In the past 12 months, roughly 40% of UK businesses identified a data breach. A data breach is the result of a cybersecurity attack, which allows malicious actors to get access to sensitive, confidential or protected data.
Stolen information may include contact information, bank account details, trade secrets, and so on. There are many consequences of compromised data. Examples include revenue loss, damage to brand reputation, and online vandalism.
An attack isn’t only possible but also probable. GDPR applies to any business that handles the personal data of citizens. Data security breaches must be reported to the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) within 72 hours of them happening.
Negligent business processes, human error, and cybercrime mean data isn’t protected as it should be. If it were to fall into the wrong hands, the consequences would be catastrophic. Each year, ICO issues hefty fines against organization’s for failing to keep people’s personal information safe.
If you have a data breach on your network, your client may sue if it causes them harm. Recent cybersecurity litigation in the UK suggests there are two categories of data claims: invasion of privacy and data breaches. In either case, injured parties can bring a suit to recover damages in the form of monetary compensation.
What Strategies Are Used To Cause Data Breaches?
Without attention to detail, even the smallest vulnerability can lead to a major data breach. You should alter your mindset to expect a security breach. Better yet, you should assume all your systems will be compromised.
A data breach can result in the loss of countless private records and sensitive data, affecting not only your organisation, but everyone else. Here are some of the most common types of cyberattacks to look out for.
Phishing
Phishing involves sending fraudulent communications that look as if they come from a reputable source. Such an attack is launched to steal user data, mainly login credentials and credit card numbers.
People who aren’t tech-savvy or hasten to do things click on false links by accident and give away important information. Threat actors create fake websites to trick unsuspecting victims into giving them sensitive information.
Brute Force
Brute force attacks involve the use of guesswork to a large extent. Hackers will try to predict authentication credentials, encryption keys or find hidden data on the web. Some hackers fully automate brute force attacks.
If the data is encrypted, it’s difficult, if not impossible, for malicious actors to recognise when the code has been cracked. Anyway, cybercriminals place spam ads on popular websites, reroute traffic to an illegally commissioned ads site, and infect website visitors with malware, among other things.
Malware
Most websites have features that allow threat actors to evade detection and compromise the environment. They plant viruses and spyware into the system to view, access and change files, which represents a major data breach.
Even if cybercrime evolves, malware remains a constant threat. It’s estimated that millions of new threats are released daily. If you want to keep your website secure, take matters into your own hands.
Ways To Protect Your Website From An Attack
The ease of building websites has expanded in the past couple of years. Owing to content management systems such as WordPress, business owners can become webmasters despite lacking skills like programming, layout, and content development.
The security of the website is your responsibility. Hackers can easily implement malicious actions and cause many problems. When individuals use your online platform, they expect their data to be safe. Without further ado, this is what it takes to protect your website from an attack.
Be Mindful About Cybersecurity In Day-To-Day Situations
Cybersecurity awareness is recognised as critical for reducing data breaches and protecting sensitive information. Make sure everyone in the organisation takes into account cybersecurity when doing their jobs.
Not every person is familiar with concepts like DNS cache poisoning. Incidents of website data breaches take place when employees accidentally leak information. Offer guidelines on acceptable use of technology, teach people how to identify suspicious emails, and strengthen passwords.
Well-informed employees are less likely to fall victim to scams. They should willingly embrace and proactively use practices to stay safe from cybercrime.
Invest In Backup And Security
In spite of your best attempts to prevent data breaches, they still occur. The records will be extracted from the company only to be exploited later for monetary gains.
This is why it’s essential to back up any and all information. Cloud computing is ideal for small businesses. Your files and data will be readily available in the event of a data breach.
If you have considerable amounts of data to backup, consider using tape storage. Not only are tape backups reliable, but also they can store massive amounts of data.
Look For Vulnerabilities
Understanding where your vulnerabilities lie ensures you don’t fall victim to some form of cybercrime. For malicious actors, CMS platforms are different from other websites. The underlying code is publicly available, so WordPress websites tend to be attacked in bulk.
Needless to say, the public eye is harsh on a data breach. Take advantage of a security scanner to find some common vulnerabilities. Regular assessments help you address security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Scan your online platform for trojans, malware, viruses, and other threats.
Monitor Database Activities
Keep track of database activity. Small oversights and mistakes can lead to losing some of your most important data. Without a solid tool in place, it can be challenging to keep an eye on everything you need.
A database activity monitor provides real-time data security by capturing, keeping logs, analysing, and alerting about suspicious activity. It can detect abnormal activity both internally and externally. You’ll know how data is viewed and by whom.
Consider installing a firewall to help restrict access to traffic. What is more, install a web application to protect your database from cyberattacks.
Just because reporters aren’t on your case, that doesn’t mean that the people who’ve had their data compromised will let it slide. The injured parties can take their cases to court and request compensation.
