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Cybersecurity Trends in 2020 — A Guide for Companies

Perform a quick Google search on Cybersecurity in 2020, and you’ll see a very clear (and concerning) trend. Cyberattacks are on the rise — big time. Have you recently received an email from a strange source, asking for personal information? Or perhaps a message promising extra miles for your favorite airline, simply by clicking on a link?

By now, most of us have learned to be cautious of online scams. We’ve trained ourselves to recognize and ignore questionable requests from suspicious senders. But despite our best efforts, cybercriminals continue to find creative ways to wreak havoc on our businesses, institutions, and in some cases, our personal lives. Unfortunately, these problems aren’t going away. As a matter of fact, in the year 2020 they are increasing faster than ever. From the standpoint of business leaders, the question is, what can be done to protect a workforce and a company as a whole?

Let’s start at the beginning.

Cyber Threats 101

According to Wikipedia, a cyberattack is “any attempt to expose, alter, disable, destroy, steal, or gain unauthorized access to or make unauthorized use of an asset.” Essentially, it’s any unauthorized activity upon private information, especially sensitive work products or personal identification information.

Cybercriminals use various methods to initiate attacks, with ransomware and phishing being the two most common approaches.

• Ransomware can be embedded in links, which when clicked on can “infect” your files, network, and other sensitive areas.
• Phishing is less instantaneous, as it is often packaged in emails from “reputable companies” requesting personal information. You might have gotten offers like: “Free Money!!!” “Cash!!!,” or “Bonus Paycheck!!!” — which require inputting your bank information, Social Security Number, or other information.

These attempts have only increased since the transition to a work-from-home world. Understanding how to identify cyber threats like these can help you avoid becoming a victim.

Why have cyberattacks become more common?

Let’s take a step back and think about everything that’s happened in the past four months. Hundreds of millions across the world left their offices to work from home, relying heavily on the cloud and online communication, often while using unsecured home networks and personal computers. Since most IT teams weren’t prepared for the sudden transition, confidential work files, data, and company secrets became more vulnerable than ever. On top of that, online shopping increased drastically, online banking became the preferred option, and many other services shifted from physical operations to ecommerce.

It’s no wonder we’ve seen more cyberattacks! The world has become a perfect playground for cybercriminals. What more could they have asked for?

How can companies defend themselves?

Thankfully, IT professionals are not without tools to defend their employers. Here are a few tips to get started.

• First, prioritize cybersecurity. This is the perfect time to invest in cybersecurity tools such as firewalls, antivirus software, and IP whitelisting.
• Second, educate staff on the importance of protecting data and securing access to important documents and vulnerable information.
• Third, consider implementing a multi-step authentication process to access the system or data when outside of the company’s network.
• Finally, re-test your system to find and reinforce the weak points that cybercriminals are likely to target.
• For more on cybersecurity, read our article “Cyber Security in a Work from Home World — (Tips for 2020)”.

Conclusion: Cybersecurity Trends in 2020 — A Guide for Business

Many experts in the IT field predict that some of the biggest cyber attacks are just around the bend. Businesses and employees should understand the seriousness of this situation and be alert to the growing threat of cyberhacking. Educating employees and bolstering security will play a key role in protecting sensitive information. In these uncertain times, staying ahead of cyberattacks will be everyone’s saving grace.

Topics : Articles, Cybersecurity, Technology

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