IT Security Threats

IT Security Threats are in the rise and they are costing us billions in losses

To thwart IT Security Threats Businesses have to exercise caution with their data and stay vigilant about the latest threats to their corporate IT systems. The best defense uses a multi-layered approach because if cyber criminals bypass one of the security layers, they will still have to overcome the other defenses. What are the greatest IT security threats in the world of business?

Danger: Viruses, Spyware and Worms

The sheer level of frequency in viruses, worms and spyware means IT security threat demands more attention. According to a survey from DTI, 72 percent of companies have received infected emails, and when you own a larger company, those statistics rise to a disheartening 83 percent. Worms and Trojan horses wreak the most damage, and in only 12 days in the summer of 2015, Symantec reported that they caused over $2.6 billion in damages.

Another threat to be on the alert for is known as Cryptolocker, which encrypts your files and data, making them inaccessible. For a business that has essential information in an IT database, Cryptolocker can become a death sentence. Desperate business owners try to pay the ransom fee, but that does not guarantee that the hacker will release your files. In some cases, to add insult to injury, they delete your data even after you have paid.

The best route to blocking viruses, spyware, worms and ransomware is to work with an IT company to create a data security and recovery plan. This means that even if your files get infected, you can restore them to their original state.

Understanding the BYOD Movement

The BYOD movement has the potential for saving business owners money and letting employees use devices they truly want, but you also have to be aware of the IT Security Threats that come with them. Without an appropriate IT policy that dictates guidelines for how your employees use their devices, you leave a huge hole in your security.

For example, make it mandatory that those who participate have set up a password on their Smartphone. It might seem arbitrary, but if an employee has their phone stolen, the thieves will have to get past an added layer of defense. Also, you can download an app that lets you wipe company data off employee phones remotely, and this can save you a lot of headaches later.

To address IT security threats, you have to realize that they could happen to you. Even small businesses can become a target because many cyber criminals realize that small business owners have even less defenses than the giant corporations that know they're an alluring target to hackers.