Make Safeguarding against Cyber Threats a Priority for 2024

April 17th, 2024 by admin

We are ATEL, a technology company that places utmost priority on our customers, valuing their technology and cybersecurity needs. With over three decades of experience as a technology solution provider, our team intuitively grasps what it takes for organizations to excel. ATEL offers an extensive range of services, encompassing cybersecurity, business telephones, cabling, VoIP, unified communications, and enterprise contact center solutions. Our technology solutions are crafted to be efficient, user-friendly, and precisely aligned with your company's unique requirements.

Once your security needs have been addressed, ATEL leverages its IT proficiency to craft the utmost secure solution possible. After you read this blog, be sure to reach out to us today at 858-646-4600 for a complimentary Network Security Analysis at no additional cost to you.

What is Cyber Security?

Cybersecurity entails safeguarding computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks. This is also referred to as information technology security or electronic information security.

The concept of "cybersecurity" spans various domains, including business and mobile computing.

Each can be categorized into several key areas:

1. Network security: This involves protecting a computer network from unauthorized access, whether by targeted attackers or opportunistic malware.
2. Application security: Focuses on ensuring that software and devices remain free from threats. Securing applications is crucial as compromised software could compromise the data it is meant to protect. Effective security measures should be integrated during the design phase, well before deployment.
3. Information security: Ensures the integrity and confidentiality of data, both during storage and transmission.
4. Operational security: Encompasses the processes and decisions related to managing and safeguarding data assets. This includes managing user permissions for network access and establishing protocols for data storage and sharing.
5. Disaster recovery and business continuity: These aspects define an organization's response to cyber-security incidents or any event leading to operational or data loss. Disaster recovery policies outline procedures for restoring operations and information to pre-incident levels, while business continuity plans ensure continued operation in the absence of certain resources.
6. End-user education: Acknowledges that people are often the weakest link in cybersecurity. Educating users on best security practices, such as avoiding suspicious email attachments and refraining from connecting unidentified USB drives, is crucial for organizational security.

What types of Cyber Threats are there?

The types of cyber threats addressed by cybersecurity measures can be categorized into three main areas:

1. Cybercrime: This involves individuals or groups targeting systems with the aim of financial gain or causing disruption.
2. Cyber-attacks: Typically motivated by political objectives, these threats often revolve around gathering information.
3. Cyberterrorism: Intended to undermine electronic systems with the goal of inducing panic or fear.

So, how do malicious actors infiltrate computer systems you may ask?

Here are several common methods used to compromise cybersecurity:

1. Malware:

   Short for malicious software, malware is a pervasive cyber threat. It's crafted by cybercriminals or hackers to disrupt or damage legitimate users' computers. Malware is frequently distributed via unsolicited email attachments or deceptive downloads. It's often employed by cybercriminals to generate revenue or execute politically driven cyber-attacks.

   There are various types of malware, including:

   1. Viruses: These self-replicating programs attach themselves to clean files and spread throughout computer systems, infecting files with malicious code.
   2. Trojans: Disguised as legitimate software, Trojans deceive users into installing them on their computers, where they can cause damage or collect data.
   3. Spyware: These programs clandestinely record user activities, allowing cybercriminals to exploit the gathered information. For instance, spyware might capture sensitive data such as credit card details.
   4. Ransomware: This type of malware encrypts a user's files and data, demanding payment to unlock them, under threat of permanent deletion.
   5. Adware: Advertising software that can serve as a vehicle for malware distribution.
   6. Botnets: Networks of malware-infected computers utilized by cybercriminals to carry out online tasks without the user's consent.
2. SQL Injection:

   SQL (Structured Query Language) injection is a form of cyber-attack aimed at seizing control of and pilfering data from a database. Exploiting vulnerabilities in data-driven applications, cybercriminals inject malicious code into a database through a malevolent SQL statement. This grants them access to sensitive information stored within the database.

3. Phishing:

   Phishing occurs when cybercriminals target individuals with deceptive emails that masquerade as communications from reputable companies, soliciting sensitive information. Typically, phishing attacks aim to deceive recipients into divulging credit card details and other personal data.

4. Man-in-the-Middle Attack:

   A man-in-the-middle attack constitutes a cyber threat wherein an attacker intercepts communications between two parties to steal data. For instance, on an insecure WiFi network, an assailant could intercept data exchanged between the victim's device and the network.

5. Denial-of-Service Attack:

   In a denial-of-service attack, cybercriminals obstruct a computer system's ability to fulfill legitimate requests by inundating networks and servers with excessive traffic. This inundation renders the system inoperable, impeding an organization's critical functions.

As you may have gathered by now, Cyber Security holds immense importance in today's technological terrain. Fortunately, ATEL is here to guide you through the complexities of cyber threats and provide streamlined security solutions, ensuring your business flourishes well into the future. Allow us to be your trusted partner in this digital era by reaching out to us today at 858-646-4600 or click here to contact us.

Tags: connectivity, cyber security, data

Posted in: Cyber Security