Navigating Cybersecurity in a Post-Pandemic World: Strategies for Businesses of All Sizes

Understanding Cyber Risks in the COVID-19 Era

Advanced Persistent Threat groups and cybercriminals have been relentless in exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a Willis Towers Watson report, new threats have emerged, including phishing, malware distribution, domain name registration, and attacks on remote access infrastructure. These threats have contributed to a 67% increase in security breaches since 2014. Small businesses, in particular, are attractive targets due to their lack of robust security infrastructure compared to larger enterprises.

The Impact of Remote Work on Cybersecurity

The shift to a remote workforce has necessitated the deployment of remote access and teleworking infrastructure. While some organizations have implemented multifactor authentication and VPNs, others remain vulnerable. Additionally, vishing and smishing attacks have increased, exploiting the mobile-centric nature of remote work. A Small Business Administration survey found that 88% of small business owners felt their business was vulnerable to cyber-attacks, even before the pandemic.

Practical Steps for Enhancing Cybersecurity

To improve cybersecurity, businesses should understand their cyber risks, train staff, keep software updated, and create off-site backups. These steps are crucial for data recovery and preventing ransomware, which has become a lucrative business for cybercriminals. In observance of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Triple-I offers these tips to help businesses avert data breaches and enhance their cyber resilience.

For readers, it is recommended to stay informed about the latest cybersecurity threats and to implement best practices in their organizations. Regular training for employees and maintaining up-to-date software are simple yet effective measures to protect against cyber-attacks.