Every employee plays a vital role when it comes to cybersecurity within their organization. A simple opening of an attachment in an email from an unknown sender can corrupt your entire infrastructure. An unlocked computer can become an easy access point for valuable company information. Improper downloading of software online can welcome malicious malware into your network. Whether an employee is on their cell phone in the break room or using their laptop in the boardroom these simple user errors can end up costing your organization big time.
According to the Cisco 2016 Annual Security Report the Angler exploit kit is one of the largest and most effective ransomware in the market. 90,000 victims are infected daily and 2.9% end up paying ransoms per month to decrypt their data. At an average $300 per ransom the Angler exploit kit is racking up $34 million annually per campaign.
With recent data provided, the estimated global cost of cyber attacks is hitting hard at $400 billion annually. IBM’s CEO and President, Ginni Rometty, was quoted stating that “Cybercrime may be the greatest threat to every company in the world,” in the Forbes’ article, Cyber Crime Costs Projected to Reach $2 Trillion by 2019. This article also referenced Microsoft research statistics proving that 20% of small to mid-sized businesses have been cybercrime targets.
Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) 2015 Data Breach Report identified over 169 million personal records that were exposed in 2015, directly linked to 781 publicized breaches across the financial, business, education, government and healthcare sectors.
Technology is a prevalent factor in everyday life. Having the proper security protocols in place to ensure that all company data remains secure is the cornerstone of cybersecurity. Taking the steps to educate your employees in identifying a cybersecurity risk before it becomes a breach will save your business time and money. In a recent blog post, we outlined 4 Simple & Inexpensive Cybersecurity Tips that any size organization can benefit from deploying. When employees make the proactive effort to understand cybersecurity, you company’s ability to safeguard itself against vulnerabilities is strengthened.
