It seems like every other day, you hear about another security breach at a major company. But while you hear about the high-profile security breaches, they’re just as common in small to medium businesses. Security breaches happen all the time, but 97% of them are preventable! So what does that look like for you and your Albuquerque business? In this blog, we’ll talk about what a cybersecurity breach is, why/how they happen, and what you can do to prevent them.
What is a cybersecurity breach?
A security breach happens any time someone (or something, like a bot) gain unauthorized access to online data or data stored on computer hardware. Breaches also happen when someone accesses a network, applications, or devices without permission.
What we often hear about in the news are breaches that involve lots of client personal data being exposed, like names, phone numbers, email addresses, and debit/credit card information. Other breaches are more nefarious, with the perpetrators stealing confidential information from the company.
Why/how do cybersecurity breaches happen?
The most common cause of a cybersecurity breach is weak passwords/credentials. Weak passwords and stolen passwords in the wrong hands can lead to leaked info. Another common cause are back doors or vulnerable design. Unfortunately, if the door is already open, hackers don’t even need to break in!
Malware and scams are two other common causes of security breachs. Malware is malicious software designed to exploit. And of course, we’re all familiar with how common scams are (but how they’re becoming more and more sophisticated!) One rule of thumb is, that if a link, download, or email seems too good to be true, or something seems fishy about it, just delete it/don’t click on it.
How ABQ-IT can help
There are many things your business can do to be proactive about cybersecurity. You can train your employees about cybersecurity, including how to avoid scams. Using a cloud service you can trust to store data is a great way to make sure data stays safe. Use multi-factor authentication when possible, and make sure your computer software is up to date.
Outside of those tips, consulting with an IT company is helpful to ensure your business has everything in place to stay protected from cyber attacks. We can install a firewall, do a security audit, help you move data to the cloud safely, and install advanced endpoint security. If you want to learn more about how you can be proactive about cybersecurity with your Albuquerque business, please fill out the contact form on our website, or give us a call at (505) 582-6583.