Stay ahead of cybercriminals this summer with advanced strategies and technical defences to protect your company from increased cyberattacks.
In recent years, several high-profile cyberattacks have underscored the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures, particularly during summer holiday periods.
Data indicates a 40% increase in cyberattacks during holiday periods, with the summer months being particularly vulnerable. Last year alone saw a 73% spike in holiday cyberattacks, with a notable 60% rise reported in June, primarily targeting travel and leisure sectors.
Several factors contribute to this trend:
- Reduced Staffing: With many employees on leave, companies often operate with skeleton staffing. This reduction in manpower includes IT and cybersecurity staff, weakening the overall security posture.
- Increased Online Activity: More people booking holidays and shopping online leads to an increase in potential targets for cybercriminals.
- Relaxed Vigilance: Employees and individuals tend to let their guard down during holidays, making them more susceptible to phishing and other social engineering attacks.
- Common Attack Vectors During Holidays
Understanding the specific methods cybercriminals use can help in developing effective defences.
- Email Exploitation: Automated out-of-office replies can provide attackers with valuable information about employee absences, which can be used to time their attacks. Implementing email security measures like DMARC, DKIM, and SPF can help prevent email spoofing and phishing.
- Mobile Device Vulnerabilities: Employees often access corporate resources from their personal devices while on holiday. Ensuring these devices are secured with Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions can mitigate risks. MDM can enforce security policies, manage device configurations, and monitor for suspicious activity.
- Unsecured Wi-Fi Connections: Public Wi-Fi networks are notoriously insecure. Implementing Virtual Private Network (VPN) solutions ensures that data transmitted over these networks is encrypted, reducing the risk of interception.
- Phishing Attacks: Phishing remains a prevalent threat. Utilising advanced email filtering solutions that leverage machine learning to detect and block phishing attempts can significantly reduce exposure. Additionally, regular phishing simulation exercises can help train employees to recognise and avoid phishing scams.
- Identity Theft: Cybercriminals may impersonate employees, especially new hires who are unfamiliar with all staff members. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be enforced for accessing company systems to prevent unauthorised access.
- Employee Training: Regular cybersecurity awareness training is crucial. This should cover the latest threats, safe browsing practices, and the importance of reporting suspicious activities.
Technical Strategies to Prevent Cyberattacks
To protect your business during the holiday season, implement the following technical measures.
- Conduct Regular Security Audits: Regularly auditing your IT infrastructure helps identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Use automated vulnerability scanning tools to ensure continuous monitoring and immediate remediation of any identified weaknesses.
- Deploy Advanced Threat Detection Solutions: Utilise Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions to monitor and respond to threats in real-time. EDR solutions provide deep visibility into endpoint activities, enabling quick detection and response to malicious activities.
- Implement Robust Access Controls: Use role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure employees only have access to the information necessary for their roles. This limits the potential damage in the event of a compromised account.
- Secure Remote Work Environments: With many employees working remotely, ensure that all remote access solutions are secure. This includes enforcing strong password policies, MFA, and regular security updates for remote access software.
- Regular Data Backups: Ensure that data backups are performed regularly and stored securely. Implementing a robust backup and disaster recovery plan can help quickly restore operations in the event of a ransomware attack or data breach.
By understanding the heightened risks during holiday periods and implementing these technical strategies, your company can significantly enhance its cybersecurity posture. Stay proactive and vigilant to ensure your business remains secure throughout the holiday season and beyond.