What companies need to know about IT security

IT security means protecting computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks and data against malicious attacks or intrusions. With digitization and the increased availability of data, IT security is becoming an increasingly important role among today's companies.

Many of today's businesses depend on IT to succeed. At the same time that new technology creates new opportunities, it also creates threats to the companies themselves. These threats are often overlooked and the consequences can be very serious.

But what is IT security? And why is it an area that is so important for organizations and companies to prioritize? In this article, we give you answers to many of the questions you as a company may have.

What is data security?

An important part of IT security is data security, which, among other things, means protecting oneself against hackers and computer viruses or the theft of information on a computer or in a computer network, and having working methods so that the information is not accidentally destroyed or disclosed.

Today's society requires that almost all exchanges of information take place electronically, and these exchanges take place mainly through e.g. e-mail, SMS, instant messaging (IM) or via web pages.

Information within the company is becoming digital and more vulnerable. In cases where the company does not use a high security standard in the company for both internal and external communication, the survival of the company can be put in jeopardy. It is important that companies receive information about the risks they may be exposed to and information about different types of security solutions that can be used. If you are curious and want to know more, you can always ask one of our IT security specialists here .

What is cyber security?

Cybersecurity consists of a variety of tools, risk management methods, techniques, training and "best practice" theories to protect networks, devices, users, programs and data from attack or unauthorized access.

Cyber ​​security is about protecting IT systems (data, software and hardware) as well as the digital infrastructure against attacks.

The risk of being exposed to a cyber attack is constantly increasing, which means that the security of websites, servers, user accounts, applications and data centers is more important than ever.

In many cases, cybercriminals have the knowledge to exploit security holes in the network, and this is where you often need the help of someone from the outside to conduct an IT security analysis and identify any risks and/or deficiencies that need to be addressed.

Different types of cyber attacks

When you leave your home, it is a matter of course for you to lock the door to protect your belongings. Similarly, a business must protect its information and assets by using the right security solutions tailored to its unique business.

Network security is something that in many cases can be considered very complex, and a network can either be too open, increasing the risk of being affected by possible intrusions, or too restricted, making it difficult for guests and new employees to access the network.

To secure a network, it is important to have an idea of ​​how the system communicates with the outside world and the various interfaces that exist.

Social engineering

Social engineering is about various methods of infiltrating an organization or company's computer system by manipulating or using users to gain access to important information.

The attackers exploit the weaknesses of human psychology and use fake emails, phone calls and persuasive arguments to trick people into revealing sensitive information.

Today, it is a significant security problem because few organizations and companies train their staff to deal with this type of attack.

Phishing

Phishing is one of the most common attack methods among cyber criminals today. The method involves tricking the recipient into opening a document, visiting a website or downloading a file via email, SMS or other chat services. The goal is to infect the user's device with malicious code or get over high permissions as a first step in a more comprehensive attack.

Common examples of phishing:

 An attacker pretends to be a bank or other trustworthy organization and sends emails requesting that user information be checked or updated as soon as possible.

 An attacker pretends to be a credit card company and asks the recipient to confirm account information or the card will be blocked.

 An attacker pretends to be a gaming company, telling you that the recipient has won a large lottery prize that requires certain actions before the winnings can be paid out.

Spear phishing

Unlike regular phishing attacks, which target broad and often randomly selected groups, spear-phishing targets specifically selected individuals and organizations.

In these cases, the attacker makes a thorough preparation, where they e.g. maps employee interests in social media and organizational hierarchy and roles, but also factors such as email domain, email signatures and IT systems.

The information can then be used to create lifelike emails that are difficult to identify and distinguish. Spear-phishing emails can lead to an attacker gaining control of an entire corporate network.

Examples of spear-phishing:

An attacker pretends to be the company's CEO and demands from an employee in the finance department that a transfer of a large sum of money must take place immediately.

An attacker manipulates someone in the IT department into submitting sensitive login information to a specific system of interest, claiming to be the actual operating provider.

An attacker pretends to be a close relative who contacts the recipient and asks for a quick transfer of money in a fictitious crisis situation.

Malware

When we talk about IT security, terms such as virus, ransomware and Trojan horses often arise. These terms are all some form of malware.

The word malware is a combination of the English words 'malciuos' (malicious) and 'software'. Directly translated, malware is a 'malicious or harmful computer program'. Cybercriminals write malware with the aim of infecting computer systems.

Malware is an effective tool for taking control of devices and exploiting them in various ways, such as spying on activity, stealing user data, or using your system to attack others.

The most common type of malware that businesses suffer from today is ransomware. Ransomware is a type of malware that is installed on computers and encrypts its files. To undo the encryption, the attacker often demands a ransom (which, however, is never a guarantee that the owner will regain control of his files).

How can you get malware?

The most common cause of malware is the human factor that a user:

Clicking on a link in an email that claims to be from a trusted sender, but actually causes malware to be downloaded to the device. Today, this is the most common way malware spreads.

Visiting a social site that happens to be hacked and modified to spread malware to all users who visit it.

Downloading a program from the Internet where the program pretends to be something useful.

Uses or borrows USB sticks without thinking about it. The USB stick is connected to the computer, which quickly and invisibly installs malicious code.

Surfing via unsecured wireless networks. Without the user's knowledge, the traffic passes through an attacker system that exchanges response traffic with hostile code that infects the computer with malicious code.

Brute Force attack

A Brute Force attack is a method of systematically guessing a password by testing all possible characters in different combinations. The attacker tests everything to the breaking point – hence the name Brute Force attack.

The attack requires time and computing power. The more complex the password, the harder it is to crack.

• The timing of the attack depends on:
• How quickly a guess can be made
• How many guesses can be made in parallel
• How quickly the attack is detected and countermeasures can be initiated
• User security

Different types of Brute Force attacks

Reuse attack

This type of attack uses login information that the hacker has encountered in previous intrusions. The hacker then tries to test login information on other accounts. This is a good reason to have different logins for different platforms and accounts.

Dictionary attack

As the name suggests, the hacker often uses words from the dictionary during this type of attack. It can be anything from names, cities, objects, etc. that simplify the guesswork for the hacker.

Reverse Brute Force Attack

In this type of attack, the hacker chooses a password (usually a popular one) and tries to gain access to as many accounts as possible.

Also Read : Essential Pillars of Cybersecurity You Should Never Overlook

6 Ways to Protect Yourself from Brute Force Attacks

Passwords and all security around them are essential to avoid a Brute Force attack. Everything from how they are communicated and used to how they are stored. In this connection, we specifically recommend that you:

1. Limits the number of login attempts

2. Uses long and complex passwords

3. Changes your passwords regularly

4. Does not reuse passwords

5. Combines passwords with captcha methods

6. Blocks accounts after too many failed attempts

Checklist in case of a security incident

Ensuring a high level of security in your IT environment is very much about how well you are prepared for a possible incident. Therefore, you should ask yourself:

• Do you have any staff internally or externally ready to handle an incident?
• Do you have an action plan in the event of a security breach in your IT system?
• Do staff and others within the company know what applies in the event of an incident?
• Below is a checklist for how you as a company can act in the event of a security incident.

Prioritize critical systems

Always assume that the hacker can have free access to the entire environment. Therefore, start by disconnecting the most critical systems in the company, to avoid damaging them. Ensure that they become unusable by e.g. to unplug the power cord.

Minimize changes in the environment

When the IT environment is affected, it is important to try to make as few changes as possible so as not to remove traces of the intrusion. Implement only the most critical actions and minimize other changes as much as possible. Secure evidence and investigate the incident methodically.

Document events and actions

When an incident occurs, there is often commotion. However, be sure to create a log early on about what happened, what actions are taken, etc. This simplifies the subsequent work of mapping what happened and preventive work on how to ensure that it does not happen again.

Plan for the "worst case scenario"

What's the worst that could happen to the information the attacker encountered or affected? Reflect on the consequences and take action. Ensure backups are in place and isolate the IT environment from the Internet to ensure information does not continue to leak.

Communicate what happened

How do you handle the information about what has happened internally in the company?

Be sure to keep the number of informed people to a minimum to ensure that the incident does not leak or the attacker finds out that an incident job is in progress.

How do you communicate that to the outside world?

Be sure to hold off on this until you have more information on the situation. Develop a communication strategy for how to handle situations that may arise and prepare responses to the media.

Do you have any obligations to inform internal parties?

Check whether there may be a requirement to inform management, the board or the responsible data protection officer.