The advancement of virtualization processes and the remote and hybrid work models resulting from the recent COVID-19 pandemic have led to a rapid change in how companies operate, making virtual support the main driver of daily operations. This shift in working methods has also introduced new threats and provided new services to prevent them, such as the backup and recovery solutions offered by ITD Consulting.
One of the most significant assets that companies generate and manage is data, both internal to their operations and external data from their customers, which sustains their functioning. Therefore, this data becomes the target of cybercriminals, as well as the focus for implementing security systems like backup and recovery, which ITD Consulting makes available to you.
Data theft involves the illegal transfer or storage of personal, confidential, or financial information from a person or company. This type of information includes passwords, software codes, algorithms, processes, patented technologies, bank accounts, passport numbers, driver's licenses, social security numbers, medical histories, subscriptions, and more.
Data theft aims to sell the information, impersonate the victim to generate credit cards, for example, or to extort the victim seeking to recover their information, as seen in ransomware cases. Considering this, it is essential to implement routine security protocols like backup and recovery, which can be self-managed periodically according to the company's needs, or to contract managed security mechanisms like backup and recovery or DRaaS. As ITD Consulting, we currently offer this type of solution and can advise you on it.
Mechanisms Used in Data Theft to Protect Yourself with Backup and Recovery
- Social Engineering
Social engineering is a set of techniques used by hackers to deceive their victims into providing the information they want. An example of this is phishing, where the cybercriminal impersonates a trusted contact of the victim to trick them into revealing their data. Since this often results from human error that can occur with any employee, it allows the attacker to access critical data. It is crucial to safeguard information and processes using mechanisms like backup and recovery that allow for data protection in case a cyberattack causes damage to the system. The ITD Consulting team can support you with this type of solution.
- Weak Passwords
The use of simple passwords that are reused across multiple accounts increases system vulnerability. Therefore, it is recommended not only to follow protocols for generating passwords but also to implement measures for their periodic renewal, alongside backup and recovery mechanisms to prevent data loss due to insufficient password security, such as the solution offered by ITD Consulting.
- System Vulnerability
More developed software applications or poorly designed or implemented network systems create vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can detect and exploit. Similarly, poorly managed antivirus software, meaning outdated versions, can create security gaps within the system. In light of this, it is essential to assess the in-house capabilities for system management. If there is uncertainty about the expertise of our personnel in all necessary areas to secure our systems, it is advisable to consider managed security systems like backup and recovery, such as those provided by ITD Consulting, which can serve as a backup and provide guarantees.
- Internal Threats
This aspect relates to the trustworthiness of our employees and the integrity of individual and corporate values, ensuring that honesty prevails in handling sensitive information. This threat encompasses both current employees and former employees, ex-contractors, and former partners of our organizations. In light of this potential threat, it is wise to reinforce security systems such as ITD Consulting's backup and recovery to ensure that the information we handle within the company remains resilient.
- Human Error
Human error is one of the most frequent causes of damage to systems. This type of incidental damage can include sending confidential information to the wrong recipient, mistakes in the destination address of communications, attaching incorrect documents, incorrect configurations, or forgetting to secure information with passwords, among others. Such errors can be as common as typographical mistakes when drafting an email. Therefore, mechanisms must be established to protect against these erroneous practices, such as double verification or validation of messages before sending them. Similarly, self-managed backup and recovery mechanisms or managed backup and recovery packages, like those from ITD Consulting, are useful to prevent data loss.
- Compromised Downloads
Compromised downloads refer to downloads of programs or websites infected with some type of malware. This can provide cybercriminals with access through which they can steal information or take over the functioning of devices, as seen in certain types of ransomware. Therefore, it is essential that information is constantly safeguarded through mechanisms such as self-managed backup and recovery or the managed backup and recovery service offered by ITD Consulting, which allows for a rapid response upon detection of these problems, without compromising the company’s operations.
- Physical Actions
Some data thefts result from physical actions, such as the theft of documents or devices containing credentials or confidential information. Although the increase in common crime in the Latin American region has not ceased, in relation to cyberattacks, the prevalence of virtualization and remote work means that theft of information through physical actions is not the primary mechanism used by cybercriminals. However, given the potential for this to occur, it is wise to reinforce preventive security mechanisms such as managed backup and recovery from ITD Consulting, which allows you, in its more specialized version, DRaaS, to access a virtualized system that can function as the stolen equipment, for example.
- Database or Server Problems
Problems in the database or server can create significant security breaches that cybercriminals can exploit. In this regard, relying on a single backup and storage system for information is not advisable. Whether you choose to self-manage backup and recovery or contract a managed backup and recovery package, you should ensure that the backed-up information is accessible but located in a different place from the original to increase its security. Currently, we offer this type of solution as ITD Consulting, and we can advise you on it.
If you are interested in more information on how to prevent data theft with backup and recovery to keep your company protected, contact us at [email protected].
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