This short and concise guide outlines the dangers of phishing attacks on business and what you can do to prevent becoming a victim.
Modern technology offers so many benefits for the world of business, but technology can also be a threat. And it doesn’t really matter what kind of company you’re running, there are always plenty of software solutions and technological innovations that can help you save money, streamline your operations, and grow your business over time.
Unfortunately, while today’s tech brings with it a lot of benefits, it also presents new risks and challenges for businesses of all sizes to overcome, and one of the biggest problems of all when dealing with modern technology is having to cope with the ever-present risk of cyber-attacks, hacks, and malware infestations, which is why you need to understand how to protect your business from phishing attacks .
Reports show that millions of attempted cyber-attacks occur every single day, and a lot of them target businesses. One of their most common methods is known as phishing attacks . This is when cybercriminals send seemingly legitimate scam emails or messages to trick people into clicking unsafe links and submitting personal information.
This kind of attack can be very effective when carried out by seasoned cybercriminals, as they’re able to make very convincing fake emails and even false websites that seem to be totally normal at first glance, and if your business isn’t prepared, you could fall victim to the effects of phishing attacks too. Here are some tips and tricks to reduce the risk.
Strategies to protect your business from phishing attacks
Stay Informed
The first tip for dealing with phishing attacks is to know what you’re actually dealing with by keeping yourself educated and informed on the latest phishing trends and techniques. Cybercriminals often adjust their methods and fine-tune their attempts in order to be as effective as possible with each attack, but by staying aware of cybersecurity news, you’ll be ready for anything.
Educate Employees
A lot of phishing attacks are successful because of the people they target. If you have an employee who isn’t very computer-savvy, they might easily fall prey to a phishing attack. This is why it’s really important to make sure that all staff members on properly educated. You can hold meetings and educational sessions on subjects like how to spot an email phishing scam in Office 365 to help them.
Strong Password Policies
One of the common methods used in phishing attacks is to ask people to enter their passwords into seemingly secure sites or log-in platforms. This way, the hackers can trick people into giving up their business account information. Businesses, therefore, need to develop and implement strong password policies, making sure that every employee has strong knowledge of passwords, never enters their password on unapproved sites, and changes their password on a regular basis too.
Set Up Security Software
In order to avoid phishing attacks, it helps to have some security software on your side. In many ways, this software can be your business’s first line of defense against all kinds of online attacks, including phishing scams. Consider installing anti-malware suites, spam filters, and firewalls too, as well as web filters that prevent your employees from accessing unsafe sites that are prone to scam attempts.
Keep Your Software Updated
This is an important step, and it’s one that a lot of people overlook. After installing cybersecurity software, you can’t just let it run and assume that you’re fully protected. As stated earlier, cybercriminals are always coming up with new methods of cyber-attacks, so your software also needs to be regularly updated to cope with the latest threats.
VPNs for Remote Workers
A lot of businesses nowadays have workers and teams operating remotely, sometimes even from other parts of the world. These workers still need access to business files and servers to carry out their work, but they need to be provided with extra protection due to the special risks associated with remote work. VPNs can be a great option
for encrypting the connections of your remote teams and reducing the risks of them falling victim to insidious phishing scams that track their locations and activities.
Multi-Factor Authentication
As explained earlier, a common phishing attacks method is to try and steal user passwords and then use those passwords to log in to private or personal accounts. However, if you encourage workers to use multi-factor authentication, this won’t be as much of a problem. With multi-factor authentication, hackers need more than just a password in order to log in, so it’s a lot harder for them to steal user info.
Final Word
Countless phishing attacks are successful every single day, and even though this may seem like a rudimentary and simplistic form of cyber-attack, it can do serious damage to your business. Follow these tips and take preventative action to protect your business from phishing today.
