Unfortunately, the month of October recently ended on a spooky note as it was a busy month for hacks. What occurred across the globe just a few weeks ago is a poignant lesson in why cybersecurity needs to be a top priority for businesses.

Thomas Reuters, an international media company, announced that three terabytes of sensitive global data were accidentally leaked. This ransomware attack shut down email and IT systems while compromising personal information of 25,00 landlords, residents and third-party vendors, according to the Indianapolis Housing Agency.

For additional insight on the scary attacks of October, five major cyberattacks were reported in Australia in October alone. The effects of these unfortunate attacks impacted some of the country’s biggest corporations in health care, pharmaceutical, e-commerce, and telecommunications. Famously known as “The Great Australian Hack” by Bloomberg News, the attacks affected medical records, credit card numbers and passwords of 16 million Australians – in other words – two-thirds of the entire population.

The question that arises after attacks like this usually is: how did this hack happen? It was concluded that these digital threats were caused by unprotected databases, undetected intrusions in addition to stolen data that was discovered on the dark web. So, what can be done to help prevent this from happening at the local businesses of Pleasanton and Silicon Valley?

As the frequency and complexity of digital threats increase, there are many ways to keep business safe. CMIT Solutions recommends the following five tips to protect your information and strengthen the safety of your technology systems:

  1. Back up data regularly, remotely and redundantly. The best way to bounce back from a security issue is with a reliable data backup. In the event of a ransomware attack or virus infection, affected systems can be wiped clean and a recent backup can be used to restore data.

 

  1. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO) solutions. MFA requires a user to confirm their identity by completing at least two login steps, and SSO streamlines access to multiple applications and accounts by confirming a digital identity with one mast login. Both offer extra protection against information theft.

 

  1. Roll out security updates and software patches automatically. Keep your business and employees safe by rolling out security updates and software patches automatically to minimize disruptions and digital threats.

 

  1. Protect your network with multi-layered security tools. Extra layers of defense can identify and resolve problems before they escalate.

 

  1. Capable, comprehensive IT support you can count on. It takes a knowledgeable, trustworthy and proactive partner to deliver security tools that can address cybersecurity issues instead of waiting around for ransomware attacks or data breaches to happen. At CMIT Solutions, that includes:

a. 24×7 monitoring

b. Real-world cybersecurity training

c. Industry-specific compliance

d. Nationwide support

e. Local, one-on-one support

As you head into 2023, now is the time to consider whether you have the proper cybersecurity protection in place for your business as well as the right partner to ensure you continue to stay safe from cyberattacks 24/7/365.