MANAGE TECHNOLOGY & LEAD
5 WAYS THE CLOUD SAFEGUARDS YOUR BUSINESS
Please don ' t lose sight of data security with five ways the cloud can keep you operating to serve clients when they need you the most .
BY KRIS HACKNEY
As the world continues to navigate the global COVID-19 outbreak , individuals and companies alike need to be more aware than ever of the threats from opportunistic cybercriminals . Online threats are up by six times their normal levels , according to Cloudflare .
As you help your customers manage through these unprecedented times , your business must remain vigilant to protect against the increasing number of scams circling the globe right now .
These can be broadly split into the following three categories :
1 ) Phishing and social engineering scams . Keep an eye out for individuals impersonating organizations like the World Health Organization ( WHO ) or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ).
Phishing attacks have increased by more than 600 % since the beginning of March , according to KnowBe4 , including traditional impersonation scams and business email compromise ( BEC ), and extortion attacks .
The attacker ' s goal is to entice you into clicking on a link , opening an attachment , or giving out personal information . Falling victim to phishing attacks can significantly compromise the data security of any business .
2 ) Sale of fraudulent or counterfeit goods . As various industries navigate supply chain constraints and demand for certain goods increase , there will likely be a spike in fake goods produced , especially online .
Even if products look legitimate , there is no guarantee that the products even really exist . Interpol reported that it had already seized $ 14 million in fake goods . We suggest that you rely on trusted products and companies when sourcing goods right now .
3 ) Misinformation . Incorrect information does not always have the same tangible financial impact as other types of cybercriminal activity . However , it can still cause panic and result in shortages of supplies and critical medical equipment .
As we continue to navigate the outbreak and evaluate opportunities to reopen economies , we encourage you to stay tuned to updates from the CDC , WHO , and your local government entities .
SECURING YOUR BUSINESS AND DATA As recreational hackers have more time on their hands during the shutdown , it is more important than ever to protect your business and customers ' data from malicious attacks . Having the right technologies in place will keep your business protected and allow you to continue operating and supporting customers when they need you most .
Consider how the cloud — the term for the collective software and services that run on the internet as opposed
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