In today’s digital age, the internet has become the hub of information. From contact details to credit card information, people don’t mind saving information online for better accessibility. The same goes for organizations; entrepreneurs use online databases to secure business information. While it does offer flexibility and convenience, it also has a risk of cyberattacks attached. The new-age hackers steal confidential data and threaten companies with ransomware.
They break into systems by trapping employees into phishing scams and disrupt the company’s IT infrastructure. The hackers often leak data on the dark web, landing the entire organization into legal troubles. However, this doesn’t by any stretch mean you should stop using digital software and forums; instead, you have to update security protocols. As an entrepreneur, you have to invest in cybersecurity measures and implement practices to tackle attacks.
Before that, you have to understand why cyberattacks occur and fix security glitches to protect confidential information. If you are not familiar with the cybersecurity world, let us show you the ropes. Here we are listing some of the ways to tackle a data breach.
1. Disconnect the System
Once the organization notices a data breach, you must immediately mitigate its consequences with the proper expertise. Therefore, consider bringing a cybersecurity architect who can identify the breach and recover data instantly. However, if your business doesn’t have a budget to hire a security expert permanently, feel free to jump on this bandwagon. You can learn how to become a security architect and use your expertise to strengthen the company’s security infrastructure. It will allow you to identify and mitigate data breaches more effectively.
Additionally, you must first disconnect the system to prevent the breach from spreading to the entire network. It would shut down the department that hackers targeted, restricting their access to other areas. Next up, you have to eliminate any threat that can stimulate the damage. Perhaps, you should avoid reformatting the affected assets since they might have malware. Likewise, block the IP address from where the attack originated to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
2. Evaluate the Damage
After you have stopped the attack, it is time to assess the damage caused to your company. Evaluate the sensitivity of data stolen and determine how it can harm your business. In addition, investigate the affected systems to detect malware left by the cybercriminals. Finding traces can help you reach the hackers and hold them accountable.
Moreover, learn about the motive behind the cyberattack. Did cybercriminals want to sell data or ask for ransomware? Similarly, determine if the attack occurred because of social-engineering tactics or through employees’ accounts. Knowing how the attack happened can help you bridge the security gaps in the system, preventing future attacks. Besides, having an idea of the damage will help you prepare recovery strategies to mitigate the risk.
3. Conduct a Security Audit
Most organizations think their IT infrastructure is robust until they experience a cyberattack. Every business should perform a comprehensive security audit to keep the systems in check. In the same way, you have to conduct a post-data breach security audit to analyze the systems. It would unfold the vulnerabilities, allowing you to implement new fixes and policies. For instance, the attack might have occurred because the DNS server expired, encouraging you to update the systems.
Furthermore, you have to check the surface area of the business because internal data often gets overlooked. The open ports, IP blocks, and DNS records exposed online can be super harmful to the companies. Therefore, ensure the internal information is safe and sound to prevent data breaches.
4. Recover the Data
After the attack, you have to focus on recovering the data to avoid any disruptions in business operations. Most online servers have backup data available; hence, restore the data and get the systems running again. Otherwise, you can collaborate with IT specialists who would implement automated data backups solutions in the organization. Having a backup available will reduce downtime that might undermine your business in terms of reputation and finances.
Most importantly, update your recovery plan with a new privacy policy and security training for employees. You can even add new security measures in the recovery plan to mitigate the loss from data breaches.
What Triggers Data Breaches?
Once you know how to tackle a breach, understand what triggers data breaches to strengthen the security protocols. Typically, cyberattacks aim at stealing and exploiting data, leading to a data breach. Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in the systems, such as weak passwords, security measures, and malware. Here we are listing the three most common vulnerabilities that lead to a data breach.
- Human Errors: At times, human errors lead to data breaches. Perhaps, one of the employees might have clicked on a spam or malicious link. Such social engineering attacks allow hackers to break into the systems and steal data. Hence, educate your staff about these attacks to prevent data breaches.
- Malware: Hackers use phishing attacks to trick users into downloading malware. They send emails with attractive offers that entice the users to click on the link. In turn, hackers capture user’s credentials while making them undetectable by the antivirus programs. Before clicking on any link, check the domain name and authority to ensure it is genuine.
- Weak Passwords: Many companies prefer keeping simple passwords so that employees don’t have trouble remembering. Besides employees, weak passwords are accessible by hackers. For them, it is one of the easiest ways to gain access to protected networks. Therefore, enforce strong passwords or use two-factor authentication to ensure cybercriminals can’t break into the systems.
Final Thoughts
Nowadays, every business is vulnerable to cyberattacks because hackers sell confidential data online. Therefore, you have to implement robust security protocols and learn how to tackle a data breach. Instead of shutting down the business for a while, you have to disconnect the systems to stop the attack. Likewise, you have to assess security, passwords and recover data immediately to save the business from losses. Having a few protocols in line can go a long way for your business while improving safety.