Cybersecurity Terms your Business Should Know

Are you ready for the latest cyber security threat? 

Cybersecurity is no longer just a concern for big companies. Small businesses also face threats, especially those that rely heavily on their IT infrastructure. 

Whatever the size of your business, it’s vital to adopt a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Let’s review some common risks and the effective strategies you can implement today to mitigate them!

Cybersecurity Basics 

Malware (or malicious software) refers to any type of software that is used to disrupt normal operation of a computer system or gather sensitive information about its users. Malware includes viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware, adware, crimeware, rootkits, keyloggers, dialers, ransomware, scareware, trojans, rogue antivirus utilities, and bootloaders. 

Phishing is an attempt to acquire sensitive information like usernames, passwords, or credit card details by using deception to trick. This is done by masquerading as someone trustworthy to fool users into providing this information.

Ransomware is malicious software that holds your files hostage. Once installed on your device, ransomware encrypts all your important files and demands payment for them to be unlocked.

Spyware (also called adware) is software that secretly gathers information about users’ activities on their computers. This includes tracking keystrokes, collecting passwords and credit card numbers, recording personal details including e-mail addresses and instant messaging conversations, and sending this information back to its developers.

Vulnerability Scanning (VulnScan) is an automated method for identifying vulnerabilities in software applications. This technique uses information gathered from previous attacks on similar systems to identify potential weaknesses in your system.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks involve sending large amounts of traffic at a target site to make it unavailable to its intended users. This can be done for many reasons, including extortion, protest, or simply because someone wants to cause trouble.

Now that we’ve reviewed the most common cybersecurity threats, what are some next steps your company can take? 

Enroll your team in security awareness training. A great option for this is Curricla, which offers a fun eLearning platform that uses behavioral science-based techniques, such as storytelling, to fundamentally transform your employee security awareness training program. It also offers customized content using a variety of fresh new cyber security training stories, posters, security awareness downloads, phishing simulations, and more. 

Consider a managed IT support provider that also has ethical hacking services.  If your company is in a higher risk category, and especially if you don’t have an in-house IT team, consider working with a partner like bva, a business technology leader. The company offers a comprehensive range of managed IT support for any size business with 24/7 maintenance and monitoring that keeps your computers, servers, and systems up and running. They also offer ethical hacking services. An ethical hacker is a computer/networking expert who systematically attempts to penetrate a computer system or network on behalf of its owners for the purpose of access, finding security vulnerabilities, or verifying user activity levels and documentation of said activities. As a result, companies like bva can tighten up security holes, make systems more reliable, and secure commercial and personal data.

Get a comprehensive security assessment. With over 20 years of experience in technology consulting and IT services, SADA’s security-first mindset is why leading companies trust them to stay ahead of the curve. They’ll get you on the right track with a comprehensive security assessment, identifying critical issues and applying best practices to help you defend against threats, increase your security posture, and meet your compliance requirements.   

Invest in strong cybersecurity measures. You can also secure your enterprise with an innovative and accessible cybersecurity from Hillstone Networks. Their solutions provide enterprises and service providers with the visibility and intelligence to comprehensively see, thoroughly understand, and rapidly act against multilayer, multistage cyberthreats.\

Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common, and they can cause significant damage to your company’s reputation and bottom line. Now’s the time to take the steps to secure your company’s cybersecurity!