Does your business keep sufficient backups?
14 Nov 2020
Does your business keep sufficient backups?
With the ever-increasing risk of cybercrime across the world, and the global pandemic forcing people to work remotely, more and more businesses are leaving themselves open to cyber attacks. Unfortunately, since the outset of COVID-19, LoughTec has seen an increase in the number of brute force cyber attacks on businesses.
Ransomware attacks are on the rise and they’re estimated to cost companies across the globe £15 billion by 2021. That equates to claiming a victim every ten seconds. In the hacker’s eyes, it is the perfect crime – payments are untraceable. Companies that pay ransoms are also helping to fund further crime and have no guarantee that they will get their data back.
If you do not use a secure solution for remote working, you are more vulnerable. One port or remote access application left open could result in a network being compromised. Even if you have anti-virus software installed on your system, your system can still be infiltrated. Anti-virus on its own is no longer enough to stop attackers. You need a layered security approach to your IT systems.
1. External hard drives
External hard drives are a cost-effective solution that can be a lifesaver if you are a cyberattack victim. It is important to check your hardware regularly – is it working properly? Are all your files being backed up successfully? N.B. If you are busy, it can be difficult to remember to swap the USB drives. With the amount of staff working from home are the USB backup drives being changed daily in the office
2. Network-attached storage (NAS)
These work best when stored offsite, away from the company premises. For example, if there was a fire at your business premises and your NAS was destroyed, would your company have another backup to continue to operate effectively? N.B. If a hacker gains access to a network, the first thing they will look to encrypt will be the backup system. In this case, if the NAS was onsite running from the company network, the hacker could attack the NAS with ease.
3. Cloud backup
Having a cloud backup is excellent business practice. This is the best backup target – with it being stored offsite in the cloud, hackers cannot gain access to this. Backups can run without any intervention from staff needing to change USB drives or worry about the NAS device getting encrypted. If the worse does happen, you can restore your files quickly and continue to operate without fear of any of your files being missing.
Are you worried about the cybersecurity of your business? Talk to LoughTec today – our team of experienced IT specialists can carry out an in-depth assessment of your business, to highlight potential weak spots in your IT infrastructure. We can work with you to develop a strategy to mitigate any risks.
Contact Cyber Security Company LoughTec for a free no-obligation discussion on your business cyber security posture. Call +44 (0) 28 8225 2445 or email info@loughtec.com.
