This guest blog was contributed by Guardian Digital.
Over the past 2 years, the security landscape has faced many new challenges. The pandemic has taken a toll on businesses of all sizes, as seen with the evolution and increase of cyberthreats. It is more important than ever businesses have the right tools in their cybersecurity system and know what to be aware of. This article will discuss the upcoming security challenges of 2022 and tips so that businesses can prevent them such as security awareness, multi-factor authentication, stronger/unique passwords for all accounts and multi-layered email cloud security.
Develop Cybersecurity Awareness Among Employees
Social engineering and phishing attacks accounted for a large portion of data breaches in 2021. Because businesses continued to shift to remote and hybrid work environments there was a noticeable increase in the number of phishing attacks and in the cost of data breaches. Staff are the first line of defense and typically lack the necessary training and knowledge to protect against these attacks. Education must involve multiple aspects; a mix of events, ongoing formal training, and just-in-time reminders built into work processes that are focused and specific. Running phishing simulations and interactive training can be particularly beneficial as they’ve proven to offer significant ROI (Return on Investment).
Implement Multi-Factor Authentication
MFA is a type of security technology that requires multiple methods of authentication to confirm a user’s identity for logins and other transactions. MFA works by combining the user’s credentials to confirm the user logging into the account is the owner. The technology requires 3 factors to verify identity: something you know, something you have, and something you are. Something you know, such as a PIN or the responses to a security question, something you have, such as a code from an authentication app, and something you are, such as a fingerprint or vocal recognition are all examples of the required credentials. While this may seem excessive, the extra layer of authentication provides more protection than traditional credentials.
Consider Unique Strong Passwords
Strong and complex passwords are inherently different, as a complex password can result in lost notes or files that reveal your written password. Password lengths that are easy-to-remember but difficult-to-guess are the ideal kind of password. Employees should use strong, unique passwords for each account because attackers try reused passwords from a breached system that will often unlock other accounts. Password reuse is especially dangerous if employees use the same passwords for both corporate and personal accounts. Remembering each password for the dozens of accounts can be daunting, consider using a single sign-on or a password manager that can help with all the extra passwords.
Secure Business Email with Multi-Layered Protection
Proactive, multi-layered email security defenses are of critical importance to businesses’ security since over 90% of modern cyberattacks begin with a phishing email. Spear phishing, fileless malware and zero-day are evolving and becoming even more costly for victims. Static, single-layered defenses like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are ineffective in protecting against attacks. No single security feature is adept in defending email against modern exploits alone. Various layers of security need to work together to detect and block threats and build on each other to provide stronger, more effective protection.
Conclusion
Businesses can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to the need for security plans. As numbers of attacks and different tactics increase, it is crucial organizations of all sizes are prepared for the challenges expected in 2022. Applying best practices can help prevent lasting damage, and mitigate successful data breaches.
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