What are the top cybersecurity threats to watch out for in 2022?

In 2022, the cybersecurity threats will continue to evolve as many organisations return to pre-pandemic work practices, whilst partly remaining working remotely arrangements that were adopted in 2020. Since the global outbreak of Covid-19, many cybercriminals have changed the way they operate. That’s because the home working environments exposed many security vulnerabilities, that can be quick to exploit. As a business, it’s essential to understand what the top cybersecurity threats of 2022 are likely to be, and what security tools can be put in place to mitigate these risks. Cybersecurity threat to watch number 1: Phishing The most common attacks by far are phishing attacks. More than 80% of targeted cyber-attacks start with a person opening a malicious email and clicking on it. With the global shift to remote working, many businesses deployed SaaS cloud applications, instead of running programs and keeping sensitive data on computer files. Moreover, SaaS apps can be accessed by anyone who has the login credentials such as passwords, users ID, codes. That’s why all employees with access to login details should be wary of “conversation hijacking attacks”. That’s where a hacker can pose as a fellow employee, engaging with your staff over an email conversation. After a while, after building a level of trust, the criminal can ask the victim for the login details, steal the data, or even blackmail your employee. Our IT experts' advice: The most effective way to protect your cloud-based accounts is to adapt extra security for password-protected accounts such as two-factor authentication. This ensures that anyone unauthorised cannot access accounts, even if they hold the credentials they need. Always make sure, that you know who has the access to your cloud accounts. You should have a list of names who are entitled to use these passwords and always get notified if there are other members of staff or individuals using the login details or wanting to access them. Cybersecurity-cybersecurity for business-remote working cybersecuruty-protecting agains cyber threats Cybersecurity threat to watch number 2: Ransomware Ransomware is the second biggest cyber security threat on the rise. In fact, in the first half of 2021 ransomware attacks increased by 102%, compared to the first half of 2020. This clearly indicated a growing security issue. Moreover, many attackers can go even further, using “triple extortion” ransomware techniques, where they not only steal private data and threaten to release it publicly unless a payment is made, but also target the clients, business partner, and anyone in connection in the same way if the ransom is not paid. Our IT experts' advice: Backing up your data regularly can help mitigate the risk of losing data in a ransomware attack. However, a backup itself will not protect your data from being stolen and sensitive information being published online. Deploying an endpoint security software can improve the security of your business data, as well as prevent ransomware from getting onto your computer systems and spreading across digital devices. Furthermore, a disaster recovery plan can add an additional layer of protection and assurance, that when you experience any type of loss, restoring your business operations can be actioned immediately. data backup recovery Cybersecurity threat to watch number 3: Internet of Things (IoT) vulnerabilities Almost every digital device is now connected to the internet. That’s why router security plays a key part in online security. In fact, infected routers were the cause of 75% of IoT attacks in 2019. What’s more, most IoT devices are prone to cybersecurity threats such as ransomware and phishing attacks. Therefore, if you are shifting your employees to a remote working model, make sure that the Internet connection is fully protected and that they are equipped with work devices rather than their own laptops or computers. Our IT experts’ advice: Encrypting the Internet connection and masking an IP address before work devices connect to it can deter cybercriminals from accessing the router. VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the most recommended tool for protecting your online business activities and sensitive data on any Wi-Fi network. Cybersecurity-server protection-the internet protection There are other security risks that your organization need to be aware of in 2022. For that reason, it's essential that you have a cybersecurity strategy in place that can help to improve the overall protection from these threats. However, if you are a growing business and looking to adopt a better security system, make sure that you reach for help from IT specialists, like us at ADT Systems. We can help you assess your current level of cyber security, deploy the most effective security tools and help shift to a better, efficient and safe IT side of your business. As a team of IT experts, we pride ourselves on providing the best technology solutions to businesses across the UK since 1993. We have plenty of great advice that we can share with you! So, if you have any questions about your business' IT, call us on 0330 333 7439 or simply drop us an email at sales@adtsystems.co.uk We have many interesting News posts that are worth reading, so, please take a look! And finally, our social media would like to have you on board! Have a look at our Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter accounts! ADT Systems Team

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