Coronavirus Threat Has Cybercriminals Poised to Infiltrate Your Business
Protecting your organization against cyberattacks is more difficult in times of confusion. See what you need to do to keep your employees and digital assets safe in the wake of COVID-19.
There is a seedy underground that is merely waiting for your staff members to make a mistake. Every email that is opened, every attachment that’s downloaded has potentially become a loaded weapon that’s aimed directly at your sensitive business systems and confident data. With only a few thoughtless clicks, employees are bringing companies to their knees and causing problems that will be causing an impact long after the coronavirus pandemic has passed and life has returned to a semblance of normal. As cybercriminals hover on the edges of society and wait for an opportunity to strike, there are actions that you can take immediately to help reduce the myriad risks facing your organization.
Cybercriminals are Exploiting the Coronavirus Pandemic
Online criminal behavior has quickly evolved from shadowy figures in basements or across the world to something that is occurring against individuals and organizations at an alarming rate. While the world’s attention is focused on attempting to regain a foothold in life, cybercriminals are stepping up their activity in an alarming fashion. The rise of remote workers has caused significant confusion throughout the business and technology world, with IT teams spending their hours on troubleshooting and deprioritizing other tasks. Creating a proactive response strategy can help mitigate the risks facing your enterprise in tumultuous times:
- Defining or updating a business continuity strategy
- Establishing clear guidelines around security for remote and local workers
- Expanding your cybersecurity training plans, helping staff understand the dangers associated with business email compromise (BEC) scams
- Upgrade the virus and malware protection on your current systems
- Ensure any WiFi connections used by staff are fully supported with advanced VPN and firewall solutions
- Remind staff of the importance of quickly reporting lost or stolen technology
- Encourage staff to separate personal and professional activities on different devices
- Update emergency contact information for staff members and families
Taking these steps may not stop all attacks, but they could reduce the possibility of harm to your organization.
Email and Payment Scams are Rampant
During the COVID-19 epidemic, there are plenty of reasons for individuals to be concerned about personal health and the safety of their families. It’s good to remind staff that in the event they receive an email regarding a “miracle cure” for coronavirus, it’s much more likely to be a scam. The same is true of any email or phone-based contact that they receive asking for payments to be quickly wired to a vendor or other partner. These requests should always be verified by personally speaking live with the individual who requested the transfer. Chances are, this type of request that seems perfectly valid is more likely to be a mix of social engineering and email fraud that’s attempting to extract funds from your organization. One of the new variants of cybercrime that has surfaced is receiving a phone call or text message from a “trusted” party such as Google, Amazon, the IRS or Microsoft requesting that you enter or confirm your password or other personal information into a website or by speaking with an individual via phone. With millions of Americans working from home, hackers are looking for any way possible to utilize your access to break into corporate resources.
Just as you are washing your hands and practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, there are also activities that you’ll need to take to keep your business safe during these difficult times. Protect your organization with trusted support from Cincinnati’s premier IT support professionals at 4BIS when you contact us at {phone} to schedule your complimentary initial consultation. We have been serving the Greater Cincinnati area since 1996, offering technology services and solutions for organizations of all sizes.
