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Imagine your messages with the loved one getting exposed to cyber-attack, making your personal information vulnerable! This happened when more than 553 million Facebook accounts were compromised due to a lack of proper cybersecurity measures. Data of users from 106 countries was leaked during this cyberattack.
However, not every business is as capable as Facebook of handling their reputation, which may deteriorate due to data leaks. So, it would help if you avoided critical cybersecurity mistakes that can expose your data to hackers and create a dent in your reputation. In order to avoid such mishaps as a employer, you can even think of hiring a employee who has undergone some Cyber security Program available both in offline and Online modes
With 59% of consumers avoiding doing business with a brand that has experienced a cyberattack in the past year, making cybersecurity mistakes can prove devastating for your organization.
Here we will discuss some of these mistakes that you can avoid to ensure a secure experience for your customers.
#1. Ignoring tests
It would be best to have extensive testing to ensure no vulnerabilities with every release. Releasing newer versions without proper testing can lead to vulnerabilities that hackers expose to extract users’ personal information or sensitive data.
Take an example of the Log4j vulnerability in the Java logging library of Apache systems. It allows hackers to gain remote execution access to PC and servers by exposing a vulnerability in the design of the library.
An error in the design of Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI), which establishes the protocols of applications speaking to each other, has been exposing the vulnerability. Due to issues with JNDI, the entire system suspects an injection attack and leaks sensitive information to hackers granting remote access to systems.
However, Apache has now fixed the issue through a new release, but Log4j serves a vital lesson of testing their systems to avoid vulnerabilities for any business.
#2. Lack of restrictive access
Many organizations integrate third-party services and applications for enhanced functionalities. However, our systems can be subjected to data breaches without restrictive access and predefined authorization protocols.
Take an example of the latest cyberattack on Kasheya. Supply chain management has been at the forefront of integrating software for automation, enhanced functionality, and effective monitoring. However, a recent data breach at Kasheya impacted 1500 downstream businesses and 60 clients.
One possible solution to avoid such data breaches is restricting information access to people outside the organization. Here, you can leverage token-based authorization to data access for third-party services providers.
However, ignoring the data access restrictions is a massive cybersecurity mistake that you must avoid for enhanced security. Another common mistake that most organizations commit is ignoring the upgrading process.
#3. Ignoring upgrades
Upgrading your systems and making them resilient against the ever-changing cybersecurity threats is essential. For example, if you have WordPress websites with several plugins, you need to update them for better security. Outdated plugins can lead to vulnerabilities that hackers can expose and compromise your website.
Similarly, APIs(Application Programming Interface) are an essential part of the entire architecture for applications. It allows your services to interact with one another and even integrate third-party applications. However, if you don’t upgrade API security, your applications may have to suffer cyber-attacks that are malicious and cause data breaches.
Upgrading security means updating plugins or APIs and integrating reliable security measures like cryptographic encryptions.
#4. Not encrypting your sites
Encryptions allow you to ensure that your data is not exposed to hackers while staying anonymous. There are two types of encryptions,
- Asymmetric
- Symmetric
Asymmetric encryptions leverage different keys for encryption and decryption. There is a pair of private and public keys used for asymmetric encryption. The owner keeps the private key hidden by the owner, and the public key is either provided to specific recipients or in the public domain.
At the same time, symmetric encryptions use the same key for both encryption and decryptions. Here, you need to have a reliable channel to transfer keys to avoid exposure to hackers. However, the best way is to use both symmetric and asymmetric encryptions in combination for enhanced protection.
For example, SSL/TLS(Secure Socket Layer/Transport Layer Security) certificates enable your systems with both symmetric and asymmetric encryptions. All you need is to buy Comodo PositiveSSL from a leading certificate authority to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.
Especially for businesses that use web applications and web-based platforms, ignoring encryptions can be a crucial cybersecurity mistake. Another mistake that you need to avoid is relying entirely on antivirus software.
#5. Relying on antivirus software completely
Having the latest antivirus software is an excellent way to ensure security, but that’s not all; you need a reliable firewall that enhances cybersecurity. For example, a web application firewall enables you to secure web apps by tracking HTTP traffic. It helps with the protection of web applications from cyber attacks like,
- Cross-site forgery
- Cross-site-scripting(XSS)
- SQL injections
It is a security protocol with a seven-layer defense and can secure your web apps from most cyber attacks. So, apart from the antivirus software, you need to integrate other security measures to ensure better protection.
#6. Ignoring internal data breaches
An organization ignoring internal data breaches can lead to massive exposures of information outside your business. This is why you need a reliable security policy and guidelines that ensure proper information integrity.
Not having a security policy can turn out to be the most significant cybersecurity mistake, especially when several employees are working remotely. In addition, you need to have specific authorization and authentication measures to ensure data integrity.
Read Also: The 5 Rules of TV Advertising for Rapid Growth
Signing Off
Committing cybersecurity mistakes can be disastrous for any business. However, with the right cybersecurity policies, the addition of security measures like encryptions, authenticating the data access, and maintaining a restrictive approach can help mitigate the risks.
Here you need to analyze your existing systems and plan the security measures accordingly to enhance protection across your organization.
