All companies manage valuable information. This is not only information of value to the company itself, but also to customers and users in general. Here are some of the most frequent security threats to SMEs and how to avoid them.
1. Phishing
Phishing begins when an attacker sends a message by email or any other electronic communication channel, pretending to be a trustworthy organization or person. This message has a link with which data can be hacked. Furthermore, in this type of threat, the most common practice is to send an email with a false sender that makes believe in the good reputation of the sender.
How to protect yourself from these attacks?
There are several ways to defend against phishing, among them:
- Protection when clicking and/or opening attachments. This will prevent any link from redirecting to unsafe sites.
- URL triggering to detect a malicious link and alert the user not to open it.
- Installing software with anti-spoofing technology that identifies spoofed or phishing email addresses.
2. Ransomware
This is malicious software that «hijacks» data. That is, it blocks access to a computer system or files unless a certain sum of money is paid. Encryption usually protects data. However, ransomware uses this same cipher to hijack files.
How to protect yourself from these attacks?
The most effective ways to protect yourself against ransomware are:
- Being cautious of malware and other malicious content by intercepting and scanning unknown emails.
- Protecting the devices of employees and every user on the local network with a solution that blocks ransomware files.
3. Confidential data leakage
While in an ideal scenario, sensitive company data remains only within the company, in a collaborative world, employees might download data onto a USB drive so they can work at home or send financial information to their manager. As expected, this practice can lead to data breaches.
How to prevent confidential data leakage?
Here are the best ways to handle confidential data:
- Controlling access to emails, making sure that only the intended recipient can open them.
- Taking data protection measures and restricting access to the information. This prevents outsiders from viewing sensitive data.
Now that you know the ways to protect you from security threats, be sure to put these tips into practice. Looking for solutions that are secure and optimized? Contact us and we will help you.
