The Anatomy of a Cyber Attack: Understanding the Threat to Your Business

A cyber-attack can be a devastating event for a business. It can leave the company’s IT infrastructure in shambles and can lead to data loss and financial ruin. Let’s review how cyber-attacks work, and how businesses can protect themselves. We’ll also discuss the role of Managed Services in mitigating the damage caused by hackers.

Cyber-attacks are becoming more and more common, as hackers become increasingly sophisticated in their methods. There are a variety of ways that hackers can attack a company’s IT infrastructure, but the most common method is through phishing emails. Phishing is a type of email fraud in which the attacker sends out fraudulent emails that appear to be from a legitimate source, attempting to trick recipients into clicking a malicious link or attachment. Once the victim clicks on the link or attachment, the attacker can then gain access to their computer or network.  Fraudulent links can also be used to mimic genuine sites, manipulating a victim into entering their credentials which are then forwarded to the attackers.

There are a variety of diverse cyber-attacks, and each one can be devastating for a business. Below are some other most common types:

• Malware: This is software that’s designed to damage or disable computers or networks. Malware can be delivered through email attachments, infected websites, or Trojan horses.

• Ransomware: This is a type of malware that encrypts the victim’s files, and then demands a ransom payment to decrypt them.

• DDoS attack: This is when an attacker sends a flood of traffic from numerous sources (distributed) to a website or network to overwhelm it into crashing and going offline.

• SQL Injection: This is where the attacker injects malicious code into a website’s database to gain access to sensitive information. SQL injection attacks can be extremely damaging, as they can give the attacker access to the company’s client data, financial information, and more.

There are a variety of ways that businesses can protect themselves from these attacks. Some of the most common methods include:

• Educating employees about cyber security – It’s important for employees to be aware of the dangers of clicking on links or attachments from unknown sources. They should also know how to spot phishing emails and report any suspicious activity to their IT department.

• Implementing security software – Security software can help to protect businesses from a variety of threats, including viruses, malware, and ransomware.

• Backing up data – Data backups are essential in the event of a cyber-attack. If businesses maintain verified backups of their data, they can quickly restore their files if they’re lost or corrupted.

• Working with a qualified Managed Services provider – Managed Services can help businesses to protect their networks and systems from attacks. Managed Services providers will have the knowledge and expertise to implement the latest security measures and will be able to quickly respond to any incidents that do occur. They can also provide ongoing monitoring of a company’s IT infrastructure, to ensure that it always remains secure.

For businesses, cyber security should be an essential concern and not an afterthought when it’s too late and more costly. By taking steps to protect your business, and working with a qualified Managed Services provider, you can reduce the risk of being attacked, and minimize the damage if an attack does occur.

At Echoflare we have built many custom cyber security plans for our clients across Canada and have helped many organizations successfully recover from the most devastating attacks with minimal damage. Feel free to reach out to us to learn more.