Many of us have spent much of the last year worrying about how hackers will attack our information security and what actions they could take to compromise our secure IT. Unfortunately, hackers will continue to be a threat as we move into the second half of 2021, as their techniques and methods evolve beyond the safeguards we’ve put in place to keep them out.
This ongoing threat is relevant to businesses large and small. Size is no longer relevant – every business that has data is at risk of being targeted by hackers.
Implementing better IT solutions to protect against hackers is a little bit like climbing a mountain. Just when you thought the challenge was over, the peak recedes into the clouds and you have to continue the ascent.
Don’t give in to frustration or inertia. Learn how hackers think. Then let us show you how a managed service provider like Amnet can go on the offensive for your company, tackling the challenge of cybersecurity solutions for Colorado businesses while you get back to business.
Prevent Hackers with Better Information Security
In 2020, the switch to remote work was instrumental in making our computer network security more vulnerable to threats from bad actors. However, that’s not the only thing that’s changed. Over time, hackers have gotten exponentially faster at exploiting every little weakness in your otherwise secure IT. They’ve also mastered the art of manipulation and have developed techniques that will exploit even the most conscientious and security-focused employees.
Here are some of the innovations and trends in hacking that could potentially disrupt your business operations in the second half of 2021.
Improvements in ransomware
Ransomware attacks will continue to grow even more sophisticated as hackers get better at weaponizing the information they steal.
Previously, companies that were attacked with ransomware could expect to pay a modest fee for the return of their sensitive data. Now, hackers are putting their energy into extortion and are demanding exorbitant fees, like the recent $10 million in Bitcoin that was requested by hackers after they breached the University of Colorado and the University of Miami servers.
More ambitious agendas
In addition to asking for more money in return for their compliance, hackers are moving from targeting private companies to public groups, with a distinct focus on public services like municipalities, cities, and healthcare organizations. Hackers have been targeting these public organizations in record numbers over the last year.
Even the smallest organizations are not immune. In July 2020, hackers held the 30,000-person City of Lafayette, Colorado, for ransom, disrupting the city’s website, network, email, and phone lines. The city paid the ransom, then had to ask neighboring cities, like Boulder, for help getting their network back online.
The evolution of deepfakes
Another troubling development over the last year is the ubiquity of deepfakes – artificial videos and audio tracks that hackers can use to impersonate someone like a CEO, IT director, or another influential person.
These deepfakes could be used to take advantage of another person (Why would you ignore a directive from your CEO over the phone?) or could be used as a tool for extortion if the company doesn’t comply with the hackers.
Why Hackers Are Always One Step Ahead of Your Secure IT
One of the most frustrating aspects of IT management is how hackers always seem to be one step ahead of your team. The reality is that your internal IT team is limited to known threats, and cybercriminals spend their entire day experimenting with new methods and tools to break through even the most secure IT solutions.
That’s why many organizations are finding that internal IT just isn’t enough to protect them from the limitless reach of hackers. A recent survey by Syntax found that 83% of respondents are thinking about switching to IT consultants and MSPs to provide daily security operations. These MSPs have advanced knowledge of cybersecurity and email security, plus access to the safest security systems available today.
Adjusting your IT solutions is the key to better protection
Enlisting the help of a managed service provider for your cybersecurity and IT management is a great way to be proactive in the fight against hackers.
None of these threats to our security is going away anytime soon. Companies must prepare themselves by developing a fuller understanding of their assets, so they can build protective barriers around the data and infrastructure that matter most.
They must also change their mindset to take their staff into account. Better IT solutions don’t just involve anti-viral software and firewalls. Employees must be given security awareness training to ensure they’re more adept at spotting threats, helping them engage more actively in the fight against bad actors.
Let Amnet Go on the Offensive to Ensure Better IT Solutions
So many businesses around the world are reaching out to MSPs to help them improve their cybersecurity and security infrastructure to repel hackers. At Amnet, we specialize in helping our partners develop more robust security plans that are customized to their needs.
Securing your business isn’t a cookie-cutter process. Every partnership begins with a risk assessment during onboarding, to ensure we’re giving you the protection you need with no extraneous fees. We work closely with all our partners to offer a variety of tools, including phishing simulations and Dark Web scans, to see whether your stolen data may already be in use.
Let us take the work of protecting your company off your plate. Get in touch with Amnet today to learn more about how we can help.