In 2020, the pandemic doubled system vulnerabilities as organizations rushed to implement remote working and cloud solutions. Following the increased risk and frequency of breaches in the past year, many institutions have worked with IT consultants in Los Angeles to strengthen cybersecurity systems and digital transformation programs. But what do cybersecurity and the emergence of threats in 2021 look like?
Increased Phishing Attacks
Social engineering is set to increase this year. The latter is a non-technical strategy that often involves tricking people into violating common safety practices. Microsoft reports that attacks like these have increased from 20,000 to 30,000 a day in the U.S. as criminal cyber gangs gain more financial success, they will improve their engineering strategies and procedures.
Network detection and assistance from IT consultants in Los Angeles can help your organization identify when and where malware has entered the network. Your employees should be educated on good cybersecurity practices to reduce the threat further. By training people who use the network to detect the crime of identity theft and other engineering attacks, you can raise their security and raise awareness of threats.
Heightened Internet-Facing Vulnerabilities
Anything connected online is exposed to internet threats, including any program with an IP address or hostname publicly resolved on the DNS. Therefore, remote users using VPN, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), or other accessibility tools are at risk – especially as organizations continue to increase their internet access with more efficiency and use of accessible online programs.
In 2021, cybercriminals will increasingly exploit vulnerabilities in unpatched servers or targeting potential persons with exposed remote desktop or FTP servers. Businesses with inefficient, outdated security frameworks are at risk – currently, perimeter defenses and endpoint security controls are not enough.
To combat online and unknown threats, consider the following best practices:
- Perform systematic scanning regularly and establish fragmenting policy
- Use strong password controls
- Use two-factor authentication
- Implement zero trusts and enable network-level authentication (NLA)
Use of System Management Tools
Cybercriminals have long used system management and other legal tools to manage and hack into business networks. According to a study, more than 50% of threat groups use public pen test and system management tools to develop attack strategies.
As systems become more interconnected in 2021 and beyond, exploitation of system management and access tools will also increase. Threat actors will continue to use these tools, already installed on targeted computers, to run malicious software directly into computer memory – greatly reducing their recovery chances.
While it is nearly impossible to manage IT infrastructure without management tools, your business can vigorously protect devices from infection by staff training, adopting machine learning controls, state-of-the-art anti-virus software, and limiting access rights.
Strengthening your cybersecurity in advance can help you gain a strategic advantage. At Advanced Networks, we provide a large spectrum of IT services, including cybersecurity solutions. Let’s help you improve your cybersecurity posture with proactive monitoring and leading-edge controls. Contact us now! Our IT consultants in Los Angeles are ready to help you!
