As a business owner, your network safety is top priority. From internal company files to sensitive client data, protecting this information is key to your success and reputation. However, no matter how safe you think you are, there are thousands of people working around the clock to try and gain access to your network.
There have been several high-profile security breaches in the last year, and we guarantee 2018 won’t be any different. Companies of all sizes are taking extra steps to safeguard their networks and you should too.
Small Businesses Are Also At Risk
Even if you are a small or medium-sized business, don't assume you won’t be targeted. It’s a common misconception that hackers want to target only big businesses. As their schemes become more sophisticated, they frequently target small- and medium-sized companies with automated attacks like that of WannaCry.
It’s Not Always Personal, It Can Be Random
Hackers looking to attack a small business are not always concerned about the services you offer or the products you sell. With access to your network, a hacker could access anything from sensitive business information to credit card numbers employees have saved to their browsers. Or, hackers may just want to cause chaos.
Another possibility is that a hacker needs access to your network as part of an attack on another, larger business. They may need to cover their tracks so their actions can’t be traced, and commandeering your IT resources remotely is an easy way for them to overload and crash another company’s network without getting caught.
In this case, your network may not be the focus of the attack but rather the vessel that’s used. It’s like stealing a car to commit a robbery. The owner of the car isn’t to blame, but will suffer certain consequences.
What Happens When It Gets Personal?
Sure, some hackers gain access to a company’s network or website just to crash it or cause disruption, but the most dangerous security breaches are focused on financial gain.
These attack aren’t necessarily based on the type of business you run or how large your company is. Every organization accepts payment in some form or another, and payments need to be stored somewhere easily accessible to the accounting team.
Aside from stealing financial information, there are other ways for hackers to earn money by breaching your network. Other potential targets include proprietary company information such as patents, products, formulas, etc. If it has value to your company, it has value to your competitors or to buyers in digital black markets (e.g., the “dark web”).
Lastly, there’s always the possibility that the goal isn’t to sell your data, but rather to hold it for ransom. That new software you’re planning on releasing? It’d be a shame if it ended up on the web for free. A list of all your client’s banking numbers? That could spell ruin if it was leaked online. Hackers know that companies will pay to keep that information from being released.
Are You Protected?
It’s important to reiterate that not all hackers are the same, but all can cause frustration as well as short- and long-term problems. Regardless of whether they’re using your network as a vessel to commit crimes or stealing password and financial information, it is critical that businesses of all sizes protect their networks.
You wouldn’t leave your company’s front door unlocked overnight, and there’s no reason to leave your network unsecure either! That’s where OC-IT can help. We are Orange County’s premiere provider of advanced network security solutions.
From proactive 24/7 network monitoring to backup and disaster recovery and all points in-between. We have the network security solutions you need to protect the sensitive data you hold.
If you are in the San Clemente, Laguna Niguel, or Oceanside areas, contact us today to find out how we can help secure your network from attack.