long and many areas to check however if the network is being managed properly using Remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools, this information is collected quickly and can be reviewed thoroughly.

To address the issue and put it to an end, the organization needs to get as much information as possible regarding the attack to update the IT security management, policies, and procedures.  Finding and addressing weak spots in your network will reduce the chances of a cyber attack.  Educated the human element and you only increase your chances of protecting your organization.

There could be multiple stages of a cyber attack on your business, however, our complimentary network and security assessment (http://365itsolutions.com/offer/) can protect your organization from hackers as well as other threats that can affect your business.

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