ActiSoft Technology - Blog #Backup

The Hidden Cost of Cyber Crime And How to Avoid it

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 14:34:15 +0000

When a new story hits the news about another organisation being hit by a cyber attack, it’s mostly numbers we hear about. We’re told how many records were compromised, how many hours were lost, how much ransom money was demanded and how big a fine the company will have to pay to the ICO.

What we don’t hear so much about is the human cost of cyber attacks, or how those responsible for handing over valuable data (mostly completely innocently) feel about their mistakes.

Fraudsters know how to play on people’s weaknesses, and they’re very good at it. It’s easy to think you’d never fall for a scam if it’s never happened to you, but the truth is that hundreds of thousands of people do get caught out every year. Often, those people are highly intelligent, organised and diligent, and just happened to be having a bad day.

Being tired, overworked, stressed or simply relaxing in the lead up to a holiday can cause even the brightest spark to make simple mistakes. Nobody is immune to cyber attacks, and hackers capitalise on that fact every single day. The situation is now so serious that mental health professionals are referring to cyber crime as a new, hidden epidemic, and those who fall victim to hackers often pay a heavy psychological price. It goes way beyond having information stolen or even handing over money. It’s about deep-seated feelings of guilt, embarrassment and powerlessness, and in an increasing number of cases victims are being diagnosed with depression, post traumatic stress disorder or other related health problems.

A recent survey found that almost 70% of victims said they felt they could no longer trust strangers, and over half said they were no longer able to enjoy the activities they used to. Depression and anxiety were reported in over half the respondents, with almost 85% experiencing insomnia following a data breach. More than 60% said they experienced difficulties with concentration and cognitive function, while just under 57% said they regularly experienced aches, pains and headaches.

In severe cases, the shame of compromising company data and being seen as “the weakest link” in an organisation has even led to suicide. So, how do you protect your employees and your company from the chaos of a data breach? These 7 simple security measures will help keep you and your people safe and help you avoid the long term repercussions of cyber crime.

1. Make Sure You Have Endpoint Protection Software on Every Device

A lot of people still think that anti-virus software is just for laptops and PCs, but you should have it installed on every device on which people access your systems.

2. Use Different Passwords

Many of us are guilty of re-using the same password for different accounts, but it’s a really bad habit to get into. Having to remember different passwords for all your online activities can be exhausting and frustrating, but if you use a system like Keeper you won’t have to. Password management systems remember everything for you, so you and your team can stay safe without having to deal with an administrative nightmare.

3. Switch to Multi-factor Authentication

Entering a username and password is just one step in the online security process, so more and more organisations are choosing to protect their data with several layers of protection. Multi-factor authentication requires you to provide more information to confirm your identity, such as:

Something you know – a password or PIN
Something you have – like a Security Key, secure USB or phone number
Something you are – such as a fingerprint or retina scan

4. Protect Every Device

One of the downsides of remote working is that your team members will most likely be using their own devices to log into your network. It’s imperative to clearly outline everyone’s responsibilities when it comes to looking after those devices, from keeping them safe on public transport to ensuring nobody else has access to them.

You’ll need a robust Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy in place to ensure everyone knows what’s expected of them – get advice on how to create one here.

It's important to note that under the GDPR, if any device containing personal information is stolen it must be reported to the ICO within 72 hours. It’s also a good idea to install tracking software on your devices so they’re easier to get back in the event of theft or loss.

5. Make Sure Your Software is Always Up to Date

One of the easiest ways for hackers to infiltrate organisations is through outdated software. Every time someone hits the “update later” button it makes your organisation more vulnerable, so make it policy to ensure all software is updated at the same time every week.

6. Back up Regularly

Even if the worst does happen and you lose your data, it will be a whole lot easier to deal with if you’ve got everything backed up in another place. You can store copies of your data in an external hard drive, but most businesses nowadays choose to back up in the Cloud. A good security provider will perform backups on your behalf and regularly monitor activity on the network, which means you won’t have to give it a second thought.

Don't forget to test your backup regularly!

7. Educate and Support Your Staff

This is the number one most important thing you can do when it comes to cyber security. Human error is the biggest cause of data breaches, so by keeping everyone trained and up to date with the latest phishing threats and how to recognise them, you’ll be going a long way towards keeping your customer information safe.

With the right training, employees should all be able to spot a phishing email or dodgy link and know what to do if something doesn’t look right. It’s also important to create a culture in which people feel comfortable to ask if they’re not sure about something, and don’t feel under too much pressure. Of course, an element of pressure is expected in every job, but when people are overloaded, they’re more likely to make mistakes. And as we’ve already seen, sometimes those mistakes have far reaching consequences. Creating a culture of fear won’t work, but providing a supportive, educational environment just might.

We are here to help you and your team stay safe online. To find out more, or to book a cyber security training session, contact us today.

Endpoint & DNS Protection Together

To secure businesses, you need endpoint protection that’s stronger and smarter than traditional business antivirus and secure your DNS connection against cyberattacks, get total visibility into web usage, and enforce acceptable web usage policies to reduce security risk.

Why it's different:

Stop sophisticated cyber attacks

Streamline Management

Save time and money

Skip the hardware and software with our DNS Protection

Block threats at the domain level

Reduce costs relating to infections

Protection wherever you are

Try it now!

How To Harness the Power of Data in Your Organisation

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 13:40:01 +0000

Companies all over the world are learning that one of the best ways to future-proof their organisations is by harnessing the power of data. According to a recent survey from McKinsey, today’s leaders understand that data isn’t just part of business, it is business. But there’s a big difference between simply collecting data and using it properly, so how do you ensure you’ve got all the information you need to succeed without getting bogged down in statistics?

For most companies, data collection is about three things:

Informing and improving decision making
Refining operations
Creating new revenue streams

Informing and Improving Decision Making

A recent study by Bain & Company, which looked at over 400 organisations, found that those who used advanced data analytics made decisions five times quicker than their peers. Data helps us understand the way our customers think and provides deep insights into which processes are working, as well as those that would benefit from a different approach.

Refining Operations

Today’s data sources allow organisations to refine everyday operations and processes and work more efficiently. From customer feedback to production line reports, we now have a host of information at our fingertips to help us be bigger and better than ever.

A good example of this is the use of GPS software in delivery vehicles – companies like Amazon have used this new technology to their full advantage, giving customers and managers alike regular updates on deliveries. They’ve also used data in all sorts of ways to influence customer decisions, like the recently introduced Personal Recommendation system that prompts consumers on the products they might need, before they even know it themselves.

Creating New Revenue Streams

The more in-depth and interesting your data, the more attractive a business asset it becomes. So much so that companies are now being bought based on how much data they collect, like in the case of IBM’s takeover of The Weather Company. Originally founded as the Weather Channel in 1982, the company invested in technology that allowed it to offer an impressive line of digital products. They changed their name to the Weather Company in 2012 and a number of eagle-eyed investors noticed the wealth of information they had collected about weather patterns. IBM soon snapped them up and has since been able to position itself as one of the leading suppliers of weather information in the world. Even if you don’t want your company to be acquired by one of the big fish, your data will still be valuable to someone.

However far along you are in your journey, you’ll need a robust data strategy in place. Before you go on a mission to collect all those facts and figures , it’s important to know what you want to do with it. That means starting with a robust data strategy that clearly identifies what you’re trying to achieve and how you plan to do it.

The amount of data that exists around the globe is growing rapidly – 90% of it has only become available over the past couple of years. As that data continues to increase, managing it properly has become essential, which is why all businesses need a data strategy.

Like all business planning activities, your company data strategy should be SMART and flexible, allowing you to scale up and down according to need.
Without a data strategy in place, different departments and team members find themselves having to make decisions about information and solve data decisions on their own. This adds up to confusion and a lot of wasted time and money, so it’s important to develop clear guidelines in order to keep costs low and operations running smoothly.
Define how your data will help you meet business goals.
Identify how you will complete data collection activities in line with those goals.
Outline any changes you need to make within your organisation to make the most of your data.
Establish a timeline for all your data collection activities and milestones.
Describe your short-, mid- and long-term data collection strategies.
Discuss how these activities can be financially justified.
Identify what software you intend to use and how your insights can be monetised.
Include information about how your data will be stored and kept safe.

Data Security should be your number one priority when it comes to collecting any kind of information. Since the introduction of the GDPR and the ever-increasing risk of hacking, it’s never been more important to make sure your data is safe. Here are some important things to consider for your new data strategy:

Always make sure your data is regularly backed up
Ensure all your staff are well trained in cyber security and clear about access and data sharing
Use Cloud computing systems to keep your information remotely
Invest in some reliable Antivirus software and install it on all devices that access your systems
Always keep your data protected with a robust cyber security strategy

We are here to help you keep your data safe. Contact us today to find out more about our cyber security products and services, including data strategy implementation and staff training.