Business accounts are compromised when unauthorized individuals access their credentials. Corporate accounts become exposed to various attacks after user credentials are stolen. They are vulnerable to ransomware, rootkits, keyloggers, data theft, and espionage.
First, we will discuss five common ways the company’s data could be compromised. In the second part, we’ll offer ways to manage online accounts in an easier and safer manner.
How Do Data Compromises Happen?
Unpatched Security Flaws
A security flaw is a weak spot in a system that an adversary can exploit to achieve an unauthorized goal. Attackers can gain complete control of an infected system and execute any code they want. System data may be leaked, or legitimate users may be denied service.
Weakness In The Security Settings
Certain systems have insufficient safeguards in place. For instance, a manufacturer might have a factory-default key or password that works across all products. It is especially true of Internet-enabled systems, including web servers, firewalls, and tools used in a demilitarized zone (DMZ).
Insecure And Stolen Credentials
It’s typical for weak, leaked, or stolen credentials to compromise IT systems. Phishing and spyware are some social engineering techniques hackers can use to steal or reveal sensitive information, including login passwords.
Criminals can run stolen credentials through scripts to hack other accounts, like banking, email, and social media.
Social Engineering
Social engineering is by far the most common trick used by hackers. It entails deceiving others into forming rash decisions. Misguided decisions include installing malware on a device or altering its settings without considering the consequences. In social engineering attacks, the attackers count on the victims’ gullibility.
Insider Threats
An insider threat is a risk that a current or former employee or contractor will intentionally or unintentionally compromise business account security by abusing their access. The prevention of insider attacks is a crucial part of cyber defense and should form the basis of any comprehensive cybersecurity plan.
How To Manage Your Online Business Accounts With Ease?
Managing your business accounts well means keeping your credentials confidential, accurate, and accessible to authorized users. Use these methods to keep your business accounts safe:
Protect Devices Against Physical Attacks
There are a wide variety of methods and tools available for ensuring the safety of an item or facility. It is crucial to consider the device’s intended usage and the sensitive nature of the data it stores when deciding how much physical protection to deploy.
You can use these approaches to protect your electronics to keep them from prying eyes:
- Use a smart lock to track who enters and exits a room. Keep your laptops in a safety box if you leave them in the office.
- Install a video camera close to the devices to monitor who uses them and when.
- Use motion-activated lighting to deter criminals.
- Consider moving your data centers to higher ground If you live in a flood-prone area.
- Have fire prevention and suppression measures in place.
- Have alternative energy sources and power outage backup plans. When the power goes out, it affects your computers and many safety measures.
- Maintain the same level of safety for your backups as you do for the originals.
Use Complex Passwords
Avoid using obvious information like your birthdate, address, or the term “password.” Passwords should be not shorter than 16 characters long to withstand a password-cracking tool.
You’ll need help keeping track of each account’s unique, strong password. It would be best if you use a password manager. With your account credentials safely stored and auto-filled by the password manager, you may be less vulnerable to phishing attempts.
Password managers can also help you set up new accounts with secure passwords. You will need only one master password to unlock the program.
Always Use Two-factor Authentication (2FA) If You Can
2FA requires a second proof of identification in addition to the usual username and password combination. The most reliable forms of 2FA involve a time-sensitive, unique password created by a zero-trust app or a hardware token.
Implement Email Security Best Practices
If you want to break into a network, it’s easier to trick a person into clicking on a dangerous link than to attack the firewall protecting it.
That’s why phishing emails are the entry point for 91% of all cyber attacks, making email security crucial to your company’s overall IT security. Technical expertise is not necessary for phishing emails or fraud. All that’s needed is an email address and some knowledge of psychology and deception.
Many business owners recognize the need for IT security. But they may believe their company is too insignificant to be a target.
That’s a misguided assumption.
Most high-profile data breaches involve large enterprises. But cybercriminals also attack small businesses. SMBs are the target of 43% of cyberattacks, but only 14% of them are ready to defend themselves.
Consider IT security in everything you do when you have many online accounts to manage. Create password rules for your employees and keep track of user activity. These measures will ensure your account remains private and always accessible to you.
