HOW CAN SMBS PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM HACKERS?
Times could not be better for perpetrators of the digital underworld: cloudbased work is currently a megatrend. In addition, the IP of many companies is insufficiently protected. The pandemic-related shift to at least temporarily widespread remote working has made the infrastructures of many organizations even more vulnerable. These security gaps are playing right into the hands of hackers. It is the well-known game of cops and robbers: How do IT service providers arm themselves in the fight against increasingly professional hackers and how can resellers benefit from it?
As-a-Service from the Darknet: hackers offer their services
The?Darknet?is a hidden industry. It is the dark alley of the Internet where shady services are offered and criminal goods traded. Phishing campaigns are a lucrative business. The service industry is also thriving in the cybercriminal setting. The offer is hardly inferior to the legal products of the professional IT industry regarding diversity and quality standards. The hackers of the Darknet offer ready-to-use ransomware packages. Illegal access to servers in order to obtain or modify stored data is also part of the portfolios. You want to override entire servers? No problem! Service is a top priority on the Darknet.
A lucrative business
Hackers have learned: It is not worthwhile to carry out cyber attacks yourself. The risk is lower and at the same time the return is greater if you sell access to accounts to criminal transactors. In the past, the bank itself was the target object, today you simply sell the blueprint on how to fleece it. Business is highly professional. The hacker is no longer a lonely nerd in a dark hoodie. Nowadays, specialized experts from different “units” are collaborating in a very organized way. They are no different from legal software companies, down to establishing their own customer services, sales or marketing departments. Cybercrime for everyone – open barriers for fraudsters. This is why the victims of these attacks are not just governments or large corporations. 43 percent of them are small and medium-sized businesses. Many of the SMBs don’t invest enough in their own security because they do not see themselves as typical victims. Since Corona, the increase in remote work has made it easier for hackers to get access to home-office setups, which are often far less protected than enterprise IT environments.
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SMBs are gearing up
Hacking is a profitable business. The target group includes all those who are trying to make their fortune by unfair competition – individuals as well as companies. Facing them are the IT service providers with their cybersecurity offers. They have to adapt to the constantly changing challenges of their opponents. The IT security services are meant to not only stop hackers, but to be one step ahead of them. With their comprehensive cybersecurity assessment solutions, which identify all existing risks, attack probabilities and vectors, and come up with a possible mitigation plan, they are making it as difficult as possible for hackers to succeed.
Making IT security a top priority
More and more, small and medium-sized businesses are among the preferred victims of hackers. This has also been proven by a?recent study by German digital?association Bitkom. So if the question is no longer whether you will be targeted by the hackers, but when, taking action is overdue. How can SMBs beat cybercriminals to the punch? IT security is a management task. Managing directors must not neglect the topic, but put it at the top of their agenda. The first step is to take stock. Together with its IT partner, the company analyzes its infrastructure, defines the requirements, e.g. areas that need special protection, and identifies weak spots. Based on that, they can evaluate how to build up the most comprehensive protection possible. The analysis of the security setup and protective measures at all levels of data and network security, e.g. in the mailing programs of the workforce or the conversion to particularly secure DNS providers, are the foundation. However, even the best technical setup is useless when people make mistakes: the training of employees should therefore always be an integral part of the security program. Secure and frequently changed passwords, caution with downloads, updated security programs – this is how the workforce becomes a human firewall. It is no different than in real life: vigilant neighbours reduce the risk of burglary.