To evade security measures, cybercriminals are constantly exploring new tactics. Thus, it is crucial to adopt a hacker's mindset and employ preemptive measures to outsmart them. Defense in Depth (DiD) is a strategy that helps accomplish this.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), DiD involves using various security measures in a layered or stepwise approach to achieve security objectives. The idea is to place different security technologies in the path of common attack vectors so that if one measure fails, another can provide protection.
Essentially, DiD is a cybersecurity method that involves layering multiple defense mechanisms to safeguard a company. Since no single security technique can guarantee full protection, the use of several layers of security can increase the effectiveness of the overall security system.
9 threats to protect your business against
Let's look at the most common threats that businesses should be aware of.
Ransomware. A virus known as ransomware can attack your computer or other devices. After it happens, it may lock your files, preventing you from accessing them. In order to regain access to your files, the hackers who developed the ransomware then want a ransom payment from you. If you do not pay the ransom, they might threaten to delete your data or reveal it. In other words, ransomware acts as if your files were actually kidnapped. Your files are taken hostage by the attackers, who then demand a ransom to free them. It can be an extremely stressful and frustrating event because it may lead to the loss of crucial data, such as client information, company records, or financial information.
Cloud jacking. When hackers get unauthorized access to your cloud computing resources, it is referred to as cloud jacking. They can then take over your cloud resources, including data, software, and even processing power, thanks to this. They can then use these resources for their own benefit, such as running their own program or data theft. Cloud jacking may be very damaging to your company since it can result in the loss of important data, the suspension of business operations, and the theft of expensive computing resources.
Denial-of-Service/Distributed Denial-of-Service Attack. In a denial-of-service (DoS) assault, the attacker overwhelms your system with a massive volume of traffic or requests, which causes it to slow down or crash. This may make it impossible for authorized users to utilize your website or service. A DoS or DDoS attack frequently aims to interfere with a website's or service's regular operations, inconvenience or financially injure the target, or engage in extortion by requesting payment to cease the attack.
Internet of Things (IoT) risks and targeted attacks. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of internet-connected devices and appliances, including smart home devices, wearables, and industrial sensors. Weak security measures, such as default passwords or unpatched software vulnerabilities, make IoT devices easy targets for attackers who can use them to gain access to other devices or networks.
Phishing. Phishing is a kind of cyberattack wherein perpetrators pose as genuine businesses or people to send fake emails, texts, or webpages. Their goal is to fool victims into disclosing sensitive data like usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or other personal information. In order to persuade the recipient to supply the desired information, these messages are created to appear official and frequently impersonate a reliable business or individual.
Insider Threats. Insider threats refer to security risks that come from individuals or entities within an organization who have authorized access to company data, systems, or facilities. These individuals or entities can be employees, contractors, vendors, or partners who have access to sensitive information and can exploit it for their own benefit or for malicious purposes.
Web Application attacks. Web application attacks are a type of cyber attack that targets web-based applications to gain unauthorized access, steal data, or disrupt their functionality. These attacks are usually carried out by exploiting vulnerabilities in the web application code or its supporting infrastructure.
Deepfakes. Deepfakes are digital forgeries created by artificial intelligence (AI) that manipulate audio, video, or images to make them appear real but are actually fake. Deepfakes are used by attackers to create convincing fake videos of individuals doing or saying things they never did for their own financial gain or malicious intent.
Get up and running with DiD
To protect yourself from advanced cybersecurity threats, you need a strong defense-in-depth (DiD) plan that involves the following:
Network security: This protects against external threats by using tools like firewalls, intrusion prevention and detection systems, and network segmentation.
Endpoint security: This protects against attacks at the endpoint and includes tools like antivirus software, intrusion detection and response, and device control.
Access control: This includes steps to make sure that only authorized workers to have access to sensitive data and systems, such as two-factor authentication, strong passwords, and identity and access management.
Application security: This covers safeguards against attacks on applications, such as secure coding techniques, routine vulnerability scanning, and web application firewalls.
Data security: This includes steps to guard sensitive data against loss, theft, and unauthorized access, such as encryption, data loss prevention, and data backup and recovery.
Physical security: This protects against physical threats like theft or hardware damage and includes measures like access controls, security cameras, and environmental controls.
Security policies, employee training, and incident response planning: These are just a few examples of the steps that may be taken to ensure that staff members are knowledgeable about security threats and are prepared to handle them.
An effective DiD strategy should incorporate all of these elements to create multiple layers of defense that can protect against a wide range of threats. The goal of a DiD strategy is to create a security fortress that is hard to breach, even if one layer of defense is compromised.
Implementing a DiD strategy can be time-consuming and require significant effort. Therefore, partnering with a company like ours that can handle the implementation and maintenance of your DiD plan while you focus on your business is an excellent idea.
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