Quick Intelligence Blog

Data Privacy Day is an annual celebration of privacy and data protection.  It was first celebrated on January 28, 2007. In 2009, January 28 was recognized as National Data Privacy Day in the US. 

(This is a summary of an article written for TLOMA Today: 5 Things Your Law Firm Can do Right Now to Improve Cybersecurity)

Defence-in-depth is what cybersecurity experts refer to as a complete strategy of securing your network environment. It involves detecting threats and protecting network endpoints. The question does arise, do you need a defence-in-depth strategy? Can a business rely on detection versus protection?

Malware is defined as software that has malicious intent. Malware can delete files, change your browser path, or create what’s known as a C&C (Command & Control) connection to an external server, allowing a hacker to connect directly to your PC without you knowing. Yes, you should worry about malware, as it can cause you all kinds of headaches, such as running silently and hidden in the background and stealing your credentials when you log in.

Has this ever happened to you? Company X gets breached and you receive an email telling you that your password has been stolen and you need to change your password. If you’re wondering how much time you have to reset your password before your account is compromised, the answer, according to cybersecurity researchers at Agari, is not very long.

If you think your business is too small to be of interest to a cybercriminal, think again.  While big companies make the headlines for their data breaches, small companies are also an ideal target for hackers.  "Small businesses can be a really sweet spot for cybercriminals. They have more money to steal than a consumer and less security in place than a large business," said Kevin Haley, director of security response at Symantec. 

There is no doubt that ransomware continues to still be considered a big threat to businesses. The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) warns in this report that the overall threat from cybercrime has increased during the past year, with more severe and high-profile attacks against victims. Particularly concerning for the NCA is the growth of ransomware "causing harm to our citizens and communities on a significant scale."

If you own a small business, you may think that cybercriminals would not be interested in stealing your data. The reality is, that SMBs are targeted specifically by cybercriminals because they know SMBs are the easiest, most vulnerable targets to attack.

You may think your business doesn’t hold the same type of sensitive information as a large business, however, cybercriminals are betting that your SMB doesn’t have the same safeguards in place as large corporations. Cybercriminals consider SMBs as “low-hanging fruit” because they often lack the technical resources and expertise to maintain strong security defences.

Some small business owners are under the mistaken impression that cyber security is only for larger enterprises. They often think, “why would a hacker want to attack my little business, when there are larger enterprises with more money and data to steal?” The reality is that small businesses are attacked often, they just don’t generate headlines the way larger businesses do. Unlike those large enterprises, 60% of small businesses will permanently close 6 months after a data breach. To avoid having your business close, read about the 6 big cyber security risks putting small companies out of business, along with tips on how you can minimize that risk.

Covid-19 has forced companies to develop work-at-home policies to keep office workers safe. While some corporate workers are heading back into the office, others are continuing with a WFH or hybrid workspace. While this helps keep workers safe from disease, it makes it more challenging to keep those workers safe from cyber-attacks? If you are worried about the cybersecurity of your remote office staff, here are three tips your remote office workers should follow to help keep their data secure.