Cyber attacks: Stronger, faster, and more sophisticated

A new security report has revealed some alarming trends.

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First off, cyber attacks are becoming faster than ever. Breakout times (that’s the time it takes for a criminal to move within your network after first getting in) have dropped significantly. We're talking an average of just 62 minutes compared to 84 minutes last year.

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This is not good news.

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Not only are these attacks faster, but they're also becoming more common. The report has identified a whopping 34 new cyber criminal groups, bringing the total to over 230 groups tracked by the company.

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And guess what? These cyber criminals aren't sitting around twiddling their thumbs. They're getting smarter and more sophisticated. The report highlights a new record breakout time of just two minutes and seven seconds. That's barely enough time to grab a coffee, let alone mount a defence.

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But here's the real kicker: The human factor is increasingly becoming the main entry point for these cyber attacks.

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They will try to get your people to click a link in a phishing email, which will take them to a fake login page. Once your employee enters their real login details, they have inadvertently handed them over.

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Or they pretend to be someone your team trusts. This is called social engineering.

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So, what can you do to protect your business from these cyber threats?

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·???????? Educate your employees

Make sure your team is aware of the latest cyber threats and how to spot them. Regular training sessions can go a long way in preventing costly mistakes.

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·???????? Implement strong password policies

Encourage the use of complex random passwords generated and remembered by password managers. Use multi-factor authentication for an added layer of security (this is where you use a second device to confirm it’s really you logging in).

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·???????? Keep your systems updated

Make sure all software and systems are up to date with the latest security patches. Cyber criminals often exploit known vulnerabilities, so staying current is key.

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·???????? Invest in cyber security software

Consider investing in reputable cyber security software that can help detect and mitigate threats in real-time (we can help with this).

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·???????? Back-up your data

Regularly back-up your data and store it in a secure location. In the event of a cyber attack, having backups can help minimise downtime and data loss.

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When it comes to cyber security, it's better to be safe than sorry. If we can help you to stay better prepared, get in touch.