Remote work has become the norm for various industries, but it comes with cybersecurity challenges. Teams scattered in different locations use personal and company-issued devices to access sensitive systems through home networks and cloud-based tools. This shift makes conventional perimeter security outdated, because there is no longer a fixed boundary to defend. Instead of relying on firewalls or VPNs, organizations adopt Zero Trust. It continuously validates access within internal systems, protecting remote teams from credential theft and lateral movement in the event of a breach.
What Is the Zero Trust Approach?
A Zero Trust security model sees every request as a potential threat, regardless of where it comes from. No user or device is automatically trusted. Instead, it verifies the identity through multi-factor authentication, behavior analytics and contextual signals like location or time of day. It’s an upgrade from the old “castle-and-moat” approach and has gained momentum in recent years.
A 2023 study showed that 61% of companies had already implemented a defined Zero Trust security initiative. At its core, Zero Trust emphasizes least-privilege access and real-time monitoring to guide security teams to “never trust, always verify.”
Why Zero Trust Is Necessary for Remote and Distributed Teams
Remote users often use personal or shared devices, connect through public Wi-Fi and use cloud-based apps to access business systems. These settings widen the attack surface and complicate tracking risky activity. Phishing attempts and credential theft become more difficult to track without centralized oversight.
For information technology (IT) teams, supporting a distributed workforce compromises the visibility and control they had in traditional office spaces. A lack of supervision increases the likelihood of insider threats, whether intentional or accidental. Zero Trust closes these gaps by applying access rules and monitoring all users and actions in real time.
5 Tips to Apply Zero Trust for Remote Teams
Zero Trust is a framework that changes with how people work. The following tips offer a practical jump-off point for business leaders and IT teams supporting hybrid workplaces.
1. Mandate Multi-Factor Authentication Across All Accounts
Multi-factor authentication is an effective defense for remote environments. Security teams must require them on all critical systems, including email, human resource software and financial tools. It requires users to enter a time-sensitive code aside from their password.
These codes are randomly generated and usually expire after a single use. This unpredictability reduces the chances of unauthorized access even if an attacker compromises credentials. For teams working beyond a traditional network perimeter, this added step increases security without creating friction for users.
2. Validate Device Health Before Granting Access
Endpoints used by remote workers must meet minimum security standards before they can view company resources. Devices should run an updated operating system with automatic updates to patch known vulnerabilities. Firewalls must also be active to block unauthorized traffic, and disk encryption should be turned on to protect data in case of loss or theft.
Antivirus or endpoint detection software is also effective because it scans for malware and suspicious activity in real time. These requirements ensure only secure, compliant devices can connect to sensitive systems. If done correctly, this method reduces the risk of remote access breaches.
3. Restrict Access With the Principle of Least Privilege
Restricting users to access only the data required for their role reduces security risks for remote teams. Role-based access control (RBAC) ensures that employees and contractors don’t have unnecessary permissions, which limits the damage if an account is compromised.
For example, if an attacker breaches an account, RBAC prevents them from escalating privileges or accessing unrelated systems. In normal circumstances, an overly permissive setup may allow one account to hold full administrative rights.
This containment strategy makes exploitation more challenging and reduces lateral movement across systems. To keep access aligned with actual responsibilities, teams should regularly audit user permissions and revoke outdated or excessive rights.
4. Secure Cloud Services With Contextual Access Policies
Conditional access evaluates factors beyond usernames and passwords. Instead of granting access automatically, systems analyze real-time signals like user behavior patterns and device risk scores to make smarter decisions. For example, an employee logging in from an unusual country or an unrecognized device might be prompted for additional verification.
If a device shows signs of compromise, access can be denied until it meets security requirements. This context-aware approach strengthens Zero Trust by adapting to risk levels. It also ensures that only trusted, verified conditions allow access to sensitive systems.
5. Train Users on Zero Trust and Remote Threats
Human error remains influential in causing security breaches, especially when employees use multiple apps or devices throughout their workday. A single click on a phishing link can expose entire systems to attack. Training and awareness are comparable to strong technical safeguards.
In fact, 90% of IT and security professionals say that adopting a Zero Trust framework is “very” or “extremely” important for strengthening their security posture. But for the method to succeed, employees must know how to recognize threats and why layered access controls exist. Giving users this context encourages collaboration and cybersecurity resilience.
Why Zero Trust Is Essential for the Future of Remote Work
Remote work is here to stay, and so are the threats that come with it. As employees access systems from various locations, businesses must implement security models for optimum security. A Zero Trust strategy can be beneficial by verifying every connection and limiting access without slowing teams down.
A smart city runs on always-on connectivity with traffic signals, utilities, and public services that rely on sensors and data to stay responsive. The catch is that every connected device, app and vendor integration adds another doorway into the environment, creating a large attack surface that’s always changing.
Unlike a typical enterprise network, smart city systems use legacy infrastructure with new Internet of Things (IoT) and operational technology, often spread across departments and third parties. That mix makes it harder to keep security consistent and respond quickly enough to prevent breaches.
What Is a Smart City Attack Surface?
An attack surface is the sum of all potential entry points an attacker could exploit. These areas can include devices, software, accounts, networks, APIs and even misconfigured cloud services. In a smart city, that “front door” is only one system. It’s everything from traffic management platforms and public Wi-Fi to IoT sensors, cameras, connected building systems and the vendors that maintain them.
Smart cities differ due to the volume and variety of connected technologies. For context, IoT analytics estimated that there were18.5 billion connected IoT devices in 2024, with growth continuing at 14% in 2025. As a result, cities are operating in a world where connected endpoints are ubiquitous.
Add in digital and physical convergence, and it becomes much harder to track what’s exposed at any given moment.
Top Challenges of Managing the Attack Surface
Managing a smart city’s attack surface is more than a matter of “more devices, more risk” — it’s the reality that these environments are distributed, constantly shifting, and often shared across departments and third parties. Before reducing exposure, it helps to understand the specific challenges that make smart city security difficult.
1. Massive Scale and Diversity
Smart cities operate on a scale that most traditional organizations never encounter. Thousands or even millions of connected endpoints from different vendors must coexist, often running on various standards and life cycles. Legacy infrastructure — such as traffic control systems or utility hardware — frequently operates alongside newer IoT platforms, making it difficult to achieve centralized visibility and consistent security controls. As cities expand, keeping an accurate, up-to-date inventory of what’s connected becomes a challenge in itself.
2. Physical-Digital Convergence
In smart cities, cyber risk grows beyond data breaches. A compromised system can directly affect physical operations, leading to traffic disruptions, power outages or water system failures. This convergence raises the stakes for defenders, since an attack may impact public safety or critical services. Incident response also becomes more complex when teams must coordinate with operational and emergency services.
3. Complex Supply Chains and Third-Party Risk
Cities heavily depend on outside vendors to deploy and manage their smart infrastructure. Each provider brings its own security practices, update schedules and risk posture. According to a 2024 ENISA threat landscape report, supply chain attacks remainone of the fastest-growing threat vectors across critical infrastructure sectors, so third-party weaknesses can quickly become citywide problems. Enforcing consistent security standards across vendors is often easier said than done.
4. Shadow IT and Unmanaged Assets
Individual departments may deploy smart solutions independently, sometimes without informing central IT teams. These unmanaged assets can create blind spots, leaving systems unmonitored and unpatched. Over time, shadow IT significantly expands the attack surface without anyone fully realizing the extent of its impact.
5. Data Privacy and Governance
Smart cities collect enormous amounts of sensitive information, making privacy and governance a major concern. This challenge is then amplified by urban population growth. According to research,over 50% of the global population already lives in cities and is likely to exceed 66% by 2050. Securing and governing the personal data of billions of urban residents while meeting regulatory expectations is a monumental and ongoing task.
How to Secure a Smart City
Securing a smart city starts with accepting that the attack surface will never be fully static. With that in mind, these strategies focus on improving visibility, reducing risk and building resilience across complex, interconnected systems.
Gain Total Visibility With Attack Surface Mapping
Protecting what you can’t see is impossible. Secure a smart city by building a complete, continuously updated inventory of all connected assets. Attack surface mapping helps security teams identify exposed systems and forgotten assets before attackers do. In an environment that’s always changing, visibility has to be ongoing.
Adopt a Zero-Trust Mindset
Smart cities should assume that no user, device or application is automatically trustworthy. A zero-trust approach enforces strict identity verification and access controls at every connection point, regardless of whether the traffic originates from within or outside the network. This limits lateral movement if a system is compromised and helps contain incidents before they spread across departments or critical services.
Foster Public-Private Partnerships
Cities do have a way to tackle cybersecurity with partnerships. They should collaborate with cybersecurity vendors, utilities and even neighboring municipalities. Such alliances allow teams to share threat intelligence, lessons learned and best practices. They can also improve detection capabilities and help cities respond faster to emerging threats that may affect shared infrastructure or technologies.
Conduct Regular Audits and Penetration Testing
Proactive testing is essential for uncovering weaknesses before attackers exploit them. Regular security audits and penetration tests help identify vulnerabilities across networks, devices and applications, including those introduced by new deployments or updates. Testing for smart cities should account for both IT and operational technology to reflect real-world risk.
Prioritize Security in Procurement
Security should be built in before technology is ever deployed. Cities can reduce risk by requiring vendors to meet clear cybersecurity standards during the procurement and contract negotiation process. This approach is mirrored at the national level. For example, the U.S. government’s IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020established minimum security requirements for IoT devices used by federal agencies. By setting similar expectations up front, cities can prevent insecure technology from expanding their attack surface in the first place.
Building a Safer Smart City Attack Surface
Smart cities deliver real benefits, but the same connectivity that makes them efficient also creates more opportunities for attackers. By understanding where risk concentrates, city leaders can make more informed security decisions without hindering innovation.
Ho to deal with ransomware continues to be a pressing challenge for many companies. It is a type of malware that hackers use to encrypt critical system files. A CrowdStrike Global Security Attitude Survey found that at least 56% of organizations worldwide were victims of a ransomware incident. Also, the survey revealed that 27% of the affected companies paid ransoms to the attackers, with each incident averaging $1.1 million.
Therefore, ransomware is a high-priority cyber threat plaguing organizations in different industries. Attackers use various ransomware variants to encrypt mission-critical files and demand high payouts. For example, REvil ransomware targeted Acer, and the attackers demanded a $50 million ransom, the highest in history. With ransomware attacks increasing every year, organizations must understand ransomware and the required protective measures to protect themselves adequately.
Ransomware is the Top Threat Facing Enterprises.
Ransomware attacks are the most pervasive cyber threats facing small- and medium-sized businesses. In 2020, more than 60% of managed security providers reported that ransomware infections affected their clients. Essentially, ransomware attackers target SMBs most because they lack the resources to prevent attacks. In addition, poor cybersecurity practices, insufficient security training and awareness, and phishing attacks are the leading causes of ransomware incidents. The following statistics illustrate why ransomware is a headache for many organizations and why they must protect themselves.
Cost of ransomware attacks exceeds ransom payouts: Although most security experts who teach how to deal with ransomware advise against paying ransoms, most organizations still pay them. Companies pay to regain access to encrypted files or prevent the attackers from uploading compromised data to the dark web. However, the resulting costs of the attack often exceed the ransom paid. Specifically, costs related to data unavailability, system downtime, and diminished customer trust resulting in lost business opportunities are almost fifty times the demanded ransom.
Attackers are increasingly targeting MSPs: MSPs play a vital role in protecting organizations of all sizes from ransomware incidents and other related attacks. However, ransomware variants evolve rapidly as ransomware authors leverage innovative technologies to develop complex and hard-to-detect variants. Subsequently, at least 95% of MSPs are at a higher risk of being attacked. More MSPs are, therefore, partnering with other security providers. In essence, MSPs are partnering with specialized security firms with more focus on ransomware detection and prevention.
You can’t prevent ransomware attacks using a single solution: The importance of ransomware prevention cannot be underscored, especially with ransomware attacks registering an unprecedented rise of 1318% in 2021. Hence, Gartner concludes that organizations cannot rely on a single cybersecurity solution to protect against ransomware threats. In most cases, attackers deploy ransomware as part of a broader cyberattack to compromise crucial administrative and critical IT assets. For example, attackers develop sophisticated ransomware variants to target and compromise data backups, corporate networks, and systems or databases holding confidential information. Therefore, a defense-in-depth approach is necessary to safeguard against ransomware attacks.
Top Recent Ransomware Incidents
A survey involving at least 3500 technological industry leaders confirmed the fears of most security professionals in the cybersecurity sector – ransomware is spiraling out of hand. The survey found that ransomware increased by 900% in the first half of 2021 compared to a similar period in 2020. Inevitably, a large number of SMEs and Fortune 500 companies have been attacked in 2021. The following are the top five ransomware attacks in 2021, indicating why ransomware detection and prevention are essential.
1. CNA Financial
A March 2021 ransomware incident saw CNA Financial Corp., one of the leading insurance companies in the United States, pay a staggering $40 million ransom to access a decryption key or decryption tools and regain control of infected systems. According to security professionals, a Russian-based cybercrime syndicate, known as Evil Corp, was responsible for the attack. The cybercrime group used Phoenix Locker malware to execute the attack. Although the affected insurer did not confirm the paid ransom, a $40 million payout is the largest ransomware payment in history.
While the initial attack vector is not officially confirmed, David Carmiel, the CEO of KELA, a threat intelligence security firm, stated that the attackers delivered the ransomware via a harmful browser update published on a legitimate website. Additionally, the hackers used other vulnerability exploitations and social engineering attacks to gain elevated access privileges, enabling them to access and infect the company’s entire network.
2. Colonial Pipeline
Colonial Pipeline operates the largest fuel pipeline in the US. However, it was a victim of a ransomware incident that affected the US fuel market. Unfortunately, cybersecurity experts that responded to the incident blamed it on a single hacked password. According to Charles Carmakal, a senior vice president at Mandiant cybersecurity company, the hackers responsible for the attack compromised a VPN account that enables employees to remotely access the organization’s corporate network.
Although it is unclear how the attackers accessed the account’s password, it was later found on the dark web, among other leaked passwords. Also, multi-factor authentication had not been enabled despite being a crucial cybersecurity practice. The Russian-linked cybercrime syndicate made away with $4.4 million in a ransom payout after it threatened to leak almost 100 gigabytes of crucial data.
3. Brenntag Attack
Brenntag, a leading chemical distribution organization with a global workforce of more than 17,000 employees, parted with $4.4 million to access a decryption tool and regain control of its data and systems after a DarkSide ransomware attack. Attackers compromised the German-headquartered company and stole at least 150GB of data while encrypting computer systems and devices connected to the network.
DarkSide is ransomware as a service where the ransomware authors lease it to other hackers, and DarkSide gains a percentage of the paid ransom. The DarkSide affiliates accessed the company’s network after buying compromised credentials from an initial access broker (IAB) during the incident. The attackers later advised the company to use more advanced antivirus solutions and enable multi-factor authentication to prevent similar future attacks.
4. Kaseya
The notorious REvil ransomware group struck in July 2021 and hacked Kaseya, a leading US-based software solutions provider. The ransomware incident affected at least 2000 organizations globally since Kaseya provides IT solutions to enterprise clients and MSPs. Investigations showed that the responsible attackers exploited a vulnerability in the company’s VSA software, affecting multiple MSPs and businesses. VSA is a unified tool that enables remote management and monitoring of endpoints deployed in a network.
According to FBI investigations, the ransomware incident resulted from a supply chain attack that involved at least 30 MSPs. Specifically, the ransomware attack occurred after attackers exploited an authentication bypass flaw in the VSA web interface. As a result, the hackers circumvented authentication measures and controls to gain an authenticated session. Then, using SQL injection commands, the attackers uploaded a malicious payload leading to the attack. However, Kaseya refused to pay the demanded ransom of $70 million.
Different Ways Ransomware Affects Your Organization.
System downtime and data unavailability: Ransomware encrypts infected machines, networks, and systems, causing downtime. It also causes data unavailability since cybercriminals target and encrypts mission-critical information. Technology is crucial to modern business operations, and system downtime means that an organization cannot operate. Therefore, a ransomware attack can adversely impact your organization by preventing system or data access, impacting the achievement of daily business objectives.
Huge financial losses: Without data or network access, your company can count numerous losses due to missed business opportunities. Besides, attackers demand huge ransom payouts, which can cripple startups and SMEs. Even if you don’t pay the demanded ransom, the costs incurred in system and data recovery efforts are significant since the process often requires specialized assistance and resources. Moreover, legal challenges may arise, especially if the attack could have been prevented, further adding financial losses.
Marred reputation: Customers and third parties are less likely to trust a company that has suffered any cyber-attack. In most cases, some ransomware attackers can upload or sell stolen personal information via the dark web even after receiving the demanded ransom. Other malicious cyber actors can use the information to advance more hacks and cybercrimes, which is why customers and third parties avoid attacked organizations.
Exposure to more attacks: A ransomware attack occurs once attackers have compromised your network or business. Undoubtedly, hackers are familiar with a network they have already compromised and are more likely to strike again even after an affected organization implements mitigation controls. They can use this knowledge to perpetrate more attacks. Recurring cyberattacks can lead to business closure, which is why at least 60% of breached organizations shut down operations within 6 months.
How You Can Protect Your Organization from Ransomware Incidents
The following are some of the best ways and best practices your organization can use to prevent ransomware attacks and other cyber incidents.
1. Timely Software Updates
Zero-day exploits enable attackers to exploit security vulnerabilities whose patches or updates are yet to be released. However, updating software, firmware, and operating system immediately after new updates roll out is recommended to prevent cyber breaches. Timely updates should be the first step towards preventing hackers from exploiting existing security weaknesses and uploading ransomware payloads. Furthermore, installing new patches and updates on time is critical for fixing software or firmware security flaws that provide entry points for ransomware infection. In this regard, you should set all devices to install new updates automatically. Additionally, you can use an automated software updating platform that permits you to download and install new updates from a centralized dashboard.
2. Employee Training and Awareness
As previously mentioned, phishing emails are the leading ransomware delivery method through harmful email attachments. Delivering ransomware through phishing is widely popular since most employees lack the knowledge to discern between safe and unsafe emails. In addition, phishing emails often contain malicious attachments or malicious links that could cause a ransomware infection.
Through frequent employee training and awareness, employees can learn the best way to identify and report suspicious emails bundled with malicious software or attachments, significantly improving your organization’s cybersecurity posture. More importantly, training and awareness equip employees with relevant skills regarding visiting insecure websites or clicking unsafe links. At the very least, a comprehensive cybersecurity training and awareness program should focus on educating users on healthy cybersecurity practices that can reduce the risk of a ransomware attack, such as avoiding illegitimate software as they could be malicious programs.
3. Never Connect Unauthorized USB Drives
Huge organizations have suffered devastating attacks after one of their employees connected unknown USB disks to company-owned devices. Attackers may leave infected storage devices where someone can find them easily, such as in car parks. The aim is to tempt employees into connecting them to a computer and introduce a ransomware infection automatically since an unknown USB could be an infected device. Therefore, connecting unknown or unauthorized USB devices may cause a ransomware attack resulting in adverse impacts. Towards this end, you should never connect an unknown USB device, especially if you don’t know where it came from. Fortunately, some security applications prevent users from connecting unauthorized USB devices to a computer.
4. Enable Multi-Factor Authentications
In some notable ransomware incidents mentioned earlier, attackers used stolen passwords or login credentials to access networks or systems and upload ransomware payloads. Additionally, stolen passwords can be sold via the dark web to enable nefarious cyber actors to access and perpetrate attacks on user accounts. By enabling multi-factor authentication across all accounts and services, you can prevent unauthorized access that may lead to ransomware incidents. Multi-factor authentication prevents access if the user cannot provide the necessary authentication items despite providing a correct username and password. Hence, multi-factor authentication can protect against ransomware incidents that occur due to password theft or the use of weak credentials.
5. Create Multiple Backups
Although some ransomware incidents infections can spread to created backups, it is vital to regularly create and update multiple backups. Besides, data backup is a recommended best practice, as it provides a safe and convenient way to restore affected data and system configurations after a ransomware incident. Furthermore, cloud services enable users to create safe and secure backups. Also, creating offline backups is an efficient way of restoring sensitive data.
6. Endpoint Security
Managing endpoints is an overlooked but vital component of robust cybersecurity strategies. Most organizations and employees use various endpoints, such as mobile devices, to enhance operational effectiveness and productivity. However, the more the deployed endpoints, the larger the attack surface. Therefore, securing and managing endpoints is critical to securing potential entry points to a protected network. Endpoint security entails implementing adequate configurations across all endpoints’ security software, ensuring all devices are up to date, monitoring endpoints to detect unusual behavior, and managing who can access and use various devices. For example, using an endpoint detection and response system can help detect and stop ransomware threats.
7. Zero-Trust Security
Zero-trust security treats every user or device as a potential security threat. It is a cybersecurity approach that authenticates, authorizes, and validates all users and devices continuously before allowing them to access critical infrastructure. As a result, it greatly reduces the risk of ransomware by providing complete visibility and control over who or what can access your network. Also, zero-trust enables adaptive monitoring, micro-segmentation, and network traffic assessment, which reduces the risk of a ransomware attack.
8. Network Segmentation
You can protect critical files and systems from a ransomware attack through network segmentation. Segmenting a network based on sensitivity and criticality is a widely used approach to prevent network intrusions. For example, you can create a network for public use while restricting vital communications and sharing sensitive information to a more secure network. In addition, in the event of a ransomware attack, network segmentation can prevent the infection from spreading. Network segmentation also prevents prolonged network downtime since an organization can respond to an attack while performing essential operations via secure networks. You should ensure that all network segments are encrypted using the WAP 2 encryption scheme, which most professionals deem the most secure.
Computing systems requiring cryptography tools are deeply ingrained into modern human lifestyles and business practices. Specifically, digital technologies are applied in every domain, including healthcare, security, transportation, marketing, banking, and education. As a result, data has become a vital asset. In addition, companies require data to derive business value, whereas attackers target data for monetary and other gains. That said, organizations need reliable methods to secure sensitive information and maintain data integrity and confidentiality.
Fortunately, cryptography and encryption methods have been used for centuries to prevent prying eyes from accessing secret messages. Also, strong encryption has become one of the most crucial cybersecurity practices for supporting modern internet communications. Encryption algorithms convert original data in plain text to an encrypted message to ensure secure transmission. Users use an encryption key to turn plain text into a block cipher, and recipients must access a correct decryption key to view the encrypted information in its original state.c
Cryptographic algorithms help companies and individual users achieve secure communication and robust internet connections, thereby strengthening privacy. In addition, cryptography tools make it harder for malicious actors to break encryption algorithms, preventing unauthorized persons from accessing sensitive data. Therefore, modern cryptography focuses on four primary information security goals:
Data integrity: Cryptography tools protect data from unauthorized modification in transit or at rest, thus preserving its integrity.
Data confidentiality: Only individuals with the correct decryption key can access encrypted data. Encryption tools prevent unwanted access, which is vital in ensuring data confidentiality.
Authenticity: Data encryption provides senders and recipients with a way to verify each other’s identities.
Non-repudiation: File encryption ensures non-repudiation, implying that a message sender cannot deny or backtrack that they sent the message.
Different Types of Cryptography
The different encryption techniques can be categorized into hash functions, public-key cryptography, and secret-key cryptography. Hash functions are one-way, irreversible cryptographic functions that ensure data protection by making it impossible to recover the original data. Essentially, hashing is a technique that transforms the data in a given string into a fixed-length cipher block. An efficient hashing algorithm converts a specific input into a secure and unique output. If an attacker attempt to crack a hash function, the only approach is attempting all possible inputs until they can get the corresponding hash. Hash functions are often used to hash data like passwords and certificates. Common examples of hashing functions include MD5, SHA-1, SHA-3, and Whirlpool.
On the other hand, public-key cryptography also referred to as asymmetric cryptography, is a cryptographic technique that uses two keys to encrypt data. A public key accessible to everyone allows the sender to encrypt the data while the recipient uses a private key, only known to the recipient, to decrypt the data. In contrast to symmetric encryption, the key used to encrypt the data cannot decode it. The private key is private to the recipient, whereas the public key can be shared publicly with anyone. As such, the private key should only remain with the owner. Common examples of public-key cryptography are Diffie-Hellman and elliptic curve cryptography.
Lastly, the secret key cryptography technique, also called symmetric cryptography, is an encryption approach that uses a single key for both data encryption and decryption. Symmetric cryptography uses the same encryption and decryption key, making it among the simplest cryptography methods. A symmetric cryptographic algorithm uses an encryption key to convert original text into ciphertext, whereas the recipient entrusted with a secret key can decrypt the data. In this regard, secret key cryptography can be used in encrypting data in transit and at rest. Examples of secret key cryptography include advanced encryption standards (AES) and Caesar cipher.
Different Types of Cryptography Tools
1. VeraCrypt
VeraCrypt is one of the widely used enterprise-grade systems for Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems. VeraCrypt provides automatic data encryption capabilities and partitions a network depending on specific hashing algorithms, location, and volume size. Thus, it is an easy-to-implement cryptographic solution for companies desiring to achieve a hands-off encryption approach. Moreover, VeraCrypt is an open-source encryption software but can sometimes be implemented as a corporate product that receives more frequent updates. Nevertheless, the free software version is robust enough to provide some of the essential encryption needs for an organization.
2. Kruptos 2 cryptography tools
Kruptos 2 comprises various approaches and encryption tools designed to provide 256-bit AES encryption. It is usually used to encrypt networks with multiple operating systems, such as Android, macOS, and Windows. Kruptos 2 is also designed to encrypt files across various platforms, including cloud-based services, portable storage solutions, and mobile devices. Also, Kruptos 2 provides powerful features like a password generator for generating strong and complex passwords.
3. Boxcryptor
Boxcryptor is one of the cryptography tools that is designed for encrypting cloud solutions. The cryptographic tool combines AES and RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) to provide end-to-end encryption for more than thirty cloud services. These include Microsoft, Dropbox, and Google Drive. In addition, Boxcryptor can be usefd in encryption multiple devices and cloud services. It provides an intuitive interface that enables encryption at a click and does not require an encryption expert to deploy and manage.
4. IBM Security Guardium Data Encryption
IBM Security Guardium Data Encryption is a cryptography tool that enables data encryption and decryption with minimal impact on system performance. It is a popular encryption scheme that provides useful features like privacy policy management and centralized key management. Also, it is a good option for encryption, as it provides granular, compliance-ready cryptographic libraries and uses unique encryption keys to protect each volume of data. In addition, Guardium consists of cybersecurity tools designed to enable data discovery, compliance reporting, vulnerability scanning, and activity monitoring.
5. CertMgr.exe
CertMgr.exe is one of the cryptographic tools implemented as an executable file. The tool permits users to create and manage encryption certificates. Cryptography is essential in the effective management of different certificates. For example, CertMgr.exe enables the management of CRLs that are in certificate revocation lists. The primary essence of cryptography in developing certificates is to ascertain the secure exchange of information between different parties, and the CertMgr.exe cryptography tool supports the required protection levels.
6. Quantum Numbers Corp
The Quantum Numbers Corps cryptology tool is a Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) and is among the first quantum cryptographic solutions to be developed. Essentially, this is an innovative quantum encryption solution used in creating truly random numbers. In comparison to traditional encryption solutions, they are incapable of generating random numbers. Quantum Numbers Corp is also more beneficial since the generated random numbers are impossible to decipher, even for individuals using quantum computing solutions. Moreover, it provides more security since QRNG has an alert system that notifies attempts for intercepting outgoing or incoming connections and communications. Finally, the Quantum Numbers Corp cryptographic system is advantageous because it provides high-speed encryption and can scale on demand.
7. Homomorphic Encryption
Encryption algorithms are vital in ensuring that data in transit and data at rest cannot be deciphered and remains secure. However, users require to access encrypted data at some point, which provides malicious individuals with an opportunity to access and steal the data. As a result, the homomorphic encryption protocol permits users to access and perform computations on encrypted data to preserve confidentiality as users carry out various tasks. Thus, homomorphic encryption is useful in ensuring stronger security but does not permit the completion of all tasks when using homomorphically encrypted data.
8. AxCrypt Premium
AxCrypt Premium is a useful tool and powerful encryption solution for SMEs that lack the capacity or resources required to support comprehensive encryption solutions. AxCrypt Premium supports 128-bit and 256-bit AES encryption algorithms and provides convenient file access through a mobile application. Additionally, AxCrypt Premium is a useful tool for cloud-based networks since it allows for automatic encryption capabilities for files stored in cloud solutions like Dropbox and AWS. Although a free version of AxCrypt Premium is available, the encryption capabilities are limited for small-scale cryptography, such as encrypting home computers. In addition, it is not suitable or robust enough compared to most cryptography tools used in large organizations.
9. Key-Based Authentication
Key-based authentication is an encryption technique that employs an asymmetric cryptographic algorithm to verify a user’s identity and is often used as an alternative for password authentication. Private keys and public keys are the primary factors at play used in confirming a client’s identity.
When authenticating users using the public key authentication method, each user is provided with a pair of asymmetric keys. The users then store the public keys in the system for data transfer while retaining their private keys in the respective devices connected to the secure system. During key management and key exchange, the secure server authenticates clients with the public keys and requires the users to use the corresponding private key to decrypt the message.
10. Authentication Token/Security Token
A security token or authentication token is a cryptography tool used in verifying a user. For example, a company uses the security token cryptographic tool to authenticate users. In particular, a security token encrypts the exchange of secure authentication information. Organizations also use the authentication tool to HTTP protocols with complete statefulness.
As such, a web browser utilizes server-side generated tokens such that it can continue with the state. Generally, a security token is a method used to ensure remote authentication. Authentication information is sensitive and should be encrypted to prevent unwanted access or modification. A security token provides the relevant encryption scheme to enable secure user remote authentication.
11. Docker
Developers use Docker to develop and upgrade large, powerful applications. Essentially, Docker is a container that permits users to build and maintain large applications. The data processed and stored in Docker is maintained in an encrypted format. As such, Docker strictly adheres to cryptographic algorithms to ensure data encryption. In addition, Docker encrypts information and files, thus preventing individuals lacking the correct decryption key from accessing it.
The cryptographic methods used to encrypt the data vary depending on encryption attributes. Moreover, companies consider Docker a cloud storage solution that permits users or developers to manage encrypted data on a shared or dedicated server. In simple terms, a Docker container enables users to hold sensitive data and ensure its security through encryption to focus resources on application development.
Common Encryption Methods are important to understand in 2026. Today, the Internet provides essential communication and data sharing between billions of people. People use it as a tool for commerce, financial services, social interaction, and the exchange of vast amounts of personal and business information. With the growing popularity and increased internet use, security has become an exceedingly significant issue for every individual and organization.
The principles of openness and broad access on the internet are no longer required when sending sensitive information over a public network. Unquestionably, you desire to keep confidential information from unauthorized access. Most importantly, you need to safeguard such data from cyber criminals with malicious intent. Undeniably, there are many aspects to security and many applications, ranging from secure card transactions to private data exchange and protection of healthcare information.
The most acceptable way out of this security problem is to alter the information so that only authorized people can read it. We are referring to encryption algorithms and methods, which we will address in this post.
But it is crucial to note that while information encryption is necessary for today’s secure communications, it is not by itself adequate. In effect, it would be best that you consider the encryption methods and algorithms discussed here as the first of the several measures for enhanced security posture in different IT environments and situations.
Computer encryption is based on the science of cryptography, which has been used to keep messages secret since humans first wanted to do so. Today, most forms of cryptography are computer-based since the traditional human-based encryption code is too easy for current computers to crack.
The Computer Security Resource Center (CSRC) defines encryption as the “cryptographic transformation of data (plaintext) into a form (ciphertext) that conceals the data’s original meaning to prevent it from being known or used.”
CSRC definition proceeds to define the reversal process. “If the transformation is reversible, the corresponding reversal process is called decryption, which is a transformation that restores encrypted data to its original state.”
The encryption process involves algorithms. Perhaps you remember this from your algebra. An algorithm in mathematics refers to a procedure, a description of a set of steps that helps solve a mathematical computation. Today, algorithms are much more common and applicable in other areas than traditional mathematical procedures. They are relevant in many branches of science, including computer science and cybersecurity.
Within the context of cybersecurity, an encryption algorithm is a mathematical procedure that uses meaningless ciphertext to scramble and obscure a message. Cloudflare defines an encryption algorithm as the “method used to transform data into ciphertext.” The definition further states that an algorithm uses an encryption key to alter data in a predictable manner. That way, users with the correct decryption key can decrypt the ciphertext and restore the plaintext.
Cryptography is often synonymous with encryption. However, cryptography is an umbrella term, with encryption just one component. Cryptography refers to the study of techniques like encryption and decryption.
By definition, cryptography is the field of study of concepts like encryption and decryption used to provide secure communications. Conversely, encryption is more of a mathematical operation or algorithm for encoding a message. Therefore, cryptography, being a field of study, has broader categories and ranges, while encryption is just one technique, which forms one aspect of cryptography.
Gary C. Kessler, Professor of Cybersecurity and Chair of the Security Studies and International Affairs Dept. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University lists five main functions of cryptography:
Privacy and confidentiality: ensuring that no one can read the message except the intended receiver
Authentication: the process of proving one’s identity
Integrity: assuring the receiver that the received message has not been altered in any way from the original
Non-repudiation: a mechanism to prove that the sender really sent a specific message
Key exchange: the method by which crypto keys are shared between sender and receiver
Cryptography is a process that starts with unencrypted data or plaintext. You employ encryption algorithms to encrypt data into ciphertext, which is then decrypted back into readable, usable plaintext.
Symmetric encryption is also known as private key encryption. Kessler and other researchers refer to this method as Secret Key Cryptography. As the name implies, both the sender and receiver use only one key in this encryption method. Symmetric cryptography has a considerable advantage over asymmetric cryptography in terms of speed. This method is faster for encryption and decryption because it uses a single key, which is much shorter than in asymmetric encryption techniques.
Even though symmetric encryption offers speed, the method carries a high risk around key transmission. Notably, symmetric cryptography uses the same key to encrypt messages, and the sender must share it with the recipients for the decryption process. Every time users share the key, the risk of interception by hackers increases.
What are the popular uses of symmetric encryption? Organizations can use this encryption method for bulk data transfer due to its speed. Besides, this encryption method is useful for encrypting data stored on a device when there is no intention to transfer it. Symmetric encryption is used in the banking sector for payment applications, specifically card transactions, where personally identifiable information (PII) must be protected to prevent identity theft.
Asymmetric encryption, also known as public-key encryption, differs from symmetric encryption because it uses two keys: a public key (anyone can use it to encrypt data) and a private key (only the owner can use it to decrypt data). Typically, it is easy to compute the public key from the private key but highly complicated to generate a private key from the public key. Asymmetric encryption has slow speeds, making it far less efficient for bulk operations.
Asymmetric encryption offers enhanced security since it uses two different keys. A post on Venafi states that public-key cryptography is used as a “method of assuring the confidentiality, authenticity, and non-repudiation of electronic communications and data storage.”
Therefore, the method is mainly used in tasks where security is prioritized over speed. Typical applications of asymmetric encryption include digital signatures to confirm user identities. When accessing a website on the public cloud, it becomes complicated, and symmetric encryption does not work since you do not control the other end of the connection. This activity requires you to share a secret code with other entities without the risk of intruders on the Internet intercepting it in the middle.
Let us now turn our attention to the widely used encryption algorithms.
Triple DES applies the older Data Encryption System (DES) algorithm three times to the same block of text. 3DES falls under the symmetric encryption that uses the block cipher method.
A block cipher refers to a scheme that encrypts one fixed-size block of data at a time. In a block cipher, a given plaintext block will always encrypt to the same ciphertext when using the same key, which Kessler refers to as deterministic. In contrast, the same plaintext will encrypt to different ciphertexts in a stream cipher.
The 56-bit DES algorithm, one of the most well-known and well-studied secret-key cryptography, was inadequate from the get-go simply because it is too short. As a result, it was gradually vulnerable to brute force attacks as computational power increased. Designedly, 3DES applies the DES algorithm thrice to each data block. In effect, the revised algorithm gets a total length of up to 168 bits. Kessler writes that 3DES became an interim replacement to DES in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The enhancements make it efficient for various uses, including securing credit card transactions in electronic payment industries and other financial services. Microsoft’s Outlook, OneNote, and System Center Configuration Manager 2012 also use Triple DES to protect user content and system information.
RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman in full) is an asymmetric encryption algorithm often associated with the Diffie-Hellman key exchange method discussed in the next section. This encryption algorithm creates the modulus using two prime numbers, which then generate the public and private keys.
RSA encryption strength increases exponentially with the increase in key size, which is typically 1024 or 2048 bits long. Typically, RSA implementation is combined with some sort of padding scheme to prevent messages from producing insecure ciphertexts.
Since no active patent governs RSA, anyone can use it. Mainly, the algorithm performs encryption, decryption, and signature verification, all with the same two functions. Based on its security capabilities, RSA asymmetric technique is the standard for encrypting data sent over the Internet.
But RSA has some shortcomings – the algorithm is slow due to its very nature of using public-key cryptography for encryption.
The Diffie-Hellman encryption algorithm, also known as the Exponential Key Exchange, is a public-key exchange method used to share private keys across public networks. One common encryption method; sometimes, the algorithm serves as a key agreement protocol that determines the private key used by both parties in data exchanges.
Diffie-Hellman has been in use for decades, mainly for sharing private keys in symmetric encryption applications. It allows two entities with no prior knowledge of each other to jointly establish a shared secret key over the Internet or an insecure channel.
However, the Diffie-Hellman algorithm lacks authentication. Data using this encryption technique are vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks. Diffie-Hellman is well suited for data communication but less often used for data stored or archived for a long time.
Due to its nature, the Diffie-Hellman public domain algorithm allows you to secure a wide range of internet services. Additionally, the algorithm provides the basis for multiple authenticated protocols. A case in point is Diffie-Hellman’s application in forward secrecy in Transport Layer Security’s (TLS) ephemeral modes.
ElGamal encryption is another asymmetric key cryptography based on the Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange. The algorithm’s security depends on the difficulty of computing discrete logs in a large prime modulus. In the ElGamal technique, the same plaintext produces a different ciphertext every time it is encrypted. The algorithm produces ciphertext that is twice as long as the plaintext.
ElGamal encryption can be defined over any cyclic group. Its security depends on the properties of the underlying group as well as the padding scheme applied on the plaintext.
The encryption technique is used in the recent Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) versions and GNU Privacy Guard. Besides that, ElGamal encryption is used in a hybrid cryptosystem, where the symmetric cryptosystem encrypts the plaintext, then the system deploys ElGamal to encrypt the key.
Much like Triple DES, Blowfish is a symmetric-key algorithm designed to replace DES. This common encryption method is famous for its speed and effectiveness. Since it is placed in the public domain, anyone can use the Blowfish algorithm for free.
Blowfish works with a 64-bit block length. Besides, it has a variable key size ranging from 32 to 448 bits. Encryption in Blowfish algorithm involves 16-round Feistel cipher, using large key-dependent S-boxes.
One drawback of the Blowfish algorithm is that it is vulnerable to birthday attacks, especially in contexts like HTTPS. Apart from that, it is apparent that Blowfish is ineffective in encrypting files larger than 4 GB due to its small 64-bit block size.
What are some of the popular Blowfish uses? You can find the encryption algorithm in various software categories, specifically database security, eCommerce platforms, file and disk encryption, and archiving tools. Blowfish is also efficient in password management, file transfer, secure shell, steganography, and email encryption.
Bruce Schneier created the Twofish symmetric cipher to replace the less secure Blowfish. Twofish used the S-box (Situation Box) as part of its encryption method. Twofish uses a 128-bit block size and supports a key size of up to 256 bits, making it secure from brute force attacks. One-half of the n-bit key represents the encryption key, while the second half modifies the encryption algorithm.
Twofish is slightly slower than AES but comparatively faster for 256-bit keys. On top of that, the algorithm is flexible, making it ideal for use in network apps where keys change frequently. Moreover, Twofish is efficient in systems where only a small amount of RAM and ROM is available for use. More frequently, the algorithm comes bundled in encryption tools like TrueCrypt, GPG, and PhotoEncrypt.
AES – Advanced Encryption Standard acronym, technology concept background
The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is the successor of DES. NIST initiated a public four-and-a-half-year process to develop a new secure cryptosystem for U.S. government applications in 1997. This development contrasted with the highly closed process in the adoption of DES more than two decades earlier. The result of the process was AES, which became the official DES successor in December 2001.
AES algorithm is a block cipher that features three sizes: AES-128, AES-192, and AES-256. AES encryption algorithm puts data into an array before performing a series of transformations known as rounds. Essentially, AES is exceptionally efficient in 128-bit form. It can also leverage 192 and 256-bits keys for heavy security. It operates ten rounds for 128-bit keys and 12 rounds for 192-bit keys. The 235-bit key has 14 rounds. Also, the algorithm uses secret-key cryptography known as Rijndael, a block cipher designed by Belgian cryptographers Joan Daemen and Vincent Rijmen.
By design, the AES algorithm is sufficient to protect government secrets and sensitive corporate information. It is naturally secure, and security analysts have not discovered any practical attacks against the algorithm. Accordingly, the encryption algorithm has become a trusted standard for the United States Government and various organizations.
Notably, AES has low RAM requirements and high speed, qualifying it as the preferred algorithm to hide top-secret information. Also, the algorithm can perform optimally on an array of hardware, ranging from 8-bit smart cards to high-performance processors. AES is also deployed in many different transmission technologies and protocols, such as WPA2 protection for Wi-Fi networks, voice over IP technology (VoIP), and signaling data.
The International Data Encryption Algorithm (IDEA) uses a 128-bit key. IDEA is like AES since it works on a system of rounds. Users have deployed the block cipher for an email privacy technology referred to as Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), where data is transmitted in 64-bit blocks.
IDEA divides the 64-bits block into four portions of 16 bits each. Next, the sub-blocks are transformed individually in each round. IDEA leverages substitution and transposition to scramble data.
RC6 is also a symmetric-key block cipher algorithm. However, RC6 has a slight twist since it runs blocks of variable length. Besides, the rounds that the data undergoes during transformations are variable.
RC6 can handle blocks of 128 bits, with a key size that can range between 0 and 2040 bits.
Undoubtedly, RC6 is an improvement on previous RC4 and RC5 algorithms. What’s more, RC6 is parameterized, meaning it adds an extra complexity layer to encryption.
Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is an asymmetric encryption method based on the elliptic curves’ algebraic structure. Instead of following the conventional approach of generating keys as the product of large prime numbers, this common encryption method creates keys through the elliptic curve equation property.
The elliptic curve size determines the difficulty level of the problem. It can provide a level of security with a 164-bit key that other systems like RSA require a 1024-bit key to achieve.
Typically, ECC is applicable for key agreements, pseudo-random generators, and digital signatures. Researchers are developing ECC as the successor to the popular RSA approach. NSA has dramatically supported the algorithm, and it has expressed the intention to deploy Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman for key exchange and Elliptic Curve Digital Signature algorithm for digital signature.
We cannot overemphasize the importance of encoding data to keep it hidden and inaccessible to unauthorized users. With the frequent and sophisticated cyberattacks organizations experience today, encryption helps protect private information and sensitive data. Apart from cyberattacks, machine’s computation power is constantly evolving, so security experts must innovate new approaches to keep attackers at bay.
Various encryption techniques and algorithms enhance the security of communications between client apps and servers. Encryption algorithms are mathematical processes that turn plaintext into unreadable ciphertext. In essence, when you use the appropriate algorithm to encrypt data, even if an intruder gains access to it, they will not be able to read it.
We have established that some common encryption methods are more robust and more reliable than others. In some cases, new algorithms emerge in response to calls to replace existing but weaker ones. For instance, 3DES and AES improved on the shortcomings of DES. That way, older algorithms became obsolete, while others were revised into newer robust versions. This post features reliable encryption algorithms that defend information from the relentless ambush of cyberattacks. Unquestionably, the Internet and its uses would not be possible without fitting encryption schemes and algorithms.
Why is Cybersecurity Important? is a question many business owners and organizations attempt to answer today. Not long ago, cybersecurity was considered a job for IT staff alone. Today cybersecurity is everyone’s job.
In 2026 cybersecurity is among the top priorities for any company.
Organizational executives know that cybersecurity is critical for business operations and processes. The importance of cybersecurity is a primary theme during budget planning and allocation. Companies attempt to acquire the best cyber defenses available.
Implementing simple security tools like firewalls and antiviruses is not sufficient today because threats have grown in scope, sophistication, and strategy.
Cybersecurity statistics
It is essential to first understand the scale of cybercrime before discussing why cybersecurity is so vital today. The following statistics will show that cybercrime is rampant and necessary to adopt robust cybersecurity measures.
Damages resulting from cybercrime will cost the world more than $10 trillion by the year 2026
Senior vice president and CTO of Cisco, Susan Wee, shared research that indicated the coders produce 111 billion software development codes every year.[2] This introduces a massive number of potential vulnerabilities and will significantly cause an increase in zero-day exploits. They are estimated to reach one exploit every day by 2022 compared to a single one per week in 2015.[3]
According to the FBI’s May tally in 2015, Business Email Compromise scams have cost businesses over $12.5 billion in the last four and a half years.[4]
A PricewaterhouseCooper survey of 3000 business executives from at least 80 countries showed that more than half of the world’s companies are ill-prepared to handle a cyber-attack.
Manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, government, and financial service are the five topmost industries targeted by cybercriminals.[5]
Hacking kits and tools used for ransomware, malware, identity theft, and other cybercrime types are available in various online platforms retailing for as low as $1.[6]
Ransomware attacks are estimated to increase by 57 times by the year 2022 compared to 2015.[7]
Damage costs for ransomware attacks are expected to reach $20 billion, increasing from $11.5 billion in 2019, $5 billion in 2017, and $325 million in 2015.[8]
Cryptojacking was the fastest-growing cyber threat in 2018, with a 459% growth rate.[9]
A changing technological landscape
A lot of technologies have emerged in the last 10-20 years. These new technologies have redefined how organizations conduct business operations, communication channels, data processing, storage, etc.
For example, social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are often used to communicate product launches or other information to millions of customers instantaneously. Just a few years ago, television and radio were the primary means of advertisement.
Almost all businesses today utilize cloud services. Not long ago, all data and IT infrastructure were owned, secured, and located on the business premises.
Other technologies, such as ERP systems, smartphones, and 4G networks, have also been adopted and are now crucial for companies to provide their services.
IoT devices are potential entry points for hackers
The use of IoT (Internet of Things) in business has increased rapidly, with Cisco estimating that 27.1 billion IoT devices will be connected globally very soon. They are smart devices connected to the internet, including smartphones, iPads, laptops, and tablets.
IoT devices can simplify business processes and improve productivity and work efficiency. However, each IoT device used for work is also a potential entry point for hackers. Many IoT devices contain security vulnerabilities, and keeping track of these vulnerabilities can be a difficult task.
Manufacturers of some IoT devices tend to abandon them, and they don’t provide new updates or security patches. Such devices can have numerous exploitable vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities increase the possibility of a successful cyber-attack. To harden cybersecurity posture, organizations should ensure that IoT devices are subjected to frequent and thorough vulnerability assessments.
Cybersecurity impacts everyone
Developing and maintaining effective cybersecurity strategies affects the entire online community within an organization, just as safe driving reassures every passenger’s safety. Cybersecurity strategies must start at the individual level. An infected personal device that connects to the company network or system can infect other systems causing the organizations to be vulnerable to attacks.
Securing email or social media accounts with weak passwords and insecure password storage practices make it easy for hackers to access them. They can, in turn, access the personal information of other users that communicate through the account.
A company’s cybersecurity practices should be developed to ensure all users are adequately protected. Security policies may vary from one department to another since they may have different data access levels or may be using different IT systems. A comprehensive cybersecurity program is required to ensure that every user’s security needs are addressed without compromising the needs of others.
Cybercrime has increased and evolved.
The technological changes in the past decade have resulted in an advanced approach for executing cybercrimes. Cybercriminals have adopted better strategies for targeting companies and using advanced techniques to launch attacks.
Recently a lot of attacks are planned and achieved using artificial intelligence. They are smarter and have more destructive capabilities. Increased reliance on data processing and storage has also led to a rise in cyberattacks.
Over 2.5 quintillion (1 with eighteen zeros) bytes of data are created every other day,[11], and since data is valuable to cybercriminals, thousands of cyberattack attempts occur daily. Such statistics are a clear indication that a healthy cybersecurity posture is critical.
Cyberattacks cause considerable damage to the victims
A primary purpose of cyber-attacks is to cause harm to the victim. Attackers gain unauthorized system access to steal data, locking out system users, installing malware for remote monitoring, among others.
Large organizations have been targeted by cyberattacks, costing them millions of dollars in damages and injured reputation. Damages caused by cyberattacks can be very consequential to the victim, as shown in the following examples:
144 universities targeted by cyberattacks
In 2018, different types of cyberattacks targeted 144 universities in the United States.[12] The responsible group had been executing the attacks for three years before being caught. During the attacks, the group stole data exceeding 31 terabytes. This theft included intellectual property whose worth amounted to more than $3 billion.[13]
Exactis breached compromising data for 340 million users
Exactis suffered a largescale attack where the attackers were able to compromise data owned by 340 million clients.[14] The company offers services for compiling as well as aggregating premium data. It has access to at least 3.5 billion personal data making it a prime target.
Yahoo and Gmail’s authentication security was hacked.
Yahoo and Gmail are the world’s largest service providers. The companies have implemented a lot of security measures to protect users’ accounts. These measures include the multi-factor authentication technique where a user has to provide the correct username and password and then provide additional information such as a verification code.
Despite this, the companies fell victim to spear-phishing techniques. The targets, most being senior U.S. government officials, were tricked into inputting personal details that were accessible by the hackers, who then proceeded to login into the victims’ accounts.[15] Although Gmail and Yahoo didn’t suffer any losses, their reputations suffered severely.
150 million Under Armor user accounts breached
Under Armour owns the MyFitnessPal mobile app, which allows users to track the calories they consume each day and compare intake to their exercise levels. A breach in 2018 caused user data of more than 150 million users to be compromised.[16] The stolen data included usernames, email addresses, and passwords.
WannaCry cyberattack
The WannaCry attack affected hospitals across the U.K., causing health services to shut down for close to a week. The attack was a ransomware attack where cyber criminals took control of health systems and demanded payment to relinquish control. It was a large-scale attack since patients across the U.K, and other affected countries could not access medical care.
Many other attacks have targeted companies providing different services and which are in various industries. As shown in the examples above, cybercriminals target any sector, ranging from healthcare, finance, communication to health and fitness. Cyber actors don’t target a specific company or industry, but they instead aim where systems are most vulnerable. Any organization can be a target, and this makes cybersecurity to be critical than ever before.
Cyberattacks can negatively impact your business.
The above examples clearly indicate that cyberattacks have a direct negative impact on victims. A business without effective cybersecurity solutions can be a victim of cyberattacks. The significant effect caused by cybercrime is the economic impact. An attacked company can;
Lose its intellectual properties and corporate information, which are critically important to the company’s success.
Lose intellectual property, meaning that the affected organization cannot claim ownership of its services or products.
Be unable to continue with business operations due to system downtime or in the case of ransomware attacks.
Lose customers who are afraid that their data may also get compromised due to insufficient security practices. A damaged reputation causes a lowered profitability.
Other than such direct impacts, a cyberattack usually leads to costly legal battles. A business that has been a victim of cybercrime is responsible for any cyber incidences, especially if the organization’s negligence towards cybersecurity caused the incidents. If a company fails to secure personal data with a password or encryption, it is at fault. The company may be required to compensate all affected data owners translating to millions of dollars.
Many countries have adopted cybersecurity legislation that requires organizations to observe various guidelines when handling personal data. For instance, the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) requires data handlers to first seek the data owners’ consent before using their information for any purpose. Cybersecurity legislation imposes hefty fines on breached companies. GDPR can impose penalties on a company for more than 4% of its annual revenue for failing to secure customer data appropriately.
How your business can be cyber secure
Companies today don’t have the luxury of choosing whether to implement cybersecurity systems, tools, or policies. It is now mandatory because a cyberattack can target anybody. While it is impossible to be 100% cybersecure, there are several strategies an organization can implement to achieve optimal cybersecurity.
1. Create cyber awareness
Many attacks are successful when an employee or a user makes a security mistake. The mistake can be due to ignorance of observing best security practices when using IT assets. Creating cyber awareness and training employees on cybersecurity can significantly minimize the possibility of a cyberattack.
Cyber awareness and training should consist of effective practices for managing passwords. Passwords provide the most straightforward form of defense, but they can cause many security incidences if not managed well. Effective password management includes creating strong passwords that are difficult to crack, always locking a workstation with a complex password, and observing secure password storage.
Creating awareness on how to identify attacks like phishing can improve an organization’s cybersecurity posture. Phishing attacks utilize emails where the attacker sends a malicious link or attachment to a target. Prompt identification of such emails can reduce the possibility of a phishing attack. Training should show users how to spot fake emails.
Attackers use emails that appear to be from a trusted party. A legitimate email address like be***********@***il.com can be modified to be************@***il.com, making it difficult for a user to identify the differences. Equipping system users with necessary cybersecurity skills can enable a business to be cybersecure.
2. Protect against data leaks
Data leakages are among the biggest threats to a company’s cybersecurity. Data leaks have the potential of causing irreparable damage both at the individual and at the company level. Every business handles sensitive data, including the personal details of a customer, confidential employee and supplier data, data revealing the company’s strategic directions and objectives, intellectual properties, etc. Data leaks involving such types of information can have severe consequences for the business.
One way of preventing data leaks is by limiting data accessible by the public. An organization has no business sharing customer or employee data in a public domain like on Facebook. Only authorized individuals should have access to sensitive data, and they should adhere to a business’s policies that govern how to handle such data.
Limiting data access from the public is not enough. Some employees in a company might be insider threats. These employees may use company data for malicious reasons. For example, an angry employee can blackmail the employer into meeting specific demands by threatening to hand over valuable data to competitors. Such problems are avoided by implementing access control measures.
Access control determines who has all the required permissions for accessing specific content. Widespread access control techniques include the concept of least privilege. This is where employees are only allowed to access the data they need. A form of this role-based access in which an employee’s responsibility determines the data they can access.
3. Protect against ransomware attacks
Ransomware attacks have been the topmost threat to businesses for years. In a ransomware attack, a cybercriminal encrypts the victim’s data or IT assets and demands a large ransom in exchange for decryption keys. Although the attacks target data mostly stored in physical computers, there is an increased rate of ransomware attacks targeting data stored in the cloud.
Protecting against ransomware attacks involves creating multiple backups and storing them in secure and separate locations. Even if an attack encrypts the data stored in physical computers, an organization can retrieve the backups and proceed with day-to-day operations. Cloud backups are adequate, but they can sometimes be unavailable. Therefore, the backups should be replicated in locally available but highly secure devices.
Using trusted firewalls and antiviruses can protect against ransomware attacks. A secure firewall with complex and reliable security rules for filtering incoming connections can help prevent ransomware attacks executed through the network.
Users should update antivirus products as soon as new security definitions are released. New malware programs are created every day, and keeping antivirus software up to date ensures it can protect against new threats. However, a company should be careful to use antivirus products from trusted vendors.
A fake antivirus product claiming to prevent ransomware attacks can expose your business to many security risks. Windows security center from Microsoft is an excellent example of a trusted antivirus solution.
4. Prevent phishing and social engineering attacks
Phishing attacks are processes attackers use to obtain confidential information fraudulently. Attackers use trickery to convince their targets to click on malicious links or attachments. Phishing is a form of social engineering.
A single click automatically downloads and installs malware into the system. Typically, a phishing attack executes through emails where unsuspecting victims receive messages from a sender disguised as a trusted party. An example is when an attacker pretends to be a bank employee and emails an individual that his bank account has a problem and requires logging in to the bank’s online account.
However, upon clicking on the provided link, the individual is redirected to a malicious website that installs malware to his computer. Other emails may contain attachments that appear to be legit such as that from a supplier or a customer. The attachments may be laden with malware which automatically installs when opened.
Today, cybercriminals have adopted a new technique: using artificial intelligence to target new victims. AI is used to create smarter emails sent to hundreds of email accounts all at once.
To stop phishing attacks, do not open attachments or links sent by unknown people. All suspicious email addresses requiring one to click on links or attachments or ask the recipient for personal information should be marked as spam and forwarded to the IT department for more action.
Avoiding sensitive posting information like email addresses on online platforms can lower the chances of a phishing attack. If an email address must be provided, organizations are highly recommended to use a personal email not opened on company equipment. The emails can be set to forward new messages to official accounts once verified to be safe.
5. Adopt policies for securing emerging technologies
Businesses are raring to try out emerging technologies, especially those that claim to provide better functionalities than existing ones. While there is nothing wrong with this, new, untested technologies can cause severe security issues. They may contain undiscovered vulnerabilities, making them easy targets for cybercriminals.
Emerging technologies might be incompatible with other systems, thereby magnifying security risks. A company should adopt strong policies governing the acquisition and use of new technologies within the workplace as part of its cybersecurity programs.
For example, such a policy would require emerging technologies to have successfully been used and tested to the limit to ascertain they are entirely secure.
Benchmarking organizations that have used the technologies without security problems can also be an effective policy. With the rapid technological changes, IT professionals require to stay abreast of new developments. This ensures that the policies implemented for governing data access, use, and handling in previous technologies can effectively provide security to the latest technologies.
Cybersecurity policies should be continuously amended as organizations populate their IT infrastructures with new ones. Changing security policies eliminates the possibility of an attack.
