Small and medium businesses are targeted by cyberattacks every single day in order to steal company data and personal identifiable information (PII) or launch malware attacks. While the types of attacks targeting small businesses often overlap with the ones launched against enterprise level companies, SMBs have common attacks they can expect to see on a regular basis. Learning what these cyberattacks are and how to best defend the business from them can be pivotal in ensuring the success of a business, so we want to talk about three of the most common cyberattacks aimed at small businesses: phishing campaigns, malware, and social engineering attack elements.
Phishing Campaigns
Phishing emails are the most common form of cyberattack malicious actors will use to infiltrate a business’ network. They are easily sent to a large number of potential victims and often don’t require much work from the hacker after someone clicks on a malicious link. Phishing emails will vary in sophistication, and the well-crafted ones can almost perfectly mimic an email from trusted sources. To combat phishing emails, SMBs can implement phishing training that tests employees on their ability to identify and report suspicious emails. Additionally, security solutions, such as DNS-layer protection, endpoint protection, and email filtering, can be implemented to stop an email from coming into an employee’s inbox or prevent malware from functioning once it has been downloaded.
Malware Attacks
Malware attacks can be delivered in a wide variety of forms, such as phishing emails, malvertising, and drive by downloads. Malicious actors will use malware that can steal information, take over user accounts, record keystrokes, or completely shutdown the company network unless a ransom is paid. It only takes one accidental click from an employee to allow malware to infect their device and begin an attack on the network, so SMBs must use a layered approach to defend against malware. Generally, multifactor authentication, a next-generation firewall, and endpoint protection are a good defense against common malware attacks, but SMBs can also work with an IT consultant to identify additional security solutions they may need to protect their network data.
Social Engineering Attacks
Social engineering tactics can take on many forms and are used in conjunction with other attack strategies to make them more effective. Malicious actors can impersonate coworkers or clients in an attempt to convince an employee that a malicious link or file can be interacted with safely. Depending on the attack, social engineering elements can closely mimic a person’s email address or a client’s identifying markers to appear more legitimate. Employees must be trained to have a discerning eye when interacting with correspondence that requests information or requires a download. It can also be beneficial to know the kinds of tactics used to target your business’ industry, so employees can be trained to spot common social engineering tactics.
Summary
Malicious actors are always trying to make their cyberattacks more convincing and harder to spot, so it is critical that small and medium businesses remain vigilant and implement the best cybersecurity solutions to protect against common threats. Robinett Consulting’s security experts recommend a layered approach to cybersecurity that helps protect against a wide range of threats and allows additional cybersecurity solutions to be implemented as needed. With the right training, security solutions, and knowledge, your small business can be ready to prevent many cyberattacks before they can cause disruptions to your business operations!
