In today’s digital world, all businesses are connected. In the age of technology and artificial intelligence, it is more important than ever for businesses to be secure online.
With cybercrime becoming increasingly common, network security risks need to be high on your radar. The odds of falling victim to cybercriminals are high; almost 90% of US organizations were compromised by cybercrime over a 12-month period.
You need to be proactive in protecting your data and your business from such threats before they strike – and part of this is knowing how attacks will occur.
What is network security?
Network security comprises a wide range of technologies and practices designed to protect your business’s computers and networks from unwanted activities, such as unauthorized data access or damage. It is essential to protect your network because it is the foundation that allows you to do business.
Malware
Computer malware is any software designed to do damage to computers or networks. There are many different types of malware, including viruses, worms, and trojans.
Viruses are the most common type of malware and are designed to damage computers by deleting data or infecting other computers with more viruses. Worms are designed to damage networks by consuming network bandwidth or wiping out other computers. Trojans are designed to damage computers by allowing cybercriminals to remotely access and control them. This is particularly noteworthy for American businesses, as the US endures the largest portion of Trojan attacks.
Anti-malware software can help detect and remove malware if your computer has been infected.
Denial-of-service attacks
Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks are designed to make a network unusable by flooding it with too much traffic. The goal is to shut down the victim system in order to prevent it from performing its intended function. There are many different types of DoS attacks, but they all have one thing in common: they target a system’s resources and intentionally exhaust them.
To prevent a denial-of-service attack, you should always ensure you have enough capacity to handle your workload. You can also use tools like intrusion detection systems (IDS) and firewalls for added protection.
Phishing
Phishing is a type of online fraud in which cybercriminals try to get you to give away your passwords, credit card information, and other sensitive data. Phishing scammers create fake websites and send emails that look like they are from a trusted source, and try to trick you into clicking on a link or sending sensitive information back to them. A recent study stated that in 2020, almost 12% of US users tried to open a phishing link.
In many cases, phishing attacks can be prevented by taking a few simple precautions, largely revolving around educating your employees on the dangers of cybercrime and phishing.
First, always check the sender’s address before clicking on any links or opening any attachments. Second, never provide sensitive information over the phone or via email. Lastly, don’t reply suspicious emails or click on links if the sender is unknown, even if the email appears legitimate.
SQL injection
SQL injection attacks exploit vulnerabilities in the SQL (Structured Query Language) command syntax that allows attackers to insert arbitrary commands into a database in an attempt to steal data. The most common way an attacker will try to execute an SQL injection attack is by sending a user a specially crafted URL that contains parameters like user ID, password, and other sensitive information. If the user unwittingly follows the malicious link, their system will execute the malicious code without any validation.
It is critical for users to always double-check the URL before clicking on it and ensure that it only contains valid data.
You can prevent SQL injection by using parameterized queries, i.e. putting data in the “where” clause, or use a firewall to block malicious IP addresses and SQL code.
Social engineering
Social engineering is a type of cyber-attack in which the attacker identifies and manipulates targets by manipulating human behavior. The goal of a social engineering attack is to trick a person into performing an action that the actor wants them to perform, often by impersonating someone they trust.
Once the target has been tricked, the attacker may use that action as leverage to make them do something they wouldn’t otherwise do, such as divulge their passwords or install malware on their computer.
You can prevent social engineering by educating employees on the importance of cybersecurity, and having a strong password policy that requires employees to change their password every few months. You can also implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible, which requires employees to enter at least two pieces of information to access their accounts. This is one of the strongest ways to defend a network against cyber-attack – but only 28% of US businesses actually implement MFA.
Protect your network with help from the experts
Network security is crucial to the success of any business. If you don’t take steps to protect your network, you risk having your data hacked and your company identity stolen. This can lead to not only loss of money, but also damage to your company’s reputation.
The cybersecurity specialists at Technology Solutions can implement end-to-end security solutions to defend your network, data, and business against the risk of cyber-attacks.
