Phishing is one of the biggest threats, and many fraudulent emails might have familiar topics, such as inquiries about Covid-19 contact tracing, vaccine registrations, or stimulus information. These often ask for personal information including login info for popular websites, or even a work network, and far too many people willingly give up this information, thinking they might get something out of it, or in the interests of being helpful. Other emails might include links to fraudulent websites with a similar goal of stealing information.
Once a criminal has that information, they have free reign to attack any network they’ve gotten the credentials for. A simple phishing attempt can lead to a business’s entire network being brought down due to ransomware. Unfortunately, simply watching your emails isn’t the only thing you need to do. Every connection to a network is a potential weakness, and with businesses shifting their focus to working from home, that means every employee is a risk factor when considering cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, with a projected 3.5 million vacancies needing to be filled by the end of 2021. The reason for this is, of course, that cybercrime is growing in frequency and sophistication. Because of this, cybersecurity is one of the most important investments a business can make. While large breaches make national headlines, smaller businesses are left ravaged after a cybersecurity breach.
Safety and peace of mind isn’t the only reason to invest in cybersecurity for Ohio businesses, though those are certainly good incentives. The Ohio Data Protection Act (DPA) provides a safe harbor incentive for businesses that comply with one of several industry-recognized cybersecurity programs. This means that, in the event of a breach, a business won’t be held liable for the damages, if they can prove they’re compliant.
Ohio isn’t alone in being at risk of cyberattack, but thanks to the DPA, it might become the safest, as more businesses toughen their cybersecurity to comply. There are many risks to any network, but the biggest risk is to not have any security solution at all. If you haven’t already, consult with a cybersecurity professional today, so you can stop worrying about cybercrime and start focusing on your business!