Cybersecurity In 2022: A Fresh Look At Some Alarming Stats

The year 2021 was very difficult for cybersecurity in many areas. Solar Winds, Colonial Pipeline, and many other breaches that had a significant economic and security-related impact were some of the most prominent. Ransomware attacked many small and medium-sized businesses with a furious vengeance. Worst of all was the fact that adversaries exploited security vulnerabilities in supply chains and critical infrastructure at higher rates than ever before. We are only beginning to see some of the trends that will be prevalent in 2022, even though it is only January.

Cybersecurity and business

In the past two years, there has been a shift in work from traditional offices to remote or hybrid locations. Statistics show that hackers welcomed this shift and took advantage the security gaps and vulnerabilities in businesses.

Based on the Allianz Risk Barometer, cyber perils will be the greatest concern for companies worldwide in 2022. Data breaches, ransomware attacks, and major IT outages are more of a concern to companies than disruptions in business supply chains or natural disasters, which all have impacted firms heavily over the past year.

A new study by Positive Technologies on pentesting projects, which was conducted among financial institutions, fuel and energy organizations, government bodies, industrial companies, IT companies, and other sectors, has revealed that there are many findings. An external attacker can penetrate an organization’s network perimeter to gain access the local network resources. This is true in 93% of cases.

In 2021, 50% more cyberattacks were made on businesses.

New data shows that cyberattack attempts rose to an all-time high in the fourth quarter of 2021 partly because Log4j. In 2021, the largest number of attacks on cyberattacks was sustained by research and education sectors. Government/military, communications and communications were next. Source: Check Point Software

Cybersecurity for Small and Medium Sized Business

Many large companies were hacked, but small and medium-sized businesses were easier targets because they lack the security expertise and resources.

Trends and statistics on cyber attacks in 2022

Cyberattacks on businesses of all sizes, but especially small- to medium-sized, are becoming more frequent and targeted. Accenture’s Cost of Cybercrime Study found that 43% of cyberattacks are directed at small businesses. However, only 14% of those targeted are equipped to defend themselves.

Cyberattacks can disrupt normal operations and cause significant damage to IT infrastructure and assets that may be difficult to repair without sufficient resources or budget.

This is a problem for small businesses that makes it difficult to protect themselves. Ponemon Institute’s State of Cybersecurity Report reports that cyberattacks have been reported by small and medium-sized businesses around the world.

• Insufficient security measures: 45% of respondents say their systems are not effective in mitigating attacks.
• Sixty-six percent of victims have been the victim of a cyberattack in the last 12 months.
• Background of attacks: 69% believe that cyber attacks have become more targeted.

These are the most common attacks on small businesses:

• Phishing/Social Engineering: 57%
• Compromised/Stolen Devices: 33%
• Credential theft: 30%

For understanding cyber threats and vulnerabilities, as well as the implications of successful attacks on cyber security, it is important to keep up-to-date with current cyber-attack statistics.

• 43% of data breaches are small- and medium-sized businesses.
• 61% of SMBs reported at least one cyberattack in the past year, so if you are still unsure about your small business being a victim, think again.
• A CISCO benchmark study found that 40% of small businesses were affected by a serious cyber attack and had to go offline for at least eight hours. This downtime is a significant cost in a security breach.
• Ransomware was not one of the top cyber threats small businesses identified in the study. Ransomware is a concern for a large percentage of Managed Service Providers (MSP).
• 30% of small businesses consider Phishing attacks the greatest cyber threat.
• 83% of small- and medium-sized companies aren’t financially ready to recover from cyber attacks.

Despite these staggering statistics, 91% of small business owners have not purchased cyber liability insurance or consulted with an IT Support company such as  Adtek Advanced Technologies. This demonstrates how unprepared small businesses are to deal security breaches.

Ransomware:

Ransomware by the Numbers CLOUDWARDS

Ransomware is a cyber-weapon that hackers prefer to use. Although it has been around for decades now, ransomware was first introduced in 2021. Ransomware is a popular way to steal data and hostage it for payment in cryptocurrencies.

Five Key Ransomware Statistics

1. In 2021, ransomware was estimated to have cost the world $20 Billion. This number is expected rise to $265 Billion by 2031.
2. Ransomware affected 37 percent of all organizations and businesses in 2021.
3. In 2021, businesses spent $1.85 million to recover from ransomware attacks.
4. 32 percent of ransomware victims pay ransom but only 65 percent get their data back.
5. Only 57% of businesses have been able to recover their data from a backup.

Ransomware is rampant, which is a sobering fact. Ransomware will be a constant threat due to the availability of soft targets. Our lives are impacted by an ever-increasingly connected world. Every industry and every organization will need to manage and protect data from now on.

Understanding and being aware of ransomware can help to address many cybersecurity problems. The emergence of cybersecurity tools, protocols, and mitigation tools can help to limit the growing trend in ransomware attacks. It is time to take proactive measures to secure networks, devices and systems and to make them more resilient.

Cyber Statistics You Need to Know For 2022

Phishing Attacks. Phishing attacks were linked to 36% breaches, an increase in 11% which could partly be attributed to COVID-19 pandemic. As you might expect, threat actors are known to modify their phishing campaigns according to what is happening in the news. (Verizon 2021 Data Breach Investigations report)

Data Breach Cost: The 2021 data breach cost was the highest in 17 years. It rose from US$3.86 to US$4.24 millions annually. (IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2021

Ransomware Payments: Cryptocurrency is the preferred payment method of cybercriminals, particularly when it comes to ransomware. Ransomware payouts for the 10 most popular ransomware variants could be responsible for as much as US$5.2 Billion in outgoing Bitcoin transactions. (FinCEN report on Ransomware Trends In Bank Secrecy Act Data).

DDoS attacks: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of distributed denials-of-service (DDoS), attacks has been increasing. 2020 saw over 10 million attacks, which is 1.6 million more than in the previous year. (ENISA Threat Landscape 2021).

If this article has got you thinking – good. Small business are at risk but there is a solution. Call Adtek Advanced Technologies today for a complete review of network and suggestions on how you can be secure in 2022. Don’t put this off until after an attack! Be proactive – call now.

Adtek Advanced Technologies
Rock Hill, SC 29730
(803) 902-3111

Dillon, SC 29536
843-627-3079

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8 Signs It’s Time To Upgrade Your Network

Technology innovations today enable businesses to work smarter and faster than ever before thanks to their technology. Companies can now achieve unprecedented flexibility, scalability, and productivity through cloud and mobile technology.

Although there are many opportunities to help your business, an outdated network can cause problems for your company. However, upgrading your network could seem expensive and time-consuming. And it may cause disruption to business operations. To determine whether it’s time to upgrade your network, companies should conduct a risk/benefit analysis.

Signs are  that your organization needs to upgrade its network.

The Data Center is evolving. Both the throughput as well as the volume of data have changed in the networking and data center. The hyperconverged technology used to build data centers today has grown from 1GB to 50GB to 100GB and even larger environments. You should not rely on networks that were built before hyperconverged or even the 1st generation of hyperconverged. They are simply not designed to handle today’s traffic. You will notice that your applications are slowing down and that the network is unable to handle the traffic. This is because it lacks intelligent routing and packet optimization which is inherent in new networking standards. An aging network can slow down productivity and eventually cause lost data.

Networks are becoming more fragile from the sheer volume of devices. It was easier to manage a network when there were only a limited number of computers on the network. The modern workplace is changing the paradigm with mobility. Users expect to be free from the constraints of being tied down to one location. With more devices using bandwidth, network managers have to make tougher decisions. Network professionals today need the right technology and tools in order to manage the huge number of devices that are connected to their network. Constant bandwidth problems with an aging network infrastructure, especially wireless networks, can lead to increased costs and complexity. The newer infrastructure, on the other side, is specifically designed to support many devices and give network administrators better tools for managing the network.

 Network maintenance leaves no time for innovation. Any enterprise-grade network will require some maintenance. If your team is constantly putting out fires and end users continue to complain about inability to work, you might want to ask yourself if the company is really paying more for aging tech. Exceeding maintenance can result in frustration and decreased innovation. You should be looking at your TCO carefully and considering upgrading if you’re constantly maintaining outdated infrastructure.

Poor visibility can put organizations at risk of cyberattacks. Do you have visibility into your network’s activities? Are you able to see who’s accessing your network and what device they use? Networks were not designed with security in mind before the emergence of cyber-attacks. That’s why firewalls and UTM systems came into play.

Organizations need to know who is using your network and what they’re doing in your environment, given the level of sophistication today. The complexity of IoT and the ageing of wireless infrastructure was simply not designed for today’s technology. Cybercriminals can also gain access to smaller networks, such as multi-function printers and IoT wearables.

You need to be aware of who is connecting and from where. Failure to do so could result in data loss and operational disruptions. Adtek Advanced Technologies provides a view to your network that allows you to see who is connecting to your network and helps identify vulnerabilities. Security concerns are grave when networks age. By increasing visibility and context in your network, updating your network can greatly improve your security posture.

Persistent latency issues can be a problem. It is common for latency issues to persist during peak times or busy hours (e.g. Network delays are normal during peak periods or busy hours (e.g. holiday shopping, viral articles), If network latency becomes more frequent, it is a sign that it is time to upgrade. When employees are unable to get work done, and customers are frustrated by delays in your applications, then your organization is at a crossroads. Modern network equipment is capable of handling traffic spikes at higher speeds, allowing your users to be more productive and happy.

Your network equipment is far too old to receive consistent carrier support. Network systems are not the only technology on the verge of obsolescence. A network that is older may have been a good solution for your company’s technology needs. Your output might not be affected at all. As network providers improve their technology offerings, they cease supporting older equipment and make it difficult to find replacement parts. This makes support and maintenance extremely costly. There are usually better deals available for equipment that is past its prime. It can save money over trying to support old technology by upgrading your network. We must not forget that technological obsolescence could easily lead to organizational obsolescence.

Integration with new technology is a challenge for your network. Your network needs to be able adapt to the rapid changes in technology. Traditional networks continue to face challenges due to the constant evolution of technology such as cloud integration, application requirements, and diverse data sets. The new integrations required by aging technology are too complex for older technology and require a lot of manual maintenance. Due to the volume of data being sent through your network, to and from the cloud, and to the application, bottlenecks are common. Intelligent routing technology provides better performance and faster speeds for modern businesses.

Although upgrading your network may seem daunting and expensive, it will not cause any major disruptions to your operations. But ask yourself if you are paying more for aging equipment. It is becoming more difficult to upgrade your network as legacy networks become less relevant. If you notice any problems, it’s important to act quickly so that costly and damaging problems don’t occur.

Adtek Advanced Technologies can help you minimize business interruptions, increase TCO, and build a network that allows for innovation rather than maintenance. Adtek will perform a customized assessment of your network to identify areas for improvement. Reach out to us today to speak with one of our network architects experts.

Adtek Advanced Technologies
Rock Hill, SC 29730
(803) 902-3111

Dillon, SC 29536
843-627-3079

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Beyond The Firewall: Protect Yourself Against Cyber Attacks

Cyberattacks can devastate your company. Cybercriminals and hackers can outsmart security systems and gain access confidential information of customers and employees, no matter how well-defended they may be.

T-Mobile, Facebook, and the California Department of Motor Vehicles are just a few of the organizations that have been affected by data breaches in 2021. Your company must increase its security focus if global corporations or government agencies are at high risk of cybercrime.

Modern security threats are making traditional defenses such as antivirus software and firewalls as a stand-alone defense ineffective. Let’s take a look at these threats, and discuss the warning signs of a breach as well as best practices to protect yourself against them.

Popular Security Threats

A Trojan Horse Threat

A Trojan horse  can be a malware or virus. This is a little misleading. Viruses can spread by themselves, but the execution of Trojan malware requires that the victim click or open the seemingly harmless link. This allows the malware to infect the system. There are many types of Trojan malware that can be used to accomplish different goals. They can open a backdoor to your system, steal emails addresses, and install ransomware.

Rootkits

Rootkits work in a similar way to Trojans, but they are designed to stay on your computer secretly. Rootkits can be installed in the background and allow hackers to remotely control your computer, disable security measures, set up key trackers, steal sensitive data, and even take over your computer.

Spear Phishing

While most people are familiar with phishing techniques, spear phishing is more dangerous and sophisticated. While traditional phishing scams target large numbers of people, spear phishing targets a particular target. They use social media to research your company structure to pretend to be a member of your team. This allows them to gain the trust of the target, as well as credit card numbers and login credentials.

Malicious Email Attachments

Hackers use this tactic to send malware-infected emails to their victims disguised as PDFs and Excel tables. Voice memos are also used. The email’s body is designed to encourage the reader to open the attachment (“read the latest memo from the boss”), which will unleash the malware on your computer.

Drive-By Downloads

These codes are hidden on websites, sometimes in a benign way. They can cause malware or viruses to attach to your computer. This type of attack is able to gain access to your computer without the need for further action by its target. It is one of the most dangerous and unpredictable threats.

An Advanced Cyber Attack Signs

A 2020 IBM report found that it takes on average 228 days to detect a breach. It is impossible to imagine the amount of damage that could be done in just 228 days. Add on recovery time and it could take up to a year before you can get back to normal.

It is possible to not see a breach in your network immediately. Cyber attackers are smart and know how to conceal in plain sight to avoid detection. These attacks can be prevented by awareness and vigilance. Here are some warning signs to look out for:

Slow Network Connection

An increase in your connection speed could indicate that there has been a security breach and that malicious programs are running in the background. This could be caused by a hacker remotely controlling your computer.

Task Manager – Unfamiliar Programs

Task Manager should be your first port of call if you notice unusually slow connections. Your computer will heat up if it is being run by unknown programs that are not your knowledge. A denial-of service attack is when hackers flood your computer with untrue requests in an attempt to prevent actual work from happening.

Unusual Transactions

Are you seeing suspicious activity in your accounts? Even seemingly innocent payments and messages could indicate that someone has accessed your computer via the outside. Hackers will often try to make minor changes to your computer to check if you are paying attention, and then move on with larger attacks.

Unusual Password Behavior

Also, be aware if your passwords are being changed without you knowing or if you receive requests to reset passwords that you didn’t initiate. This could indicate that your system is being hacked and hackers are trying to gain further access.

Massive Data Sets Ready for Export

Hackers will use stolen data to compress and export it faster once they have access. A data breach is likely to occur if you see data in unfamiliar formats or groups.

Phishing emails targeted at specific targets

Spear phishing becomes much easier once hackers have access to your internal documents. You may have been unaware that you have seen more of these types of emails.

Increased Outgoing Emails

Hackers often use computers they have infiltrated in order to phish other computers within your network. If the attachments are from a trusted source within a company, people are more likely to open them.

Cyberattacks: How to protect yourself

These cyber threats will constantly be a threat to your computer systems. You can avoid them by raising awareness within your company and using the security tools available to you.

Training for employees

Advanced persistent threats can be detected early, so it is important to inform your employees about security breaches. Two-factor authentication and strong passwords are two benefits that you should inform your employees. Training your employees on advanced cyber threats is a great way to teach them what to look out for and to make sure they are aware of who should be notified in case there are any breaches.

Keep your systems up to date

These updates have been created to combat new cyberthreats as soon as they occur. You should not ignore a notification about an update. To fix vulnerabilities and keep your operating system running smoothly, you need to update it regularly.

Make the most of technology to your advantage

Security technology is continually evolving to counter new threats, just as hackers constantly find ways to undermine your defenses. Although it may seem like there is no way to avoid potential breaches, using new technology can prove to be extremely beneficial for your company. It is possible to encourage your employees to use password vaults, and to install malware detection. These are simple and affordable first steps. VPN firewalls offer more protection than older counterparts, as they include encryption. Prioritize the most valuable data to hackers as these will be the first areas targeted in an attack.

Technology can be an asset to your overall risk management plan. Adtek Advanced Technologies can assist you if you are unsure where to start. Adtek Advanced Technologies software makes it easy for your entire team to monitor cybersecurity risks across the company. It provides a seamless, integrated experience that allows users to share information in a single place. Adtek is compatible with a variety of frameworks. This will make it easy to use regardless of your field. To learn more about Adtek Advanced Technologies, schedule a demo today.

Adtek Advanced Technologies
Rock Hill, SC 29730
(803) 902-3111

Dillon, SC 29536
843-627-3079