Tech companies experienced a 2,300% increase in cyberattacks in 2021, according to Deepen Desai, CISO and vice president of security research and operations at Zscaler. But tech isn’t the only industry that’s been hit, and the attackers aren’t likely to go away any time soon.
As hackers develop more sophisticated methods of attack, it’s important to be aware of the security concerns that may affect your company. Watch out for these 5 cybersecurity trends in 2022 and learn how you can protect your business.
#1 Remote Work Vulnerabilities
Devices that belong to the Internet of Things experience an average of 5,2000 attacks per month, according to Symantec. Those devices are often hooked up to home networks – networks that remote employees use to access work files.
When all employees worked on-site, the area that bad actors could attempt to exploit and attack was tiny compared to the decentralized remote work environments of today. For many companies, a return to a fully on-site staff in the short term is unlikely.
While home office kits, faster broadband, and more devices have made remote work more agile, they have also increased security threats. Home networks are rarely as secure as on-site cyber defenses, and there are also more unsecured devices connected to the home network, creating even more vulnerabilities.
Sometimes, employees who are working from home may fall into a comfortable routine and adopt a more lax approach to how they use their devices and the software that they download. Tech used without either the permission or the knowledge of the IT department can create vulnerabilities since they haven’t necessarily been vetted by your IT team to ensure that they are secure and will keep you safe.
The solution? Set up the controls you need while also empowering your employees to work securely while they’re remote. Be confident that your team has the right software, hardware, and equipment to keep your data secure. Talk to an expert at VersaTrust about the security of your remote team to keep them and your company data safe.
Learn about how advanced security systems can keep you protected and running in the new year
#2 More Attacks in the Cloud
Gartner forecasts that Software as a Service (SaaS) revenue will grow to $151.1 billion in 2022, which makes these applications an attractive target to hackers looking for a major payout.
SaaS tools have solved many problems, but they come with their own set of issues. Did you know that poor management, or a lack of management, can lead to SaaS data leaks? It’s not just the user’s responsibility to keep their account protected; management plays an important role. These solutions need to be properly updated and monitored to remain cyber secure.
SaaS solutions are vulnerable to attacks like any other business. Recently, the HR management platform Kronos was attacked by a ransomware group. Kronos retained data about their clients that the ransomware attackers were able to access. This breach caused scheduling, timesheet, and payroll problems for businesses that use Kronos.
Kronos isn’t the only third-party service that ransomware groups have successfully targeted. In fact, hackers go after SaaS providers and third-party services because they can breach more companies in one attack. In 2022, remember that SaaS solutions are also vulnerable to attack, and they can turn into serious cybersecurity problems.
What’s your solution? Before purchasing or downloading any new SaaS tools, make sure they are secure. Our team at VersaTrust can point out possible vulnerabilities and explain what needs to happen before you adopt a new SaaS tool to close those security gaps. Take a look at how we keep you secure.
#3 Attacks with a Human Element
Eighty-five percent of data breaches involve what Gartner calls “a human element” – aka people inadvertently clicking on links or wiring money to criminals. Hackers succeed because they know how to exploit the blind trust most people put in communications that look like they come from the boss or a business partner. It’s called social engineering. Here’s how it works:
A hacker creates an email address with a similar name to the CEO and asks employees to send them money. Or they send a link in an email that looks harmless, but actually contains a virus. Either way, the trusting employee falls for the scam and suddenly you’re dealing with a data breach.
These attacks are only going to increase. According to Troy Gill, senior manager of threat intelligence with Zix | App River, email will be increasingly targeted in 2022.
Everyone is responsible for cybersecurity, but many people are unaware of just how much one mistake can cost in terms of lost data and ransoms. To solve this problem, everyone on your team needs to be educated about and aware of potential threats. Empower your staff to be more secure through training that’s easy to understand and relatable. Start by sharing this article about phishing with your team to help them identify what they should be looking out for in emails before they click.
Contact us and let’s start working on your cybersecurity strategy for 2022
#4 Ransomware Hasn’t Gone Away
According to the National Security Institute, the average requested ransom fee increased from $5,000 in 2018 to $200,000 in 2020. When those attacks succeed, the costs are astronomical. The average total cost to an organization of recovering from a ransomware attack was $1.85 million in 2021.
Ransomware attackers have changed their strategies. Instead of using large-scale, generic, and automated attacks, hackers are using more advanced methods. Specifically, they’re attempting more hands-on keyboard hacking that’s more targeted while focusing intently on fewer organizations.
The ransom fee isn’t the only cost involved, however. Recovering from a successful ransomware attack takes time, impacts customers, and even requires rebuilding systems. According to Sophos, these costs, on average, come out to 10 times more than the ransom paid. Many companies that are victims also never get their data back.
In 2022, stay focused on preventing ransomware attacks. Don’t just detect and respond. Focus on predicting and anticipating risks. An expert at VersaTrust can show you how our fortified IT and security can keep your business’s data safe.
#5 Fight Back with a Multi-Layered Cyber Defense from an Outsourced IT Support Services Firm
Of the 32% of organizations that chose to pay a ransom during a 12-month period, 29% got half or less than half their data back, and only 8% managed to retrieve all their compromised data, according to a report from Sophos. Paying an attacker doesn’t mean you’ll get your data back, so do everything you can to prevent an attack in the first place.
Businesses are fighting back against remote work vulnerabilities, attacks in the cloud, social engineering scams, and ransomware attacks. It’s impossible to ignore what’s happened in the cybersecurity realm in the past few years. Because of the serious and expensive consequences of these attacks, there’s more awareness of and funding for cybersecurity solutions.
A strong cyber defense strategy uses a multi-layered approach that not only responds to attacks but also proactively defends against them. For many companies, it’s a matter of if not when an attack will happen. Partnering with security professionals like VersaTrust can help you prepare and respond.
Outsourced IT support services firms provide the expertise you need to navigate these current cyber trends. In 2022, prioritize budgeting for security and investing in a strong cyber strategy that aims to prevent attacks and mitigate risk. VersaTrust’s multi-layered approach uses proven technologies to provide detection protection. Learn more about how we can help your business here.
Outsourced IT support services like VersaTrust can help you plan how to respond to the most recent cyber trends
