Do you have a Cyber Defense Plan?

She never thought it would happen to her. Diana Walton had dreams of owning her own law firm. So when an attorney in a nearby town was ready to retire, she took her chance and bought the firm, sinking her entire savings and a large loan into a fledgling law firm in upstate Minnesota. It was a dream come true, or so she thought.

Diana fought hard to ensure her firm was set up correctly, with accurate customer records, billing reports, and case files. While she began small, her new firm began to grow. She hired more attorneys and spent most nights at the office ensuring the firm's success. Early in 2019 it seemed she had it all. A growing firm, great clients, and a revenue model that would sustain itself. However, in June of 2019 she was attacked by a malicious ransomware attack that shut down her firm's computer systems and she was faced with the real possibility of bankruptcy and complete firm shutdown. 

Unfortunately, stories like Diana are getting much more common than in previous years. In fact, in the state of New York law firm breaches doubled in 2018, affecting nearly 1,500 individual firms. Austin Berglas, former head of the FBI’s cyber branch in New York and now global head of professional services at cybersecurity company BlueVoyant, said law firms are a top target among hackers because of the client information they possess. “They are a one-stop shop,” Berglas said. And because law firm success is often tied to their reputation for preserving attorney-client privilege, they may be more willing to pay hackers off if they fall victim to ransomware." (https://www.sdl.com/blog/The-Issue-of-Data-Security-and-Machine%20Translation.html)

Cyber Risk

Cyber breach, including associated risk and liability is becoming all to common for today's small business owners. In fact, in recent years we have seen nearly double digit growth in breach attacks to small and medium size businesses. These businesses are the most vulnerable due to their lack of security and protection as well as easy availability to personal information. Cyber risks are equally evident for individuals and families. These risks are real and every individual, including small and medium sized businesses, should have a complete Cyber Defense Plan to minimize the risks in three main areas. These main areas include:

1. Identity & Credit - Identity Theft Protection and Credit Monitoring safeguarding SSN, EIN, and other personal identifiable information. Reliable and appropriate solutions can secure identity and protect from fraud.
2. PC & Business Technology - Computers are the gateway for the dark web. Hackers and thieves use phishing techniques to try to pry their way into servers and home technology devices. Information is then used to steal member data and use it to file fraudulent tax returns, open bank accounts or credit cards or hack into existing bank accounts.
3. Online Safety - Online thieves and hackers want access and will stop at nothing to do so. Online safety including firewalls and proper employee training are critical in today's environment. Your online security and protection is vital.

Solution

Cyber breach protection is a necessity in today’s environment and every organization should have a cyber defense plan to fall back on. According to James Harrison, a leading expert in Cybersecurity and Information Security "procedures can and should be taken by business owners to protect their organizations and their employees by building a full plan for cyber defense". His organization, INVISUS, has recently built a full Cyber Defense Plan (CDX) Platform that solves the three main aspects of cyber liability.

1) Cybersecurity Compliance

Most organizations must comply with Federal, State, and local laws when it comes to identity protection and cyber protection for customers. Managed Cybersecurity Compliance solutions must include a comprehensive compliance management in a single platform. Components must include identifying gaps, securing and implementing safeguards, certifying the implementations, and ongoing management of the solution.

2) Business Identity Theft Protection

Business Identity Theft Protection protects the owners identity and ensures the business accounts have protection from fraud. A simple Cyber Defense Plan must include the comprehensive protection benefits of monitoring, owner protection, alerts and reports, checkups, and identity restoration.

3) Tech Help Support Desk.

Technical Help Desks is total care for your business and home computers. This cyber defense includes training and vulnerability testing as well as ongoing support, troubleshooting, optimization, compliance and connection assistance.

Conclusion

Cyber defense planning, especially today, is critical. Take time to dig into cyber defense and enlist the help of others in the quest for personal safety. Protection is out there and you don't have to be a victim of identity theft, breach attacks, or virus hacks.

Be safe out there.

Need a business cyber defense plan? Learn more at invisus.com

Todd Williams is the founder of TightFire and RedPeak Ventures. As a technology and software security provider, he focuses his efforts on sales and marketing efforts for INVISUS a cybersecurity provider located in American Fork, Utah.