How to Ensure Your Backed-up Data is Properly Protected

Backing up data is a critical task, but it’s also one that’s often overlooked. Whether it’s critical business information, personal photos, or anything in between, losing data can have disastrous consequences, especially when it comes to malicious cyberattacks. Still, most people don’t properly protect their backed-up data, leaving them vulnerable to data breaches, theft, and loss. 

This article will cover how you can ensure your data is properly protected after you’ve backed it up. Continue reading to learn how to choose a backup solution and which best practices to implement for safeguarding your important details. 

How To Choose the Most Secure Backup Solutions 

When selecting a backup solution for your data, it’s important to consider the level of security it provides. Encryption is key when it comes to protecting your most sensitive information. 

There are two types of encryption to consider when searching for a backup solution: 

• Encryption at rest 

• Encryption in transit

Encryption at rest protects data that is stored on a hard drive or another storage device, while encryption in transit protects data as it’s being transferred from one device to another. Make sure the backup solution you choose offers both types of encryption.

Another factor to consider is the type of storage being used. Two common options are cloud storage and external hard drives. 

Cloud storage provides the benefit of accessibility from anywhere with an internet connection, but it’s important to carefully research providers to ensure they have robust security measures in place. Without secure encryption on the platform you choose, it’s easy to fall victim to cyberattacks and data breaches. 

External hard drives are a more traditional option, but they must be stored securely and regularly backed up to prevent data loss in the event of a device failure. Since hard drives are a form of physical storage, this solution also leaves your data vulnerable in the event of a natural disaster, such as a flood or fire. 

When researching backup solution providers, it’s important to consider their reputation and the security measures they have in place. Look for companies that have a proven track record of protecting customer data and have the necessary certifications and accreditations, such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001. 

Implementing Best Practices for Backed-up Data Protection

In addition to selecting a secure backup solution, there are several best practices you should follow to ensure the proper protection of your backed-up data. One of the most important is regularly updating your software and systems. Keeping them up to date can help you prevent vulnerabilities and keep your data secure.

Restricting access to backed-up data is another critical step in ensuring its protection. Strong passwords and two-factor authentication can go a long way in preventing unauthorized access to your data. Make sure to follow good password hygiene, such as using long, complex passwords and avoiding the reuse of passwords.

Conducting regular security audits is also important. This includes monitoring for unauthorized access to your backed-up data and testing the effectiveness of security measures. These audits can help identify any weaknesses in your security posture and allow you to make necessary improvements.

How Can You Prepare for Disasters and Data Loss? 

Disasters can happen at any time and result in the loss of critical data. Some disastrous events that may affect your stored information include: 

• Natural disasters 

• Cyberattacks 

• Hardware failures 

To prepare for these events, it’s essential to have a disaster recovery plan in place. Your plan should identify critical data and determine how to restore it in the event of a loss.

Testing disaster recovery procedures are also critical. By regularly running simulations, you can determine the effectiveness of your plan and identify areas for improvement. Reviewing the results of these simulations will help you make the necessary changes to ensure you’re prepared for a real-life disaster.

Last but not least, it’s important to make sure your backed-up data is stored off-site. This can prevent physical damage to your data in the event of a disaster and maintain access to your information in the event of an emergency.

Need Help Protecting Your Data? 

Properly protecting your backed-up data is critical to ensuring the integrity of your most sensitive information. By selecting a secure backup solution and implementing best practices for data protection, as well as preparing for disasters and data loss, you can be sure your private details are safe at all times. 

Remember to stay vigilant and frequently assess and improve your security posture to stay ahead of potential threats. With these tips in mind, you can confirm your backed-up data remains safeguarded from data leaks and cyberattacks. 

BrainStomp provides the best IT solutions to fit your needs and budget. If you need assistance or advice, our expert technicians are just a call away!

When you’re ready to step up your data security, contact us to discuss your options and get started. 

Should You Keep Your Employees from Using TikTok on Work Devices?

There’s no doubt that TikTok is on its way to taking over the world. With hundreds of viral songs and dances over the years, the platform has become a popular pastime for people of all ages, and the workplace is not excluded. 

Remote work is also on the rise, so it’s not uncommon for employees to have access to company devices at home. But should employees be allowed to use TikTok on those devices, or should policies be put in place to prevent this? 

In this article, we'll take a look at the arguments for and against allowing employees to use TikTok at work to help you determine what's best for your organization. Read on to gain insight into both sides of this hot debate. 

Why Shouldn’t Employees Be Allowed to Use TikTok on Work Devices? 

Despite its popularity, TikTok has raised several concerns over recent years, from privacy to productivity. This is especially relevant in workplaces, where employees are expected to meet certain company objectives while they’re on the clock. Distractions, security, and professionalism are the main disadvantages employers should consider when it comes to TikTok on company devices. 

Distractions 

TikTok can be a major distraction, leading to decreased productivity when it’s time to complete tasks at work. This is one of the biggest worries for employers, as their employees may find themselves spending too much time on the app while at work. If their focus is on watching videos, it may result in decreased motivation to check off the tasks that need to be done while on the clock. 

Security 

Another huge problem with TikTok is privacy and security, especially for organizations that handle sensitive customer or financial data. With employees having access to company information on work devices, there is always a risk of information being leaked or cyberattacks. TikTok has been the subject of numerous security concerns, and employers should consider the potential risks involved before allowing employees to use the app on work devices.

Professionalism 

It’s not difficult to see how allowing employees to use TikTok on work devices can impact professionalism in the workplace. The app can be seen as unprofessional overall, and the content employees post can reflect poorly on the company culture. Employers should consider their company's image and reputation before allowing employees to use TikTok on work devices, as it’s nearly impossible to control how they behave on the app when access is not blocked. 

Why Should Employees Be Allowed to Use TikTok on Work Devices? 

Although there are some valid arguments against employees using TikTok on work devices, there’s also another side of the argument that should be taken into account. From a boost in employee morale to work-life balance and insight into social trends, TikTok in the workplace may not be all bad for some organizations. 

Employee Morale 

The use of TikTok on work devices has the potential to boost employee morale overall. Taking a quick break from work to watch a funny video or participate in a challenge can help break up the monotony of the workday and promote positivity. Further, the challenges and dance videos on TikTok can encourage employees to collaborate and tap into their creativity.

Work-Life Balance 

Another argument for allowing TikTok on work devices is that it can improve work-life balance. When employees are allowed to take a step back from their work tasks, they can take a mental break and recharge. Employers may be pleasantly surprised to see their employees returning to work with improved focus and productivity without such strict rules in place.  

Social Trends 

TikTok can be a valuable tool for employees to stay up to date with current social trends. By participating in challenges and following popular TikTok accounts, employees can learn what's happening in the world and apply that knowledge to their work. 

This may include scoping out competitors and understanding your target audience on a deeper level to develop new products or services that resonate better. Additionally, employees posting videos and going viral on the platform may bring you more business. Overall, TikTok on work devices can support innovation and creativity in the workplace.

Final Thoughts  

The decision of whether to allow employees to use TikTok on work devices is a complex one with valid arguments on both sides. It ultimately comes down to what's best for your organization, taking into consideration factors such as employee morale, work-life balance, security concerns, and professional image. 

If you do decide to allow employees to use TikTok, it's important to have clear guidelines and policies in place to manage its use in the workplace.

Get an Assessment of Your Mobile Device Security  

We understand the need for security, productivity, and efficiency for businesses, which is why we provide the best IT solutions for your needs and budget. If you need assistance with a security audit to identify mobile app risk, BrainStomp is here to help!

Contact us today and let us help you get started.

Vishing: Spotting a Scam Email

With the rise in phishing scams, it’s more important than ever to stay vigilant about the emails you receive. All it takes is a single click and you can open yourself up to all sorts of dangers.

Scammers are constantly changing the tactics they use to get around spam filters. It can be easy to miss a warning sign of a scam email if you’re not paying attention to the details. Whenever an email comes in with an unfamiliar phone number, it’s important to question its authenticity.

What Is Vishing?

Vishing is one of the most popular methods for scammers. It’s a combination of “voice” and “phishing” and it uses fake phone numbers to try and get you to give up your personal information. Scammers will send emails with phone numbers that look like legitimate ones to try and dupe their victims.

In most cases, these emails will seem like they’re from a trusted source such as a bank or government agency. They’ll include a phone number which, when called, will connect you to a scammer who’ll ask for your personal information.

Fake Support Numbers & How to Spot Them

One common scam is for a criminal to pose as “tech support.” You may get an email telling you a problem has been detected with  your device and to call a support number. The email may fake being from Microsoft or Apple.

If you click to call the number included, you’ll be connected to someone pretending to assist you who may ask for money or for you to download and install something on your computer.

Scam numbers will often be toll free (+1-800, +1-888, +1-844). Search the number online, and if it’s a well-known scam,  you should find results revealing the danger. But even if a web search on the number isn’t bringing anything up, do not call it. Double check the official Microsoft, Apple, etc. website to see if it is actually the same number. 

Most likely it won’t be. 

10 Signs Of A Vishing Email

To spot a vishing email, you need to be on the lookout for the following warning signs. They’re easy to miss if you’re not careful, but if you can spot even one it could save you from a potentially embarrassing and dangerous situation.

Some usual markers for a vishing email include:

• Unfamiliar or unusual-looking phone numbers: While we don’t all memorize every phone number we come across, it’s important to pay attention to any unfamiliar numbers and out of place. These numbers will usually be off by a few digits or have a different area code. Traditionally, scammers pick phone numbers that look like they could be toll-free or international numbers.

• Incorrect grammar: Scammers don’t have time to proofread their emails as they often contain spelling or grammar mistakes. While these mistakes may seem like a minor issue, they’re an excellent indicator that the email might be fraudulent.

• Urgent tone: Scams often employ a sense of urgency to try and get their victims to act quickly. They use words like ‘immediately’, ‘time-sensitive’ and ‘important’. This sense of urgency can lead anyone to act recklessly and reveal their personal information in their haste to comply.

• Use of excessive rewards: Excessive use of rewards to try and attract potential victims is another big sign of a scam. Generally speaking, If it looks too good to be true, odds are that it is. Offers of large cash rewards, gifts, and other valuable items are usually too good to be true and should alert you to the possibility of a scam.

• Odd email addresses: Scammers will often use a different email address than the one you know for the company that you’re dealing with. It’s important to check the address of the sender and make sure it is from a legitimate source.

• Requests for sensitive Information: Legitimate companies will never ask for your sensitive information through email. If you receive an email asking for personal details such as passwords or bank account numbers, it’s almost definitely a scam.

• Incorrect company branding: A company logo or other graphics used in an email can be a great giveaway of whether the email is legitimate or not. If the logo or graphics don’t look right, or if they appear to be of lower quality than usual, it could be a sign that the email isn’t from a real company.

• Suspicious links: Links in emails from an unknown source should be avoided at all costs. If the link looks suspicious or you don’t recognize the URL, you should not click it.

How To Protect Yourself

Knowing the warning signs of vishing emails is just the first step in keeping yourself safe. Here are some tips to help you stay protected against potential scams:

• Be skeptical: If you receive an email with unfamiliar phone numbers or other strange content, be on your guard and question the authenticity of the message.

• Do research: If an email looks suspicious, take the time to research the company’s contact information online. Don’t take the phone number in the email at face value. Look them up to make sure it’s from a legitimate source.

• Use security software: Installing up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spam software can help protect you against malicious emails.

• Be cautious: Don’t open attachments or click on links from emails you don’t recognize.

• Report suspicious activity: If you come across a suspicious email, don’t hesitate to report it to the authorities.

Stay Vigilant

By being aware of the warning signs and staying vigilant, you can help keep yourself and your loved ones safe from scams.

Vishing emails can be hard to spot, but with the right knowledge and caution, it is possible to spot them and avoid the risks that come with clicking on suspicious links or giving away personal information.

Need Help Spotting The Scammers?

We understand that staying safe online can be tough and navigating phishing scams can be confusing. That’s why we offer a dedicated team of experts who can help you identify any suspicious emails and ensure your safety.

If you need assistance or advice, we’re here to help! Contact us today and let us help you get started.

Geoblocking: Blocking Access Based On Geography

Businesses today have to face an increasing amount of cyberattacks every day. All of these attacks can have a devastating effect on the business, both financially and reputationally, if successful.

Combatting these attacks is often expensive and time-consuming, so businesses are always looking for better and more efficient ways to protect themselves.

What if you could uniquely identify visitors to your website and make sure they are not a threat before they even land on your page? This could save your business time and money with the added benefit of improving customer experience. However, many people don’t realize that this is even possible. Today, we’ll be talking about one option available to you, geoblocking.

Geoblocking is powerful weapon businesses have to protect themselves from cyber-attacks.

What Is Geoblocking?

Geoblocking is a method of restricting access to certain areas of the internet based on their geographic location. By providing access to only certain locations, businesses can more easily identify threats and reduce the amount of cybercrime that affects their business.

This type of restriction is becoming increasingly popular with businesses. Not only is it a powerful tool to keep unwanted cybercriminals away, but it also gives businesses the ability to target certain areas of the world with certain content.

For example, a business may choose to target the US with specific content local to the area. This helps the business to increase engagement, as the people in the US are more likely to be interested in the content due to its localized nature anyway.

What Are The Benefits Of Geoblocking?

When taking into consideration businesses that primarily serve a singular region, geoblocking can be especially beneficial. Blocking IP access from regions outside of your intended service area will help protect your business from a variety of cyberattacks, including:

• DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks: These are large-scale attacks that can overwhelm your website with traffic, causing it to crash. By limiting access to certain areas, DDoS attacks become much more difficult for attackers to launch.

• Spam: Spammers can be a major problem for businesses, as they can flood your website with unwanted and irrelevant content. By geoblocking, you can limit the exposure to your website.

• Phishing: Scammers can use phishing emails and other techniques to try to steal sensitive information from unsuspecting users. Limiting access to certain regions makes it much more difficult for scammers to perpetrate their attacks or to find information on your site that could be used against you.

• Fraudulent Purchases: Geoblocking can help protect businesses from fraudulent online purchases.

By allowing access to only certain areas, businesses can reduce the risk of fraud and make sure that customers are whom they say they are.

What Are The Challenges Of Geoblocking?

Geoblocking is not without its challenges, however. One of the primary challenges is that it can restrict access for legitimate customers. For example, if your business is located in the US, but you want to serve customers that may be visiting from another part of the world, geoblocking could prevent them from accessing your website.

Additionally, some businesses may not have access to the data they need to properly identify a user’s location. This could lead to legitimate customers being blocked from accessing the website.

A few things to consider before implementing geoblocking:

• Your target audience

• Your geographic reach

• Accessible data points

A Powerful Tool Against Cybercrime

Geoblocking is a powerful tool that businesses can use to protect themselves from cyberattacks and target certain regions with specific content. It is not without its challenges, however, including the potential to restrict access for legitimate customers.

It is important to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of geoblocking carefully before implementing it in your business.

With the right implementation, it can be an effective way to protect your business from cyberattacks.

Need Help Spotting The Scammers?

We understand that staying safe online can be tough and navigating new security implementations can be confusing. That’s why we offer a dedicated team of experts who can help you if you feel like you need a hand setting up your geoblocking or any other technology.

If you need assistance or advice, we’re here to help! Contact us today and let us help you get started.

What Is Cyber Resiliency & How Can You Build It

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is the importance of having a resilient digital presence. With the rise in remote working, cyber threats and other malicious activity have increased. This leaves businesses and IT professionals scrambling to protect their data and stay ahead of the curve.

We’re all susceptible to cyberattacks, so how can we build cyber resilience?

What Is Cyber Resiliency?

What initially comes to mind when people think of cybersecurity is protecting their network and data from attackers. That is only one part of the equation. Even if your company can keep attackers out of its system, there’s always the risk of data being leaked or stolen due to breaches or accidental exposure. That’s where cyber resiliency comes in.

Cyber resiliency is the ability to quickly recover from a cyberattack, maintain data integrity, and continue business operations despite falling victim to an attack. It’s about mitigation, preparedness, and the ability to bounce back and continue operations when other cybersecurity measures fail.

It’s an essential element of a company’s cybersecurity strategy, and it’s becoming increasingly important as more companies move their operations online and increase their dependence on digital systems.

What Are the Benefits of Cyber Resiliency?

It’s easy to see why being cyber resilient against cyberattacks is so important for companies. It can help them stay ahead of their competitors and reduce the financial and reputational damage caused by cyberattacks. Here are some of the key benefits of cyber resiliency:

• Quick Recovery: Cyber resiliency is all about being able to quickly recover from a cyberattack and maintain data integrity. This means companies can get back up and running faster, minimizing any downtime caused by an attack.

• Reduced Financial Damage: Cyber resiliency helps companies limit the financial damage caused by a cyberattack. If they’re able to quickly recover and continue business operations, they can avoid paying costly ransom fees or having to replace damaged equipment.

• Higher Customer Satisfaction: Customers often look for a company’s cybersecurity credentials before doing business with them, and cyber resiliency is a key part of that. Knowing that a company is resilient to cyberattacks and can quickly recover will increase customer confidence.

• Improved Compliance: With increasing regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies need to demonstrate that their data is secure and their systems are resilient to cyberattacks. Cyber resiliency is a key part of that.

How Can You Build Cyber Resiliency?

Building a strong cyber resiliency strategy is essential for companies wanting to protect themselves from cyberattacks. Here are some steps to help you get started:

• Assess Your Risks: Start by assessing the risks and weaknesses in your current system. Identify the areas that need to be strengthened and the areas that could be improved.

• Develop a Response Plan: Once you’ve identified your risks, you need to develop a response plan. This will include steps to take if your system is attacked, and procedures to ensure that your data is secure.

• Train Your Employees: Make sure your employees are aware of the risks of cyberattacks and know what to do in the event of an attack. This could involve regular training sessions and updates on the latest cybersecurity threats.

• Back-Up Your Data: Make sure you have regular, up-to-date backups of all your data, including customer information and sensitive documents. This will make it easier to recover from an attack and ensure that your data is safe.

• Use the Right Tools: Use the right security tools and solutions to protect your system from attacks, such as antivirus software, firewalls, and data encryption. Make sure these are regularly updated to stay ahead of the latest threats.

Cyberattacks Are Becoming Commonplace

Cyber resiliency is an essential part of any company’s cybersecurity strategy. It’s all about being able to quickly recover from a cyberattack, which in turn limits the financial and reputational damage caused by an attack. It’s safe to assume that cyberattacks are only going to become even more common, so it’s important to take steps now to protect your data and build your cyber resiliency.

By assessing your risks and developing a response plan accordingly, your company can ensure that it is prepared in the event of a cyberattack and can quickly recover and continue business operations.

We’ll Help You With Your Cyber Resiliency With The Best Security Solutions!

Do you require assistance in determining the best course of action for your cybersecurity requirements?

We can help.

If you currently have an IT team, or are starting from scratch, we can give you insight into our industry knowledge so you can create future-proof cybersecurity solutions.

Contact us today to find out more.

Simple Guide to CISA's Cybersecurity Performance Goals

Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field with both threats and defensive approaches changing rapidly in the face of advances in technology and the behavior of attackers. No one is beyond the reach of these threats, and as such, organizations of all shapes and sizes must have the tools and guidance they need to manage and minimize risk to their operations.

Never before has that guidance been more important, and with that in mind, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released the Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPGs).

These goals represent a subset of cybersecurity practices, selected to significantly and directly reduce risk

What Is CISA?

CISA is a federal agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with leading and coordinating cybersecurity strategies and operations for the United States government and critical infrastructure. This agency works in collaboration with both private and public entities, allowing them unique insight into the state of cybersecurity and the threat landscape,

Now, they’ve also come together with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and used input from industry experts to identify the most common and impactful threats.

This knowledge resulted in the development of the CPGs.

What Are Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPGs)?

The CPGs are a prioritized set of cybersecurity practices aimed at meaningfully reducing risks to both critical infrastructure operations and the American people. The CPGs are meant to be optional and can be adopted by organizations that would like to enable the prioritization of security investments. They can also be combined with broader frameworks like the NIST CSF.

This results in organizations, especially small and medium-sized organizations, getting the help they need to quickly identify and implement basic cybersecurity practices.

How Are the CPGs Different From Other Standards?

Plenty of existing cybersecurity guidance and frameworks exist, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. CISA and the Department of Homeland Security support the adoption of the NIST CSF by every organization, as it helps to build a holistic risk management program and implement additional NIST controls.

The CPGs, however, are intended to serve as a quick-start guide, helping organizations with limited resources or less mature cybersecurity programs to not only identify the most important security investments quickly but also help in communicating the importance of those investments to executives.

And, of course, the CPGs are mapped to the NIST CSF, so no additional work is needed to implement the relevant CPGs if your organization has already adopted the NIST CSF.

What Topics Are Covered by the CPGs?

The CPGs provide a useful guide for organizations to improve their security posture. But what specific topics do they cover?

The goals are spread out amongst 6 main distinct areas offering a wide breadth of topics. These areas include:

• Account Security

• Device Security

• Data Security

• Governance and Training

• Vulnerability Management

• Supply Chain

Within each category, you’ll find specific goals designed to help organizations protect their assets and data, with a focus on preventing, detecting, and responding to cyber incidents.

There is also a bonus “Other” area that covers outlier scenarios.

What Are Some Examples of the Goals?

Within these wide-ranging categories, you’ll find a wealth of specific goals, broken down into tangible, achievable tasks. Here are a few examples of goals at a glance:

• Implementing physical protection measures

• Protecting technology assets from attack

• Using improved logs and encryption to protect sensitive data

• Revoking access for departing employees

• Separating user and privileged accounts

• Reducing the risk of exploitation of public-facing assets

• Understanding and implementing cyber security best practices

• Building stronger relationships between IT and OT cybersecurity

• Response and recovery for cybersecurity incidents

These are amazing goals that every organization should consider to keep their data and assets safe. They, at a minimum, represent a baseline of security best practices to protect organizations from cyber threats.

Remember, the CPGs are not mandated by CISA, but rather provide a minimum baseline of cybersecurity practices that organizations should consider.

Check Out The Full List

The CPGs provide a minimum baseline of security best practices for any organization but are especially helpful for smaller organizations or those with limited resources. If you’re looking to improve your security posture and need a quick start guide to get you on your way, the CPGs can help streamline the process and get you up to speed quickly.

Be sure to check out the full list of CPGs to understand more about the goals in each category and begin working with your team to implement them.

We’ll Help You Meet And Exceed Your Cybersecurity Goals With The Best Security Solutions!

Do you require assistance in determining the best course of action for your cybersecurity requirements?

We can help.

If you currently have an IT team, or are starting from scratch, we can give you insight into our industry knowledge so you can create future-proof cybersecurity solutions.

If you need help or advice, we’re here to help! Contact us today and let us help you get started.

5 Things You Can Do to Combat the 500% Rise in Mobile Malware

Mobile malware is a scary form of cyber-attack wrecking havoc in organizations across the world. In fact, research indicates that mobile malware attacks have skyrocketed by 500% in the last few years. 

To defend against mobile malware attacks, you’ll need a bespoke strategy. Learn how to create one and better protect your organization below. 

What is Mobile Malware? 

Mobile malware is a form of malicious software that specifically targets mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. These sneaky pieces of code are used by hackers for a range of unscrupulous activities, including spying on users, stealing data from devices, committing fraud and hijacking networks the devices connect to, but to name a few. 

Why Are Mobile Malware Attacks Increasing Each Year? 

There are several reasons for the increase in mobile malware attacks. Firstly, we must remember that smartphones have really come into their own over the last two decades. Nearly everyone in the Western world has a mobile device, and these devices are packed full of sensitive information like personally identifiable data, healthcare information and financial details. 

All of these factors make mobile devices extremely appealing to hackers, who are keen to get their hands on the sensitive data our phones store. Moreover, mobile devices tend to have less robust security measures in place than laptops and desktop computers. In essence, this makes them easier to hack than enterprise infrastructure.

The Anatomy of A Mobile Malware Attack

You’re probably wondering how hackers conduct mobile malware attacks. Well, just as there are numerous forms of malware, there are also numerous ways a hacker can exploit your smartphone or tablet. Some of the most prevalent threats are:  

• Fraudulent malicious applications: One of the most common ways by which hackers break into mobile phones is through the creation of malicious applications that masquerade on popular app stores as legitimate, well-known ones. It can be really tricky to spot a malicious app while looking to download something new. Hackers will imitiate well-known apps with high-levels of accuracy, often using company logos and descriptions to lure users into pressing download. Of course, when the user does download the app, they accidentally enable malware to crawl through their device and data. While popular app stores have tried to crackdown on this threat, it remains prevalent. We recommend looking for typos and app reviews to assess whether an app appears legitimate or not. 

• Social engineering: SMS-ishing and instant messaging social engineering attacks are another favorite amongst hackers targeting smartphone users. In these attacks, a cybercriminal will send their victim a message or text pretending to be a trusted brand, government body or individual. The message will typically include a link to a phony application or webpage, which encourages the user to download a program onto their device or share sensitive information. 

• Man in the middle attacks: Hackers may try to break into mobile phones by hijacking public WiFi networks that people often connect to, such as ones found in coffee shops or airports. If they successfully compromise such a network, the hacker can spy on all communications that occur between devices connected to it, and also exploit the devices connected to it by launching malware - and the victim will be none the wiser.   

How Do I Know If My Phone Has Been Impacted By Mobile Malware? 

One of the scariest things about mobile malware is how hard it is to spot until it is too late. It’s in a hacker’s best interest to stay stealthy and unnoticed. Victims may not realize their phone is compromised until they receive a notification from their bank asking about unusual login attempts, or their corporate network is taken down by a ransomware attack. 

Both personally and professionally, mobile malware can have huge repercussions, with your employees’ devices effectively acting as trojan horses that allow hackers into your network.

As we all know, data breaches and cyber-attacks are bad for business. The compliance landscape is increasingly rigorous and citizens are more aware of their data protection rights than ever before. Companies simply can’t afford to suffer a successful mobile malware attack.

Protecting You and Your Company From Mobile Malware 

With so much at stake, putting the right tools and awareness policies is crucial to beating the mobile malware threat. Here’s how to protect your company: 

• Put in place a security awareness and education initiative that educates users on social engineering attacks, malicious applications and the security risks of public WiFi networks.

• If your employees use corporate devices, deploy mobile device management (MDM) on these tools to heighten security.  

• Combine MDM with a solid mobile device usage policy that governs how employees should use their corporate mobile devices. For instances of bring your own device (BYOD), we recommend sharing a similar policy. 

• Implement multi-factor authentication for corporate applications and devices. 

• Automate the application and hardware device update process to reduce the potential for hackers to take advantage of security holes and bugs. 

We’ll Help You Defeat The Mobile Malware Threat With The Best Security Solutions! 

Do you require assistance in determining the best course of action for your cybersecurity requirements? We can help. If you currently have an IT team, or are starting from scratch, we can give you insight into our industry knowledge so you can create future-proof cybersecurity solutions. 

Why is Misconfiguration Such a Big Cloud Security Risk?

Did you know that, by 2025, the analyst house Gartner predicts that 99% of cloud security failures will be the customer’s fault? 

Why? 

Cloud misconfigurations. 

It’s a common misconception among businesses that the cloud has inherent security flaws. This isn’t the case at all. In fact, the cloud is often a lot more secure than on-premises servers and infrastructures. 

This is because cloud services providers (CSPs) like Amazon, Microsoft and Google spend billions of dollars each year ensuring their underlying infrastructure is safe and secure. As a result, cloud services are almost impenetrable to hackers. 

The problem isn’t the cloud itself. It’s how organizations use it.  Read on to find out why.

The Cloud and The Shared Responsibility Model 

To understand cloud misconfigurations, we first need to understand the nature of cloud services. You see, the cloud works on a shared responsibility model. In this paradigm, the CSP is responsible for securing the infrastructure of the cloud service, while the client - that’s you - is responsible for securely configuring the service itself.

Trouble arises when cloud customers either incorrectly configure these services or forget to configure them at all. This issue is, unfortunately, very common. In fact, in 2018 and 2019, cloud misconfiguration breaches cost companies almost US$5 trillion.

What Are Cloud Misconfigurations? 

A cloud misconfiguration occurs when an organizations fails to properly configure the settings, policies or identities associated with a cloud service. This can leave the data and applications they use either exposed to the public internet. It can also result in data leakage, data theft or inappropriate use of sensitive data. 

While, on first look, you might think it’s easy to avoid misconfigurations in the cloud, this isn’t the case. They pose a huge risk to cloud environments, and are the biggest security challenge organizations must overcome in the coming years.

One of the reasons cloud misconfigurations are so common is the fact that each cloud service comes with its own unique settings and policies. While an organization might be able to correctly configure one service or application, that doesn’t mean they’ll find it easy to do the same for other services they use.

On top of this, we must remember that cloud service providers frequently update their offerings with new tools, solutions and features. Every time this happens - and it happens often - organizations will need to reevaluate their settings to ensure everything is still as it should be. Otherwise, they may be at risk of a beach without even knowing it.

Lastly, we must remember that most organizations have started embracing the cloud rather quickly and somewhat haphazardly. Without a security strategy in place, forgotten cloud instances and applications may secretly be leaking out data, while organizations are none the wiser. 

The Risks Of A Cloud Misconfiguration 

While misconfigurations are accidental, that doesn’t mean that compliance organizations, customers or partners will look on these breaches lightly. At the end of the day, any instance where data security is undermined could be looked upon as a violation of data privacy laws under regulations like HIPAA, GDPR and CCPA.

So, if you suffer a misconfiguration, you could end up with a hefty compliance fine, damaged customer trust and lost revenue. Small businesses, in particular, may struggle to recover from the fallout of a cloud misconfiguration. With compliance fines often ranging up to 4% of annual turnover, organizations may find it difficult to stay afloat.

Moreover, while some SMBs think that they can suffer data breaches without anybody knowing, this is now far from the case. Hackers are often on the lookout for cloud instances that have accidentally been left public. Even if you manage to avoid the initial fallout of a cloud misconfiguration, hackers may steal the data you’ve left public, resulting in a larger-scale breach that hits the headlines. 

How To Prevent Cloud Misconfigurations

It’s in your company’s best interest to get a handle on cloud misconfigurations and securely use the cloud - not only to improve cybersecurity but to boost efficiency too.

Incorrectly using the cloud can dampen employee productivity, hamper innovation and drive up costs. By correctly managing the cloud and configuring it strategically, your business will benefit in numerous ways over the long term. 

However, navigating the cloud requires expertise and specialist cybersecurity skills. Configuring and managing multiple cloud environments is not easy. That’s why many SMBs look to us to help with cloud configuration reviews and cloud security management.

Secure Your Cloud Workloads Today! 

Do you require assistance in determining the best course of action for your cloud requirements? We can help. If you currently have an IT team, or are starting from scratch, we can help you with our cloud security solutions to discover and remediate cloud misconfigurations, and improve cloud efficiency.  Contact us today to find out more. 

What You Need to Know About Changing Requirements for Cybersecurity Insurance

Sometimes all it takes is one click: One of your staff members receives a spam email, opens a misleading link, and almost immediately malware starts to spread through your system. Even in the best of circumstances, a keylogger, Trojan, or ransomware application can do irreparable harm to your company. However, if you adhere to the concept of least privilege, that could assist you in limiting the spread. This might take several weeks or months to fully restore your workplace network.

Unfortunately, situations like these are becoming more frequent. A growing number of businesses depend on cyber insurance to shield themselves against the financial losses brought on by digital risks like cybercrime, malware, and ransomware.

The cyber insurance business has grown more competitive as a result of the exponential development of unfavorable security occurrences over the previous years. Therefore, organizations have been changing requirements for cybersecurity insurance.

The Requirements for Cybersecurity Insurance Organizations Make

Below are the changing requirements business owners make due to the worldwide surge in cyberattacks:

Increase in premiums

An increase in ransomware assaults is a crucial factor in the current changes regarding cyber insurance premiums. The prevalence of ransomware has increased significantly in the last few years, leading to several increased assaults against public institutions, public infrastructure, and corporate entities. According to research, ransomware has successfully affected 71 percent of businesses worldwide. 

This indicates that ransomware attacks on individuals, companies, and government agencies are becoming more frequent and more severe. A good example is the most prominent and famous case of the Colonial Pipeline malware assault, which happened as a result of leadership continuously failing to resolve discovered security gaps or to put in place a program that promotes standard cyber hygiene practices. 

Colonial Pipeline decided to go against the advice of the law administration and security professionals and paid a hefty ransom.

Increased ransomware assaults will inevitably lead to more cyber insurance needs, and that raises the risk for carriers and raises written premiums.

Reduction in coverage

Certain insurers are outright rejecting coverage as a result of the pressure. Some firms are being flatly refused after completing a policy request or a yearly renewal survey, which was once a fairly simple process to perform. Those who are accepted encounter substantially stricter pre-audit standards that require a higher security strategy in respect of both policies and incident management procedures.

These firms face the possibility of losing their current coverage entirely unless they take immediate action to tighten their security measures, which is frequently within 60 days. Many organizations are looking into SaaS-delivered privacy solutions that offer quick time-to-value due to the pressing requirement to implement controls and establish risk reduction.

Stronger standards and exclusions

The chance to offer the necessary cyber insurance is not being seized with enthusiasm by insurance companies. In particular, reinsurers and insurers are pausing to reassess their risk tolerance. Additionally, these providers have started to demand additional documentation to assess their clients’ internet programs.

To better understand the inherent danger that a company is exposed to, insurers collaborate closely with security experts. In the end, companies that don't produce enough documentation or don't have the necessary processes might not be covered. Alternatively, the company may be compelled to pay increased premiums or face losing the account's insurance limits.

The strengthening of applicant cybersecurity standards is one method insurers are addressing. Along with other controls like the availability of an endpoint identification and management solution, encrypted and secured backups, privileged accessibility, contingency planning, incident management planning, data security awareness training, etc., MFA (multi-factor authentication) is increasingly becoming a crucial requirement of many insurance providers.

Increased cyber insurance demands

If the year 2021 is any indication, no company is immune to a cyberattack. More businesses are becoming aware of how exposed they might be to cyberattacks as the volume and expense of cyberattacks rise. Dealing with cyber-attacks does not only entail direct expenditures but also indirect expenses like business operations interruptions and social damage. As a result, there are now more requests for insurance coverage.

Increasing rates of self-insured retention

Through the introduction of retention clauses, companies anticipate that their customers will assume greater risk even as coverage levels are reduced and prices rise. A retention term, like a threshold, establishes the percentage of damages that insurers will be accountable for till the insurance plan takes effect. While retention policies are frequently required by the providers, some insurance applicants voluntarily accept higher retention levels to limit premium hikes.

Improve your Cybersecurity System with BrainStomp, Inc.

Do you require assistance in determining the best course of action for your IT requirements? We can help. If you currently have an IT team, we can supplement it by giving you insight into our industry knowledge so you can create future-proof IT solutions. 

Contact us today to learn more.

Six Cybersecurity Trends That Can Impact You in 2023

In this present time, a company refusing to take cybersecurity seriously will be seen as irresponsible and taking a huge risk. 

Now that clicking a link, opening a file, or deleting confidential info improperly can result in millions of dollars in damages, significant reputational harm, and harsh regulatory fines, companies need to sit up when it comes to cybersecurity. 

Laws regulating cybersecurity practices make it obvious that enterprises must do more to protect data and ensure security protections are in place. 

Trends To Watch Out For in 2023

While no one can predict how it will evolve in the future, certain clear trends are appearing in the short term. Below is a deeper look at some new trends that will most likely become more prevalent in 2023:

1. Increase in Mobile Device Targeting

Approximately two-thirds of the world's population now own and consistently use a smartphone, and many firms have responded by creating and modifying their websites or applications to ensure compatibility with these devices. However, cyberattackers and fraudsters have also followed suit, and as a result, mobile devices are quickly becoming the preferred conduit to channel their efforts for operations.

Because of quick and continuous advancements and strides made in technology, no one knows the next thing cybercrime and security might be. Nevertheless, security specialists are striving to predict cyber attackers' potential moves and develop less vulnerable systems, processes, and technologies. Increased security awareness training for staff to defend themselves may be the key to enhanced cybersecurity.

2. User Awareness 

In a recent survey, it was discovered that 97% of individuals that regularly access the internet cannot differentiate between normal and phishing email. This must be a factor that contributes to the rise of successful email phishing attacks, and, generally, hack attacks.

This demonstrates the critical importance of awareness and education in detecting and preventing identity theft and network intrusions. However, many firms now go beyond building robust firewalls and complex IT procedures to enhance the capabilities of their IT workers through further training. This will help them get better at combating cyber-attacks.

Some organizations encourage and develop cybersecurity awareness even during work hours. Some are also paying closer attention to how employees communicate and manage sensitive information. For example, many businesses are now putting in significant efforts to educate their staff on how to guard against identity theft.

3. Increase in IoT Exploitation

The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) expands economic prospects and enhances the quality of life, but it also opens the door to cybercrime. Devices such as fitness watches, voice-controlled refrigerators, and voice assistants like Google Home which are also generally referred to as "smart" products are examples of IoT devices. According to predictions, within the next seven years, there will be over 25 billion IoT devices connected to the internet. 

The problem is that having more gadgets linked to the internet increases the cyber-attack surface. In other words, the number of possible entry points for hackers to breach your digital infrastructure grows. When compared to PCs or phones, most IoT devices have considerably less security protection. As a result, one of the most crucial aspects of cybersecurity trends to look for in 2023 is IoT and increased digitalization.

4. OTP Bypass

In 2022, threat actors doled out some illegal services with considerable success. One such service was OTP bypass, where users could, with certain apps, bypass MFA as a security service. All users had to do was purchase the required apps, log in, and get a different number, then use it for the 2FA or MFA process. While this has an advantage; it prevents users from submitting personal details online; it will not take much time before hackers begin to take advantage of this. 

This service will most certainly expand as demand for these services grows in the future.

5. Improved Cloud Security

Remote working has increased in the previous two years. It is therefore no surprise that cloud solutions have experienced significant growth, with many businesses attempting to secure their spaces in the cloud and leverage its numerous benefits. 

The many benefits of cloud solutions for businesses include operational and economic efficiency and enhanced scalability. However, because these benefits-cum-services do not provide audit recording or secure authentication, they are a potential target for fraudsters.

To discourage hackers, businesses should take note of and deliberate on employing inventive and analytical cloud protection solutions. Analytical security can help in identifying threats that circumvent other endpoint security processes and systems.

6. Remote Working Might Be More Harm Than Good

People are one of, if not the weakest links, in a company's security system. Human error frequently has the most severe consequences for businesses. This is why targeted ransomware, social engineering, and phishing assaults are such important components of every hacker's cache. 

Specific security staff is responsible for performing social engineering simulations to guarantee that staff don’t become victims of cyber assaults. However, there has been a surge in very sophisticated phishing assaults all across the world, and this is largely, but not completely, due to remote work. After all, remote work makes employees less security-conscious. 

More recently, businesses are pushing out policies like dedicated work laptops and strict password sharing. Those can only take us so far. 

Let BrainStomp Help You with Your Cybersecurity Setup

For businesses, cybersecurity is gradually becoming a key aspect to watch out for, and your business should not be left out. Ensuring your business’ online security is as solid as ever is key to business growth and progress. 

BrainStomp can help you with that progress; after all, business cybersecurity is our forte. Contact us today to get started.