Cloud technologies have changed the cybersecurity game. Cyber attacks of old were far less sophisticated than they are today. We’re awash in data and more interconnected than ever before. And while the march of technology has made previously unthinkable things possible, it has also made us extremely vulnerable to external threats. There are simply too many ways for bad actors to infiltrate internal networks using modern technology.
The transition into the cloud has brought with it new security challenges. Since cloud computing services are stored online, anyone with the proper credentials can access your system. And hackers are very good at studying enterprise systems, detecting flaws, and then exploiting them. But how do they do it? Let’s look closer at some of the threats lurking in cyberspace.
How Data Leaks Lead to Data Breaches
Data breaches occur when information is accessed and/or extracted without authorization. A data leak is defined as having data somewhere it shouldn’t be. Data leaks very often lead to data breaches. That’s why your first line of defense is to prevent the data leak from occurring. Prevent the leak and very often you prevent the breach. Should a breach occur, the extent of the damage will depend on your crisis management skills.
Breaches generally occur because data in the cloud is stored under multiple levels of access. Normally, you have to know what you are looking for to gain access to certain data. It usually is accessible on various devices and on accounts with cryptographic keys. What does this mean? All a hacker needs to do is gain access through someone who already has a key.
Here is a rundown of how a data breach can happen:
- A hacker studies a company’s internal network and finds exploits, using either internal employees or technology.
- The hacker targets and approaches a particular individual, looking for social media accounts and also login information on the dark web OR the hacker discovers a technical weakness.
- Somehow, usually through a phishing attempt, the victim is tricked into providing some kind of access to the company’s network.
- Malware is then installed on the victim’s computer.
- The hacker is inside.
It really is that simple. Cybercriminals all over the world utilize tricks like these to break into company networks and steal vital information. And even companies you would expect to protect against such attacks are vulnerable. In 2017, the credit reporting giant Equifax was subject to a breach that occurred much the same way we laid out above. As a result, 143 million people wound up having their data compromised.
The best way to prevent data breaches include:
- Multi-factor authentication
- Data-at-rest encryption
- Perimeter firewalls
To learn about a solution that is PREVENTATIVE and has been proven to be 100% successful for more than 8 years, click here and watch our latest video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e38DpbxFb8U&t=5s
