Cybersecurity Matters: October is Time to Heighten Awareness

Maximize the value of Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October by understanding that cybersecurity is not just a one-time effort but an ongoing practice. With cyberthreats constantly evolving, staying vigilant and aware and taking proactive steps to defend yourself and your business is essential.

For organizations, this means taking a strategic approach to identifying specific risks, prioritizing corrective actions, and establishing acceptable risk levels. A comprehensive Cybersecurity plan should cover every aspect of your environment—from Endpoints and Networks to Email, Mobile, SaaS, and the Cloud. Ensuring visibility and security across these areas is critical to safeguarding your organization.

GlobeNet can help you maintain this level of protection through tailored solutions. We encourage you to reach out for a conversation on how to stay secure in today’s threat landscape.

Continuing our newsletter below, we’ll share some practical suggestions and highlight the importance of increasing cybersecurity awareness. For some Fun, visit the end of the Newsletter for our Word Scramble.

Be vigilant and keep an eye out for any warning signs. Remember that even the slightest suspicious activity can lead to devastating consequences.

Knowing your digital foes, like the ones below, is crucial to staying safe online:

• Phishing: Beware of deceptive emails with suspicious links or attachments.
• Malware: Protect against worms and trojans using firewalls, antivirus software, and patch management.
• Ransomware: Regularly back up your data to guard against extortion attacks.
• Business Email Compromise: Be cautious with unfamiliar emails to avoid impersonation schemes.
• Insider Threats: Regulate access and implement measures to reduce internal risks.
• Supply Chain Attacks: Vet vendors carefully to prevent breaches through partner networks."

Cyberattacks can impact individuals in various ways:

• Identity Theft: Protect yourself with two-factor authentication and strong passwords.
• Financial Loss: Report unauthorized transactions immediately, cancel affected accounts, and alert authorities.
• Loss of Privacy: Use security software, avoid sharing sensitive info online, be cautious with suspicious emails, and back up your data regularly.
• Reputational Damage:? Safeguard your reputation by monitoring your online accounts and being mindful of what you share.

Cyberattacks can severely impact businesses:

• Loss of Revenue: Recovery costs and the incident itself can reduce income.
• Downtime & Reduced Productivity: Attacks lead to operational downtime and missed opportunities.
• Erosion of Customer Trust: Compromised data can damage your reputation and customer loyalty.
• Legal Consequences: Non-compliance with data protection laws can result in penalties and lawsuits.

Proactively implement cybersecurity measures, train employees, update systems regularly, and have a response plan to mitigate these risks.

• Garmin experienced a ransomware attack that disrupted various services, including their website and device data synchronization. This outage affected customers’ ability to track training sessions and access health information, and pilots couldn’t download essential flight plans. Although Garmin initially withheld details, some employees shared information online. Unconfirmed reports suggest Garmin may have paid a $10 million ransom to regain system control.
• In February 2024, Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, experienced a ransomware attack that severely disrupted medical claims and payments, causing delays in patient care and financial losses. UnitedHealth Group reportedly paid a $22 million ransom in Bitcoin to resolve the issue.
• In March 2024, a prominent corporate law firm was the victim of a sophisticated phishing attack, which compromised sensitive client information, including confidential case details and financial data. This breach resulted in substantial reputational damage and potential legal liabilities for the firm.

Don't let this happen to your business. Cybersecurity awareness can help you in the following ways:

• Enhances your ability to mitigate cyber risks and damage: Increased cybersecurity awareness helps safeguard your business against possible cyberthreats and minimizes the impact of a cyberattack.
• Improves online safety practices: Educating your employees on cybersecurity best practices and empowering them to identify and avoid online threats leads to better online safety for your business.
• Increases organizational security and awareness: Establishing a culture of cybersecurity awareness in your workplace by creating strong security policies and emphasizing their significance reduces the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks and improves overall organizational security.

In cybersecurity awareness, focus on three key areas:

• Email Safety: Be aware of email risks by identifying suspicious messages, preventing phishing attempts, and addressing malware threats.
• Social Media Safety: Protect your sensitive information by understanding social media risks and best practices. This will enable you to avoid social engineering and scams.
• AI Safety: When integrating AI into your operations, be mindful of potential risks and implement best practices to safeguard against AI-related cyberthreats while leveraging secure AI applications.

Here are some essential cybersecurity best practices to keep in mind to stay safe online:

• Good Password Hygiene: Use strong, unique passwords and update them regularly to prevent unauthorized access.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security to your accounts, reducing the risk of unauthorized access even if passwords are compromised.
• Combat Phishing and Social Engineering: Verify requests, be cautious with email links, and train employees to recognize phishing attempts.
• Safe Browsing Habits: Visit trustworthy websites, avoid suspicious links, and understand online risks to protect against cyberattacks.
• Protect Personal Information: Please be careful about what personal and sensitive information you share online.
• Apply Updates Promptly: Regularly update software and systems to protect against known vulnerabilities and enhance security.

To cultivate a culture of security, take the following steps:

• Encourage a Security-Conscious Mindset: Foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness throughout the organization, promoting proactive discussions on the importance of protecting sensitive information.
• Model Awareness from the Top-Down: Ensure leadership demonstrates cybersecurity awareness and prioritizes security initiatives within their departments to set a solid foundation.
• Implement Effective Training: Provide regular cybersecurity training for all employees, informing them about best practices and equipping them to identify and prevent potential risks.

Confronting cybersecurity challenges necessitates a comprehensive awareness strategy.

For some fun, have a shot at our Word Scramble.