Facts on cybersecurity
Canadian businesses continue to face financial loss due to an increase in cybersecurity incidents. Small businesses are vulnerable to cyber threats with equal measures as large enterprises. Attackers are targeting thousands of small businesses in Canada at once. Statistical Canada survey indicates that small businesses have less awareness and fewer technological defenses.
Hackers have identified that small businesses deal with vast amounts of customer data and handle extensive financial links from established organizations. You should note that as an entrepreneur, you are obligated to protect the information of your clients. Hackers can get access to client information and use a credit card for financial gains.
Cyber threats are devastating to many businesses in Canada, where the data breach is considered a primary target. Once hackers hold crucial business data, they are in a great position to manipulate the firm. If cyber threats are not contained, they can damage your business reputation.
As an entrepreneur, you need an IT supplier. We will help you to disinfect your business system and ensure all possible cyber threats are managed. We have helped many firms, such as financial entities, law firms, hospitality companies, car dealers, industrial companies, among other businesses, to mitigate cyber threats.
Common Cyber threats issues affecting Canadian businesses
Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks happen when a hacker pretends to come from a trusted contact. They entice an employee to give sensitive data, credentials, or click and download a malicious file.
Phishing is one of the easiest forms of cyber damage used by attackers in companies. It accounts for almost 30% of the data breach on small businesses. This kind of attack has resulted in a $6 billion loss for many Canadian firms.
Phishing attacks have become sophisticated, with attackers being more convincing in pretending to be legit contacts. Many business emails are compromised where attackers are using phishing to get passwords.
These passwords are used to steal money or demand a particular gain that may damage your business reputation. Attackers have expertise in requesting personal details without even employees noticing anything wrong with the contact. These social engineering attacks must be mitigated by training employees on attackers’ possible tricks and improving your systems’ technological security.
As a smart entrepreneur, you should ensure that your employees have adequate knowledge to identify phishing attacks. These can be done for every new employee, where they can be tested on fake phishing as a way of determining whether they understand the attackers’ tricks.
The second approach to preventing phishing attacks is hiring an IT supplier to upgrade your systems. We help choose and install the appropriate cleaning software to block malicious files and links used by attackers to trick your employees.
We will help you with Proof point Essentials, including creating strong and effective email password encryptions. Alternatively, we can help you have Mimecast, which is vital in keeping away potential phishing emails from reaching your employee’s inboxes.
As an entrepreneur, we advise you to have Post-Delivery Protection such as Ironscales. This anti-phishing approach allows your employees to identify suspicious emails and inform an admin to clear the system.
Malware Attacks
A malware attack is where an attacker uses malicious software installed into a business operating system without the operator’s knowledge. The main agenda of installing malicious software is to get access to personal data in an attempt to steal money.
Many businesses in Canada have fallen victim to malware since malicious software is easily crippled to the unprotected business system. These malware attacks are the most notorious cyber threats which are related to the internet and digital technologies.
Notable malware attacks used to victimize Canadian companies
Virus
A virus is malicious computer software that replicates from one file to another when activated. It activates its code, which limits access to the original user. A virus can infect a whole system without a user even noticing. Viruses have affected many small businesses in Canada, where attackers have gained access to many businesses’ personal information.
Viruses can lock your entire operating system within a short period. The sent spams can steal the relevant data related to your business if not controlled at the right time by a credible IT expert.
Worm
A worm is considered to be the most unnoticeable form of stealing used by cybercriminals. Unlike a virus, worms replicate within a system but don’t spread to other programs. They can replicate themselves in thousands, even without the knowledge of the user.
These worms have brought an enormous loss in small businesses since they damage devices with vital information. They corrupt files, helping a hacker to get access to the most vital information of the company.
Trojan
A Trojan is software malware that pops to the user as legitimate software but aims to damage the system. This type of malware is common in Canada, where many businesses have fallen victim to its tricking aspect.
A Trojan can claim to be a free anti-virus program or a software upgrade hence tricking the user into installing into the respective device. This malware can steal your vital business data while creating a backdoor where an attacker can operate in the background.
This malware has led to many losses since attackers can a fake payment using your company’s sensitive data and operating in the background.
Ransomware
Ransomware is the most dangerous malicious software that has affected many businesses in Canada. It encrypts a user’s data and locks your access to the systems until a ransom payment is completed.
This ransomware is mainly obtained through clicking a malicious file, link, or an email. Once it hits your system, attackers take full control of your system, and they can access every detail of your business.
Spyware
It is a kind of malicious software that monitors your online activities without your knowledge. This software is a straightforward approach used by hackers to drain finance on Canadian entrepreneurs.
It collects all data systematically, which means that an attacker can have precise information on your business. These data may include passwords, credit cards, customer’s personal information, and payment details.
Ways that we can help you prevent Malware attacks on your business’s systems
Installation of Anti-malware software
As a credible IT supplier, we can help you to install an appropriate anti-malware that supports your operating system. These anti-malware protects your system by cleaning the entire systems. These enable you to protect your business data from malware attacks. It is vital in keeping your device safe from attackers who may aim to steal data for financial gains.
Updating software
As an entrepreneur, you should note that outdated software makes you vulnerable to malware attacks. As your trusted IT supplier, we can update all your business-related software as well as upgrading your OS.
This update will ensure that your systems reject all malware attacks. The move would ensure that you don’t lose relevant data to the attackers.
Installation of Firewall
As your reliable IT supplier, we help you install the most appropriate firewall. A firewall blocks any access of unrecognized traffic to your operating systems. A firewall filters unwanted traffic between your computer and the internet.
It is vital to have a firewall since it validates access by ensuring that only trusted sources can access your data, thus eliminating all malware.
Types of firewalls
Packet-filtering firewalls
It is a management program that blocks unwanted network traffic from the unknown IP address. It is relevant for your business in protecting against malicious web traffic.
Stateful multilayer inspection firewalls
SMLI filters unwanted data based on protocol, state, and port while establishing their source before allowing access to your system. It filters data to establish trusted and unrecognizable data, thus filtering malware attacks from untrusted sources.
Next-generation firewalls (NGFW)
NGFW filters the content, source, and channel used to transmit your system’s information. This indicates that this firewall is articulate to all details, thus helping your business stay safe from malware attacks.
Network address translation (NAT) firewalls
A NAT firewall evaluates and analyses internet traffic, thus blocking suspicious traffic communications. It is vital in your business since it allows only inbound web traffic that is relevant and safe for your business.
