In this modern time, when an unknown can be known within seconds, the statement stands very true for the cyber threats which now has become an alarming concern. Cybercrime has increased at an alarming rate, which has the potential of jeopardizing an organization within a wink. The creator of these intruders, has taken sophisticated measures to make the threats more overwhelming. Statistics indicate a considerable upsurge in hacked and breached data within the last couple of years. In the categorization of economic crimes affecting organizations, cybercrime now stands 2nd in the order, affecting 32% organizations. According to the statistics of 2018, organizations experience around 142 attacks yearly. Previously, virtual attacks have been deemed as a futuristic phenomenon, but now it is the reality; an attack invisible to the eyes but has an impactful, yet a daunting effect.
IT Security Risks of Corporate Network
In order to keep up with cyber threats, companies need to keep themselves updated about the trends of cyber-attacks and use the best possible measures to safeguard themselves. Without proper knowledge about cyber-attacks, resisting such attacks can be extremely difficult. The section below discusses some of the top network security threats, associated risks and measures that can be taken to prevent cyber threats.
Botnets and DDoS: Botnets can be operated remotely and can comprise of millions of Zombie computers, making it a very powerful network which is capable of initiating large scale attacks. A hacker controls the Botnets using the Command and Control (CnC) network. Botnets possess the capability of invading protected systems, as each bot can function at low frequency, making it undetectable thus giving them the privilege to initiate a massive attack. These Botnets can also be used to launch DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) which can impose a destructive effect on organizations. Attacks using DDoS make a website so busy with the demand for information, that it eventually paralyzes the host server. If this happens, the system can only be used again when these interactions are jammed or removed. These sorts of attacks can leave a heavy mark on online businesses, who might have to count millions of dollars of loss. The mitigation procedures include keeping the machines updated with the latest antivirus software, operating system and WAFs (web application firewalls), as these will take necessary precautions to disinfect any viruses or worms in the machine and the server.
Viruses and Worms and Exploit Kits: Viruses are one of the earliest form of harmful programs which can contaminate main systems by abolishing crucial system information, which can eventually make the network unworkable. Viruses have the ability to stay hidden unless activated accidentally by a human or a regulator. Having the aptitude of self-replication, when stimulated, it can sabotage programs or systems that are not protected sufficiently. Unlike viruses, worms infect general files like spreadsheets or documents. The entry of these malwares serve as the foundation for other cyber threats to invade the system. Exploit kits uses the concept of malware and pave its' entry into a system when a compromised website is being opened, which leads to a landing page. Being silent and automatic in nature, it searches for vulnerability within a system. Once identified, the exploiter sends a payload and contaminates the host using a malware. Using anti-malware software on devices within a network or a system can minimize the risk of these attacks and slim the chances of these viruses to expand. Detecting these threats using the software at an early stage can help the organizations to decontaminate them before these can incur a lofty damage. Most importantly, the users need to be trained on how to avoid such threats.
Phishing attack: The most popular attack of recent times is this type of social engineering attack which aims to obtain the delicate data like passwords, login credentials, credit card details or other personal information related to finance. Messages or emails are sent from imitating source like the websites of well-established companies and government organizations, which appear to be legit. If replies are delivered for these messages, sharing private or financial information, the website retains the information and directly sends to the malevolent source. The users can also be dogged to open harmful links, which can initiate the installation of a malware. Users should be trained regarding how to distinguish malicious emails or messages.
Ransomware: The most threatening attacks of all the cyber-attacks that have been discovered so far, ransomware is regarded as the scariest. Statistics show that 67% of organizations who are attacked by this have lost a massive or all of their data. It corrupts the database, corrupt files, threatens to delete important information unless a hefty sum is paid as a ransom. It is a kind of malware which can spread via phishing emails, or accidentally visiting the corrupted website. The recovery of the date requires specialists' intervention. Antivirus, as well as updated software with the updated security measures can prevent this kind of attacks. Another useful measure would be to have a backup of all the important data to minimize the effect of lost data.
An increase in the number of threats triggers the development of new threat ideas, thus it is not possible to predict which threat to expect. In order to prevent these kinds of attacks, organizations need to be careful and should thoroughly monitor the system on a continuous basis. It can be challenging to compete with the evolving cyber threat trends, but not impossible. Using the appropriate tools can have a massive change in making the organizations aware about the security breaches or any unfamiliar action that take place within the system. With the right cooperation among the ISP, software vendors and cyber administration agencies, organizations can safeguard themselves from incurring huge losses, thus helping the organization to grow rapidly.