October Cybersecurity Awareness: Stay ahead of cybercrime

With October’s cybersecurity awareness month helping us focus, we’ve been thinking about how to stay ahead, efficiently. Cybercriminals evolve all the time, and so must our business’s cybersecurity measures. The days of relying solely on antivirus software and firewalls are long gone. Surviving businesses need a comprehensive suite of tools to defend against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, thriving businesses need to get ahead. According to Gartner, “businesses that integrate threat intelligence into their cybersecurity strategy are better positioned to mitigate risk.”

Essential Cybersecurity Tools

1. Managed Detection and Response (MDR)
This service provides 24/7 monitoring of your systems to detect and respond to threats in real-time. MDR combines human expertise with advanced AI tools to prevent, detect, and mitigate attacks before they cause damage.

2. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
With more employees working remotely, protecting mobile endpoints is crucial. EDR provides continuous monitoring of devices like laptops and smartphones, detecting suspicious activity and responding to threats in real-time.

3. Email Security Tools
Phishing remains one of the top attack vectors. Advanced email security tools can identify and filter out phishing attempts, preventing them from reaching your employees’ inboxes.

4. Firewall and Antivirus Protection
While no longer enough on their own, firewalls and antivirus tools are still essential components of a layered defence strategy. Ensure these tools are regularly updated and configured to respond to new and emerging threats.

5. Backup Solutions
Ransomware is particularly damaging because it often involves encrypting a business’s data and demanding a ransom to restore it. Having reliable, offsite backups ensures that your business can recover quickly without paying a ransom.

The TalkTalk data breach

In 2015, TalkTalk suffered a breach that exposed the personal details of 157,000 customers. Hackers exploited vulnerabilities in TalkTalk’s web infrastructure, gaining access to critical systems and sensitive customer data. The breach resulted in £60 million in financial losses and a £400,000 fine from the ICO. TalkTalk’s failure to employ robust security measures led to both the breach and the resulting consequences.

Marriott Hotels chain data breach

The cyber attack on the Starwood Hotels group began in 2014, which was then acquired by Marriott two years later. The breach was not noticed until 2018 when the chain realised that up to 339 million guest data had been compromised (including passport, email, name, phone, status and loyalty card insights). The fine was based on their failure to protect personal data has required by the GDPR. Without stringent and constant monitoring, hackers can stay beneath the radar and continue their malicious intents.

Ready to get access to the essential cyber tools for your business?

To avoid falling victim to similar attacks, staying ahead of cybercriminals by adopting the latest tools and technologies is the easy route. Ensure your systems are regularly updated, your data is backed up, and your employees are trained in cybersecurity best practices.

We offer a range of cybersecurity services, from MDR to EDR, designed to keep your business one step ahead of cybercrime. Get in touch today to discuss how we can protect your business. 

Explore how we can protect your business from cyber threats here in our Cybersecurity Services pages.