How Cybersecurity Has Changed

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) has become increasingly popular over the past decade with phishing attacks and ransomware attacks on the rise. Multi-factor authentication strengthens access security because it requires several verification methods for users to log in rather than just one.

In the past, you could just use your username and password to enter a database or software. With MFA, you have to have the correct login information and provide a second form of verification. Common MFA methods include:

• One-time SMS passcodes
• Zip codes
• Personal identification numbers
• Fingerprints

Two-factor authentication (2FA) has become the most common form of MFA, requiring one of the above on top of logging in with a username and password. However, adding a third layer has the potential to change the game when it comes to cybersecurity. It can help make logins immediately more secure and decreases the likelihood of hackers accessing your personal and financial information. This authentication method is beneficial for any type of business and offers one of the best defenses against phishing and ransomware attacks.

Before the 1970s, data encryption wasn’t even a thought for most people because the process was unfamiliar or seemed too complex. In the modern age of technology, encryption is widespread and helps individuals securely transfer data from one location to another.

Encryption is essentially translating plaintext data to ciphertext to ensure no unauthorized individuals have access to your data. Users access encrypted data with an encryption key, so the only people who can read the files you send are ones with the key.

Cloud computing became popular only in the last couple of decades, with platforms like Google Drive and Microsoft Azure really paving the way for this storage method. In the past, most businesses stored their company data on physical servers—but that comes with a lot of risk.

Servers have the potential to break down and erase all the valuable data they previously held. Losing important data is extremely frustrating and can be expensive. You have to spend time getting the data back or completely recreating it, which takes away from your daily tasks and productivity.

With cloud storage platforms, your data is automatically backed up in the software of your choice. You can add a large number of people to your cloud platform so employees can access the data they need when they need it.

As technology evolves, that unfortunately means cyberthreats do, too. Cyberattacks include:

• Malware and ransomware
• Computer viruses
• Data breaches
• Phishing
• Password attacks
• Man-in-the-middle attacks
• Denial-of-service attacks
• Cryptojacking
• Insider threats

These attacks often have dangerous side effects, like identity theft, social security number leaks, and stolen data. Cyberattacks sometimes bring your business to a complete halt, depending on what kind you experience. If data is being held for ransom, you have to pay a significant sum of money to get it back, which can put you out of business.

Cyberattacks also damage your customer relationships. If a customer’s credit card information or personal data is stolen, they may not want to work with your business in the future because they’ve lost trust in you. Luckily, many common cyberattacks can be prevented with high-quality cybersecurity measures, like:

• Data protection
• Disaster recovery plans
• Email and spam protection
• Network, identity, and endpoint security systems
• Data backup solutions
• IT security compliance services

Data breaches have consistently increased over the years, and 2021 was a record-breaking year for the number of data breaches. A data breach is when information is stolen from your company’s internal systems without your knowledge or authorization. Some of the biggest security breaches in the last few years include:

• Facebook
• Equifax
• U.S. voter data breach
• First American Financial
• Corporation
• Colonial Pipeline

Breaches affect millions of customers worldwide every year and often put companies out of business. Many cybercriminals who execute data breaches often encrypt your data so you can’t access it unless you meet their demands. This is dangerous for a company of any size, but especially for small businesses, because 43% of data breaches involve SMBs and 83% of them are not financially prepared for these attacks.

Here are several cybersecurity measures that help prevent data breaches:

Automatic data backup
Network monitoring
Intrusion prevention and detection
Having a disaster recovery plan in place

Cybersecurity is never going to stop changing because technology will always be advancing. While looking back at how cybersecurity has changed over the years, we can only expect more of the same in the future. In order to keep up with cybersecurity advancements, you need to partner with an MSP that understands the industry and has experience protecting large networks.

Technology Response Team solves cybersecurity problems for businesses of any size, whether you have 10 employees or 500. We offer a wide range of cybersecurity and IT solutions that protect your network and keep up with developing trends.

Partner with a proactive and responsive MSP that offers the care and attention your business deserves. Contact our team today to get started.