Ensure Your Security Bases Are Covered This Cybersecurity Awareness Month

The year 2023 has been torrid for business cybersecurity, with new threats emerging and old threats making a comeback. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time for businesses and managed service providers (MSPs) alike to review their security policies and procedures and take a look at their security solutions to ensure they have every angle covered.

In today’s fast-paced security landscape, ensuring your company takes the right cybersecurity precautions really pays off.

Four surging cyberattacks to worry about now

Zero-day exploits: Zero-day vulnerabilities are being discovered more quickly these days. A good example of this is the MOVEit cyberattack spree that has been rolling since spring 2023. In this scenario, a major cybercrime gang known as Cl0P took advantage of a previously undiscovered vulnerability in popular secure file transfer software MOVEit to launch devastating ransomware attacks against over 2,000 organizations of every size in every sector. Some notable MOVEit victims include Shell, British Airways, the United States Department of Energy and BORN Ontario.

Supply chain risk: Supply chain risk remains a significant concern in cybersecurity. Hackers often target weaker links within the supply chain to infiltrate larger organizations. In today’s interconnected world, businesses face more supply chain/third-party cybersecurity risk than ever before. Many companies that became victims in the MOVEit disaster were not users of the software directly. Instead, these unlucky companies experienced a data breach or ransomware attack through a service provider or partner that used MOVEit. About 90% of global IT leaders believe their partners and customers are making their own organizations a more attractive target for cyberattacks like ransomware.

Growing risk of ransomware: Ransomware attacks continue to be a growing threat. Cybercriminals employ increasingly sophisticated techniques to encrypt an organization’s data and demand ransoms for decryption keys. These attacks can result in financial losses, reputational damage and even operational shutdowns. Unfortunately, ransomware risk has been steadily increasing over the last eight months. Cyber insurer Corvus just released a Q3 analysis, noting an almost 80% increase in ransomware attacks year-over-year.

AI-enabled phishing: The use of AI in phishing attacks has made these threats more dangerous as the messages they use become more convincing and difficult to detect. Bad actors have been flocking to technology like ChatGPT to conduct attacks. The use of these technologies helps cybercriminals overcome barriers that keep their attacks from landing, like poor spelling and bad grammar. Effective email security and security awareness training are crucial defensive measures against phishing. Protecting businesses from phishing protects them from cyberattacks. According to a Deloitte report, 91% of cyberattacks start with a phishing email.

7 Tips to Defend Against a Cyberattack

1. Frequently update and patch systems: Ensuring that all software and systems are up to date with the latest security patches is vital to prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities.
2. Implement strong access controls: Limit access to critical systems and data to only those who need it. Implement multifactor or two-factor authentication to enhance security.
3. Conduct cybersecurity awareness training: Regular security awareness training is a highly effective way to educate employees about data and systems security. Phishing simulations help teach employees to resist social engineering attacks.
4. Create an incident response plan: Develop a well-defined incident response plan that outlines the steps to take in the event of a cyberattack and practice it through simulated exercises.
5. Implement a backup and recovery strategy: Regularly back up data and systems and test the restoration process. Having an effective backup strategy can mitigate the impact of ransomware attacks.
6. Perform regular security audits and penetration testing: Conduct periodic security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in your systems.
7. Get expert insights: Get expert insights and experience on your side to help you hunt for threats and vulnerabilities with a managed security operations center (SOC) and an endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is an essential tool for IT teams

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a crucial component of modern cybersecurity. It involves real-time monitoring, detection and response to threats at the endpoint level, such as individual devices within a network. EDR solutions provide organizations with the ability to detect and respond to threats promptly, mitigating potential damage and data loss.

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, it’s crucial for organizations to stay updated on emerging threats and continuously adapt their security strategies. Implementing a combination of proactive defenses, incident response planning and resilience-building measures is essential to safeguard sensitive data and maintain operational continuity. Additionally, partnering with trusted cybersecurity solution providers like Datto can help organizations stay one step ahead of cyberthreats.

Datto’s security solutions help IT pros thwart cybercrime

Datto is a well-known provider of data protection and business continuity solutions, offering a range of security solutions. Datto’s solutions help organizations safeguard their data, minimize downtime and recover quickly from cyber incidents.

Datto EDR – Detect and respond to advanced threats with built-in, continuous endpoint monitoring and behavioral analysis to deliver comprehensive endpoint defense (something that many cyber insurance companies require).

SIRIS – A secure data protection solution built for MSPs to protect their client data. Security comes first with two-factor authentication and the immutable Datto Cloud to deliver an all-in-one solution for backup and recovery in a ransomware world.

Datto Secure Edge – This cloud-managed access solution for the growing remote workforce is a must-have. Managed service providers can simplify Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and deliver superior security compared to a traditional VPN solution.

Get tips for choosing the right EDR solution in our essential checklist 10 Things to Look for When Buying an EDR Solution.