[metaslider id=2951] … Read More
What is a Denial of Service Attack?
A denial-of-service, or “DoS” attack, is a type of cyber attack that prevents legitimate users from accessing computer systems, services, devices, or other network resources. Attackers make these resources inaccessible by flooding the network with traffic until it crashes. When malicious excess traffic comes from multiple sources, this is known as a distributed denial of service (or “DDoS” attack), which can be even more difficult to resolve and recover from.
Signs of a DoS Attack
The effects of a DoS/DDoS attack will depend on your perspective. For example, if you are a user of online banking and your institution’s network has been targeted, their website will likely stop responding. On the business side, the bank’s customer service representatives will find that the online systems they depend on to serve their customers cease to respond.
Preventing DoS Attacks
While DoS/DDoS attacks do not directly result in the theft of confidential information, organizations usually see a significant loss of productivity and money as a result of the downtime. While it is not possible to avoid becoming a target entirely, network security companies offer software that protects against network flooding by rerouting malicious traffic. Many firewalls also offer DoS detection functions and will help in restricting bandwidth usage to only legitimate users.
Phishing Attacks – A Concern for Healthcare
Healthcare continues to remain susceptible to cyber attacks – specifically phishing, whether it is to obtain private health information or disable their networks with a ransomware attack.
The healthcare industry relies heavily on their connectivity, probably more so than other industries and the impact of such breaches is devastating not only for the facility, but also for those who may have their personal information out in the wild. In some instances the phishing attacks are extremely sophisticated and even with training, it may still pass the inspection. A multi-layered security approach must be considered, including training, as well as endpoint protection and detection.
Contact us for more information.
Healthcare IT News – Two Phishing Attacks on Minnesota DHS Breach 21,000 Patient Records
How to Implement a Security Awareness Program at Your Organization
Are your employees ready to handle any potential security issues on their computer? There are many hackers out there who are trying to invade your network. By putting a security awareness program in place, you can make sure that everyone in the company understands the importance of computer security. Take a look at some ways you can implement a program at your business:
Talk to your team about security
One of the easiest ways to get your staff thinking about security is to talk to them about potential security issues. You can have lunch meetings where you review the finer points of network security or send out weekly emails covering important tips.
Provide guidelines and handbooks
In addition to having meetings and sending emails with pertinent information about security, you can provide your team with handbooks covering company security initiatives. It is a wise idea to break down these guidelines, making them easy to read and understand.
Offer ongoing training
It is crucial that you provide your staff with ongoing training to ensure everyone understands the importance of network security. In these sessions, you can cover new developments, review issues that may have happened in the recent past, and help new employees develop good security habits.
When it comes to security awareness, you can trust the team at Symtrex Inc. to help you. Our partnership with the Knowbe4 training is perfect for your organization.
The Importance of Ransomware Protection
Have you had to deal with a ransomware attack on your network? A ransomware attack can put a halt to any business activity and may financially cripple your organization. Here are a few reasons why having ransomware protection in place is essential.
Have access to all your files
When a hacker tries to ransom your data, they block access to your files and data until you pay them a certain amount of money. By implementing a backup of your computer systems and data, preferably off-site, which runs regularly, you can rest assured you can get your systems back up and running with minimal downtown.
Implement a security awareness program
It is vital that all of your employees know how to spot a potentially malicious file so you can stop a threat before they start. They should be able to recognize emails and files that could be part of the attack.
Prevent the spread of malware or exploits
As a business owner, it is imperative to ensure that each computer on the network is equipped with programs that will detect malware or an exploit before it becomes part of your system.
Count on the team at Symtrex Inc. to provide you with a wide array of cyber security solutions, including ransomware protection. We can help you keep your business’s valuable information secure.
Voice Phishing Scams are Getting More Clever
This is a great article on just how good these are – even fooling those in the security industry. This is not someone contacting your claiming to be from Microsoft – the Windows and Linux division, nor the auto callers about the CRA or IRS issuing a bench warranty for your arrest – which most of us can definitely spot.
I encourage you to read the article in it’s entirety – then give us a call to discuss how an indepth security awareness training program can assist.
KrebsOnSecurity – Voice Phishing Scam are Getting More Clever