Malware is Running Rampant - Learn The 3 Moves to Stop It

May 5th, 2021 by admin

A hooded figure typing on two keyboards, with orangish-red text floating around him indicating he is committing cybercrimes

Contrast Helps Customers Protect Their Precious Networks

NE and Central PA – Contrast a leading managed technology services provider (MTSP), proactively helps businesses address the increased threat of malware affecting small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) in 2021. As more companies have increased their reliance on their IT networks to securely access information and applications,cybercrime has increased as well .Malicious actors continue to innovate their strategies and have even exploited insecure networks in order to trick users into downloading malware. Contrast has developed three simple strategies designed to minimize exposure and dramatically increase the safety and security of their customers' networks.

"One of the biggest concerns that business owners need to be aware of is that hackers are becoming much more sophisticated," stated John Uehling, CEO of Contrast. "A few years ago, most phishing attempts were relatively simple to spot. But they have become much tougher to catch, especially among untrained staff." Uehling later added, "Cybercriminals are using 'victim vetting' mechanisms to ensure that their efforts are pinpointed, and that they are targeting wealthy individuals or business owners, to ensure their time is well-spent and their attacks are precise."

There are immediate actions that any business can implement to add basic, intermediate and advanced levels of network protection to secure their company from these threats. The first and most easily implemented solution is to ensure that staff is using multi-factor authentication (MFA), via practices such as "two-step authentication" on tools that they access on a daily basis. This is one of those "no-brainers" approaches that immediately add an extra layer of protection across the network and is quite effective at deterring cybercrime.

There are immediate actions that any business can implement to add basic, intermediate and advanced levels of network protection to secure their company from these threats. The first and most easily implemented solution is to ensure that staff is using multi-factor authentication (MFA), via practices such as "two-step authentication" on tools that they access on a daily basis. This is one of those "no-brainers" approaches that immediately add an extra layer of protection across the network and is quite effective at deterring cybercrime.

Many people don't realize that oftentimes the ideal target for cybercriminals are smaller, less protected businesses. Through ransomware attacks, hackers can gain leverage that is relatively easy for them to achieve, as opposed to how cumbersome it is for them to attack larger organizations, who've invested much more into their cybersecurity defense strategy. So, thirdly, for organizations that have more to lose, in terms of customer data, medical data, credit cards and other highly-sensitive information, they need to take a look at a security operations center (SOC). A SOC is a team of cybersecurity experts monitoring company networks 24 hours a day 7 days a week. If an attack occurs SOC technicians jump into action and thwart the attack. SOCs have grown in popularity because they are the most comprehensive solution.

While each business faces a unique level of threat, it's critical that SMBs learn more about the risks their network currently faces and build the right defense shield with the right tools.

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