Tag Archives: Social Engineering

Training Employees to Spot Social Engineering

spot social engineering

Social engineering is one of the newest methods hackers use to access sensitive information. Rather than attacking a system directly, this technique relies on human psychology to gain information. This method is brilliant when you think about it because it does not have to deal with going past ironclad network security. If hackers can manipulate even a single employee, they might hand over sensitive information on a silver platter, and the hackers can take control of the organization’s entire system. This is why its important for your employees to learn how to spot social engineering.

Companies must understand that if you can’t spot social engineering it can compromise business security. Reports show that over 90% of data breaches happen because of social engineering. Phishing scams account for 54% of these cases. The good news is that there is a way to prevent social engineering threats, and that is by training employees.

Popular Social Engineering Techniques

There is a lot to cover in training employees to spot social engineering. A logical start would be to discuss the most popular techniques so employees can recognize and avoid them.

Phishing is the most common method because it is easy to execute. It also yields positive results, at least for the hackers. This method entails sending emails that deceive victims into clicking a malicious link or divulging sensitive information without realizing it.

Pretexting is when a hacker gains the victim’s trust through a pretext or a created scenario, which is part of a larger, more convoluted social engineering attack plan. There is also the quid pro quo attack, where the hacker lures the victim into divulging information in exchange for something in return. Tailgating, or piggybacking, is a popular social engineering technique where the victim unknowingly gives the hacker access to a secure location.

Importance of Employee Training To Spot Social Engineering

These social engineering strategies would be much easier to execute if employees were untrained and unaware of the risks involved. The damage could be monumental, as the $100 million phishing scam on Google and Facebook illustrates. From 2013 to 2015, a team of hackers sent numerous phishing emails to specific employees of Google and Facebook, telling them to deposit money into fraudulent accounts. They could collect more than $100 million from this scheme.

Now, even if your business does not have that kind of revenue, you can still be a victim. These days, hackers are targeting small businesses on a massive scale. Every employee can also be a target, from customer service personnel to top executives, so you must conduct training across the board.

Best Ways to Train Employees to Spot Social Engineering

There are several methods of training your employees to spot social engineering. Traditional classroom workshops, either personal or online, are excellent for an in-depth training session. A one-time seminar is hardly enough, though, and that is why we also recommend regular refreshers.

Unannounced phishing simulations are effective in evaluating employees based on how much they have learned. It would surprise you how so many people do well in theory but still won’t be able to tell the real deal when it is staring at them from the inbox. Being bitten once in a simulated attack will teach your employees to be more vigilant.

Final Thoughts

Organizations can achieve a high level of protection against social engineering if everyone is sufficiently aware of the risks and knows what to do in case an attack goes through. Besides the various training methods, you will implement, we strongly advise you to download our infographic, “The Top 10 Steps to Take If You Think You Have Been Hacked.” Print it out and post it on every department’s bulletin board. Be sure all your employees also get their own copy.

For more information about social engineering and how to avoid becoming a victim, call us. We can get you up to speed on the latest preventive measures and keep your company safe from the prying eyes of cybercriminals.

Moving to the Cloud Promotes Business Growth

moving to the cloud

The number of companies moving to cloud operations is rising each year. This is not a surprise because cloud solutions are now a vital instrument for the growth and development of businesses in today’s digital world. If you have been looking for a way to scale your business and haven’t tried cloud technology, there is no better time to take the plunge than now.

How Moving to the Cloud Affects Business Growth

A multitude of businesses all over the world will attest that cloud computing has helped them grow. But how did it help? What areas of your business can benefit the most if you move your operations to the cloud? Here are the most notable positive changes that you might expect.

Scalability

This feature ranks as one of the best advantages of moving to the cloud, which people look forward to the most. Before the cloud, business expansions were almost always massive and tedious operations that required heavy investment in terms of infrastructure and hardware. But with the extensive selection of cloud resources available, growing your business has never been easier!

Should you need to downgrade for any reason, it is just as easy on the cloud. You can cancel your subscription to services you don’t need so that you can operate on a smaller scale without having to incur unnecessary losses.

Financial Savings

It is interesting how many people assume that cloud services are expensive when the opposite is true. The prices vary, as this depends on the provider. But they will only charge you for the services or resources that you use. How can you be more cost-efficient than that?

Also, moving to the cloud means you no longer need to purchase expensive on-site equipment, which can also be costly to maintain. So, businesses really can save an incredible amount by shifting their operations to the cloud.

Efficiency

A distinctive feature of cloud applications is that they are accessible from anywhere if you have the internet. So, employees don’t need to go to the office to work. They can just do their jobs from home or any other location. There is also the benefit of using automation tools, which you can set up to lessen the demand for and reliance on manual labor.

Security when Moving to the Cloud

Whether you are just starting or are well on your way to conquering your industry, there is no need to worry about security in cloud-based solutions. Impressive security features abound on the cloud, including high-tech encryption, advanced threat detection, and multi-factor authentication, which protect your data and ultimately speed up business growth.

Innovation

The cloud gives easy access to all the latest innovations in technology as soon as they come out, which is vital for growing your business. Everything, from the latest versions of applications and operating systems to the latest hardware releases in the market, will be right at your fingertips if you are on the cloud.

There you have it—the top reasons cloud technology is crucial to business growth. Through cloud computing, growing your business can be faster, simpler, more cost-efficient, and perfectly aligned with your organization’s goals.

If you would like more information, you can download this infographic of ours called The Benefits of Moving to the Cloud.” Here, you will see everything that you will miss out on if you pass on this opportunity! Do also contact us today where we will have thorough and very enlightening discussions with your businesses today.

What Is IT Security and IT Compliance?

IT Security

IT security and IT compliance are two essential matters for any business or organization. Many people think they are the same, while others frequently confuse one for the other. They are not the same thing, but when implemented together, they can provide maximum digital safety and minimize the risk of data breaches and other online threats. In this article, we’ll explain which is which and why both require your attention.

What Is IT Security?

As the term implies, IT security refers to ensuring the security of a company’s or organization’s IT infrastructure. When creating a security strategy for your business, IT security experts usually have two goals to achieve. First, it should be able to thwart cyberattacks that will damage the system or put the company’s data in danger. Second, it should give attackers a way to do as little damage as possible if they get through the defenses.

When developing an IT security strategy, a few key points must be considered. Some of the most important ones are the confidentiality of sensitive data, the integrity of the system, and the accessibility of vital information and systems.

With these goals in mind, it is easy to see that IT security involves best practices to guarantee the safety and protection of an organization, regardless of the industry or size of the business.

What Is IT Compliance?

IT compliance is about meeting the needs of a third party so that the business operations or services are accepted. For example, governments have rules about technology that companies must follow if they want to do business legally in the government’s territory. Some industries also have specific IT guidelines that we must follow. IT compliance also includes meeting the contractual terms of a client or customer.

Most times, IT compliance overlaps with IT security. Many of the requirements have to do with protecting the system and data. However, the purpose of IT compliance is to meet specific requirements. If you can’t meet these requirements, you might not get a license or certification that you need, or a potential client might not choose you for their project.

What Are the Differences between IT Security and Compliance?

Although they have some similarities, IT security and IT compliance have three major differences.

1. What They Protect

IT security protects your business’s data and IT infrastructure. This is done by using best practices and the best protection possible. IT compliance safeguards your company’s operations by ensuring that all rules are followed. This protection lets your business run smoothly and without problems.

2. Who They Benefit

Your company is the one that benefits from IT security procedures because it is your data and your network that are guarded from online risks. With IT compliance, you have some benefits, but its primary purpose is to meet the demands of a third party.

3. How They Are Implemented

IT compliance is when a third party sets specific requirements, and once these requirements are met, the job is considered done. But IT security requires ongoing upgrades and maintenance to fight current threats. It needs to change with your business and may need to be updated and improved all the time.

If you need help with either of these aspects of your business, it is best to enlist the services of experts rather than attempt to tackle it with limited skill or experience.

We can prepare a solid strategy to keep your company protected, and we can help your business recover quickly if you become the victim of a cyberattack. Just give us a call, and we’ll be on it right away! In the meantime, download our FREE Infographic to learn Ten Tips on what to do after you’ve been hacked.

January Recap: All You Need to Know About Social Engineering

Social Engineering

This month, we covered a range of topics concerning social engineering. Social engineering is now considered one of the most prevalent risks when it comes to online security. Most hackers rely heavily on social engineering tactics to lure unsuspecting users to divulge information.

It sounds complicated but it’s nothing more than the practice of manipulating people into revealing information through the use of false pretenses. It often creates a sense of urgency, fear or excitement, playing with people’s emotions to get them to do exactly what the hackers want them to do. In case you missed any of them, here is a brief summary.

social engineeringWeek 1: What Is Social Engineering and How Can It Affect Your Business?

We discussed the basics of social engineering and how the different types of attacks are used to exploit unsuspecting victims. We also looked at what makes up a successful social engineering attack and how attackers might use modern technology to increase their reach. Specifically, attackers may utilize deception techniques such as phishing emails or malicious links in order to gain access to personal information or data. Additionally, attackers may use impersonation tactics in order to manipulate their target into giving away information or credentials.

Social engineering is the infiltration of something secure, intending to acquire information or secure access through cunning means. With the use of modern technology, social engineering is now possible with the victims not even knowing. If you are caught unprepared, as a result, this could potentially lead to the downfall of your business. With awareness and the presence of mind, you can easily avoid becoming a victim. One of the commonly used methods is tailgating or entering the premises on the pretense that they are an authorized entity.

Simple practices like refraining from opening suspicious-looking emails and attachments would be very helpful. It is also advisable to implement multifactor authentication in all your systems and to keep your antivirus software updated. Click here to read more of our week-1 blog defining what exactly social engineering is.

Social Engineering scamsWeek 2: Where Does Social Engineering Scams Come from?

In order to prevent these attacks from being successful, it is important for users to remain aware and educated about cybersecurity best practices and protocols. This includes implementing strong passwords that include both upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters; avoiding suspicious links through email or messaging services; and utilizing two-factor authentication measures when possible–for example, when accessing accounts online or over public Wi-Fi networks. Users should also use secure VPNs whenever possible to protect their remote data..

There are more than 4.74 billion social media users today. Hackers are using social media to entice unsuspecting users into their traps. They create fake accounts that are used in either of the following four ways:. MIPs are bare profiles, usually with seductive profile photos that are meant to get people interested enough to add them as a contact. A hacker will then use this fake MIP to send malware through messenger or post malicious links on your wall. Fully Invested Profiles are intended purpose of fully invested profiles is the same as those created for MIPs. Click here to read more of our week-2 blog about the origin of social engineering.

Cybercriminals Use Social Engineering

Week 3: The Top 5 Ways Cybercriminals Use Social Engineering

Finally, we presented best practices for staying safe online when encountering suspicious links or other potentially dangerous content. For example, links in messages can lead to malicious sites with malware that could compromise users’ personal information and devices. It is also important for users not to respond immediately if they receive an unexpected message from someone they do not know or recognize – even if it appears legitimate – as this could be an attempt by adversaries to gain access to sensitive data via impersonation techniques.

Cybercriminals use social engineering to play on victims’ emotions and gain their trust. There are a number of different ways that cybercriminals manipulate their victims online. Phishing is by far the most common and most effective tactic that hackers use in social engineering. This is where the hacker pretends to be someone that the victim knows, then asks for their login details. There are so many ways that cybercriminals use social engineering for malicious intent these days. Piggybacking, also known as tailgating, is when someone discreetly follows an authorized person into a restricted area of the building. As a business owner, it is crucial to ensure that you educate all your employees fully when it comes to social engineering attacks and other cybercrimes. Click here to read more of our week-3 blog and the top 5 social engineering threats.

By following these tips and remaining vigilant about potential attacks, everyone can make sure to stay safe online! Give us a call if you think you need help strengthening your business against attacks.