Like the “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” story, we wouldn’t be so lucky with the real Grinch of the holidays, cybercriminals. Cybercriminals don’t take a holiday. During this Christmas session, most people are thinking about how they will enjoy the festival. However, Christmas tends to also bring greater cybersecurity risks to businesses. Businesses will be closed during holidays and operate with fewer staff. Cybercriminals will have a greater opportunity to attack unsupervised IT networks and systems. With that in mind, businesses should consider whether their security strategy includes a plan for cyber-attacks while on holidays.
Like the Grinch, Cyber Criminals love to attack the business when they are distracted by the cheer and excitement of the holidays. If you celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any other holiday, your chances of being the victim of a cyberattack increase. The holiday season is another great time for cyber-attacks.
Check out the following security tips to help ensure that a cyber-grinch doesn’t ruin your holiday season
1. Conduct cybersecurity awareness training programs for staff
It may look simple, but conducting a session on phishing attacks and other cyber threats to your organization’s staff can be extremely beneficial. Due to the increased workload, particularly during the holidays, your employees are more vulnerable to phishing and other fraud. Ransomware is a severe threat and is profitable and easy to carry out. Simple precautions, such as not clicking URLs in emails from unknown senders can help reduce the risks. A training session could remind people to be careful about the messages they read, potentially preventing them from opening
2. Never reuse passwords
Cybercriminals can obtain thousands of passwords with a single hack, which they can then use to attempt to access multiple accounts. Make sure that all of your passwords are complex and one-of-a-kind.
Diversify your systems to avoid a single point of failure
Most businesses make the mistake of centralizing all of their assets, making it much easier for attackers to gain access. A single compromised system can cause significant damage to your organization. Spreading your assets across multiple accounts makes it more difficult for cybercriminals to gain access to them.
Have a contingency plan ready
While it is essential to have a solid incident response plan in place throughout the year, it can be very helpful to keep it updated and ensure staff are aware of it while on vacation. Check that your firewalls are up to date and that all of your data is encrypted. To avoid delays and increased risks, organizations should ensure that a solid contingency plan is in place and that responsibilities are recognized and understood across all departments.
Use a tool to help protect your business data
Intrusion Detection & Prevention Solution offers real-time defense for your most critical systems, giving you the ability to identify threats and eliminate them before cybercriminals compromise your data.
Bottom Line
When cybercriminals believe you are vulnerable, they are ready to take advantage of you, whether through Malware, social engineering, phishing emails, etc. These above-mentioned tips for preventing cyberattacks during the holidays can assist you in mitigating the risk for your organization. If you’re looking for cybersecurity services for your business, contact us today for a consultation.
