You might not be familiar with the criminal underworld of the internet, often referred to as the dark web, and the security threats it poses to your organization. Log-in credentials are bought and sold by hackers on the dark web to gain access to your network and steal your organization’s critical assets. After doing so, cybercriminals can shut down your business processes, sell your customer’s personal information, demand a large ransomware payload, and much more. Unfortunately, this activity tends to go undetected because it appears as normal operations being performed by your employees. If your organization does not have a trusted team of experts consistently monitoring your network activity, you may be at risk of a crippling cyberattack. Many businesses don’t realize that one of the biggest cyber risks within their organization is their employees. Have you heard about cybercriminals strategically leaving thumb drives containing malicious hacker code in employee parking lots, waiting for someone to pick them up and plug them into their work laptops? Unfortunately, research indicates that over 60% of individuals who find a thumb drive will plug it into their computers—potentially providing hackers with an easy entry point into the network. It’s understood that in today’s technological world, cybersecurity is vital for businesses of all sizes. Unfortunately, cybersecurity doesn’t always seem to be a priority until a breach occurs, at which point it’s often too late. Scanning the Dark Web for Your Credentials One of the most important aspects of understanding your organization’s overall security posture involves conducting a risk assessment to pinpoint any undisclosed security vulnerabilities and defensive gaps. As part of this process, a dark web scan can provide additional information about potential risk exposure and can serve as an early indicator of cyber threats that may have gone unnoticed. The findings of a dark web scan can reveal employees who might have utilized their corporate email for personal reasons, potentially leading to compromised credentials and posing unwarranted risks to your organization. This is why it remains very important for employees to understand cybersecurity compliance within the workplace, and they should not be using their business email for non-professional activities. A dark web scan can provide insight into exposed users and allow the organization to set up the appropriate security monitoring measures to ensure credentials are not compromised again in the future. The dark web can be intimidating, especially for organizations that may not have sufficient security measures in place, but CRC Data Technologies is here to help. We utilize a highly reputable third-party to perform risk assessments of our network, and we extend the same test to our customers and other qualifying businesses at no financial cost. We highly recommend that every organization, big or small, assess their network at least twice a year. It’s best to be knowledgeable of any risks to your organization in order to properly defend against them. Give us a call today at 850-654-7262 or email support@crcdatatech.com to get started with your free cybersecurity risk assessment today.

If you ask a security expert, you’ll likely receive traditional advice regarding password sharing: “Avoid sharing passwords.” However, we know that approach isn’t always feasible with the amount of applications being used within an organization today. In many workplaces, sharing a password for a specific website or app can be useful in saving time and money. For example, SurveyMonkey requires additional payment per user, so by sharing the same account amongst employees an organization is able to cut costs. Additionally, collaborative tasks often require password sharing, and the most effective way to safely and securely do that is by utilizing a password manager. These tools are cost-effective and user friendly, providing fortified layers of added security. Password managers provide the safest and most convenient means of storing and sharing your company’s confidential passwords. Why Would You Need to Share Passwords? Shared accounts are the primary reason why employees share passwords, whether they are working from home or in person. Password sharing can help streamline workflow, promote collaboration on assignments, cut down on company spend, and much more. However, if employees are not sharing safely and responsibly, critical information can be left available to malicious hackers. According to an IBM Security report, in 2022 19% of breaches were due to stolen or compromised passwords. So that poses the question, how do you share passwords correctly? Avoid These Common Mistakes When Sharing and Storing Passwords Avoid Sharing Passwords Through Email: Cybercriminals primarily target emails, and unfortunately, most email services are not encrypted. Even the email services that are encrypted are still at risk due to the amount of emails that are stored in servers coming in or going out of your account. Do Not Send Passwords Over Text or Chat: Similar to email, sharing passwords via text or chat is unsafe. Once you have sent that information out, it is available for anyone to steal. Never Write Down Your Passwords: Although it can be convenient, do not write your passwords down on a sticky note, in a notebook, or even type them on a Word Document. Do Not Store Passwords on Your Device: If your phone or laptop gets stolen, there is nothing stopping the thief from using every password you have saved on your device. How to Safely Share and Store Passwords A password manager is the most secure way to store your passwords. Only those with your master password can access the information you have stored, and password managers also have the most secure sharing features. These features include: Zero-knowledge architecture Multifactor authentication Unique password generator Weak password notifications Breach notifications Enable secure and straightforward password sharing with a password manager. Certain applications allow you to designate which passwords your employees can access while keeping others in a private vault. They also offer the capability to share documents or records without revealing important credentials. Using a password manager also eliminates the need to remember several unique passwords for different websites. Now, the only password you need to remember is the master password to access the application. Smart Organizations Use Password Managers Sharing passwords is risky, but there is a safe way to do it when necessary. Using a dependable password manager helps you maintain control over who accesses your credentials and ensures that your private information isn’t at risk of being stolen. It is also important that your employees are knowledgeable on safe cyber hygiene, and they are aware of the do’s and don’ts of password storing and sharing. If you’d like to get set up with a password manager but aren’t sure which one would be best for your organization, give us a call today and we can help.

Regardless of how big or small your business is, it’s crucial to prioritize cybersecurity to safeguard your data from potential cyber threats. It is also imperative that your organization protects your clients’ and customers’ information, ensuring the privacy and protection of all their critical data. Compliance regulations mandate that any company storing personal information must ensure security for their customers and clients. These requirements have been implemented to hold organizations responsible for the critical information they possess. If a company does not prioritize security and a hacker breaches the network, their access and possibilities are endless. So that presents the question, what can be done to ensure that your organization and all of the critical data stored within your systems are protected? In the past, many small to medium-sized businesses relied solely on firewalls and other intrusion prevention and detection systems, but today, those measures are no longer sufficient. Now, it’s important to talk with a cybersecurity company that can constantly monitor and manage your systems, ensuring that your organization is keeping compliance regulations. Compliance There are different compliance regulations in place for different entities storing critical information. Each compliance organization oversees a distinct domain; for example, PCI (Payment Card Industry) focuses on credit card security, while HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) focuses on personal health information. Startup companies or smaller organizations may not be sure which compliance regulations apply to their company, so it’s best to turn to a managed service provider for help. At CRC Data Technologies, we can identify the specific compliance regulations your company must follow, and we can also provide you with services to stay within those guidelines. Cybersecurity Services Navigating cybersecurity as a small to medium-sized business can be challenging, but there are solutions available to keep your company protected. Whether you opt for reliable products or complete care services, there is a security solution to fit every organization’s needs. If you have any questions regarding your cybersecurity and the various options available, reach out to us today. We have the knowledge and experience to keep your organization within compliance requirements while also keeping all your critical information secure.

According to the FBI Crime Complaint Center, there were nearly $51 billion in exposed losses last year due to business email compromise (BEC). This number has continued to increase throughout previous years, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Cyber threats are continuing to evolve, so it is crucial that your organization is knowledgeable of the risks that you may face in a BEC attack. Knowledgeable Employees Ensuring that your employees are educated and can recognize a threat when it arises is one of the most important ways to protect your company against BEC. For example, if an employee in your finance department receives an email from a client requesting to change wire transfer information, make sure that the employee recognizes the email as a red flag. Although it may seem obvious, it can be overlooked when employees get busy working against deadlines. Monitoring for Anomalous Behavior BEC threats mimic normal user behavior, and this is why they can be so dangerous. With the rise of remote work, companies increasingly rely on cloud services like Microsoft® Office 365®, which places data in a complex environment often lacking adequate protection. Once threat actors gain access to Office 365, reaching sensitive data becomes alarmingly easy. Traditional perimeter security tools like firewalls struggle to monitor suspicious activity within cloud-hosted applications such as Office 365, SharePoint, or OneDrive. If a cybercriminal bypasses perimeter defense and obtains user credentials, it becomes very difficult to detect threats that appear as normal activity. IT Security Staff Becoming immediately aware of suspicious activity as it appears is crucial. Unfortunately, many businesses lack the resources to assign staff for round-the-clock monitoring of their environment. If an alert is triggered at 1 a.m., the delay until someone notices and comprehends it could determine whether the business can defend itself or suffer catastrophic damage. Managed threat detection and response services serve as a valuable force multiplier, particularly for organizations unable to maintain continuous 24/7 monitoring of their environment. Having a knowledgeable security staff that is constantly monitoring for anomalous behavior and is always available when you need them is vital in preparing your organization against BEC. At CRC Data Technologies, our employees possess the necessary tools and experience to effectively combat BEC, give us a call today to ensure that your organization is protected.

You can never be too safe when it comes to cybersecurity, and if your organization is not implementing the necessary measures to stay protected from malicious online threats, you and your customers could end up in significant trouble. Cybercrimes can cause millions of dollars in company losses, disrupting spending plans and overall stability. To confront these threats head-on, your company must assess its current vulnerability and ensure the necessary steps have been taken to combat a cyberattack. To determine if your organization is at risk of an attack, see the behaviors below that could make you an easy target for cybercriminals. Out of Date Malware Protection Using outdated antivirus software is a guaranteed way to invite unwanted malware into your network. Cybercriminals are continuously devising new viruses and tactics to breach your firewalls, so it is imperative that your software is always up-to-date and able to withstand cyber threats Weak Passwords Examine the passwords being used by your team, are they secure enough to stop cybercriminals who are actively trying to get into your accounts? Are the passwords being reused across multiple websites? When was the last time those passwords were changed? All it takes is one determined cybercriminal to compromise your security. Surprisingly, even some of the largest companies resort to the simplistic “12345” password. If it’s deemed unsafe for a personal computer, it certainly isn’t secure for professional systems that contain client and employee personal information. Creating strong passwords can significantly enhance your cybersecurity efforts, ensuring that they are unique and changed often. Believing You’re Too Small to Target Cybersecurity companies witness attacks targeting businesses in every industry and of every scale. Believing that cybercriminals won’t target your organization due to your size is very dangerous. Studies show that 43% of cyberattacks are on small to medium-sized businesses, and only 14% of them are prepared for those attacks. Your organization should always be prepared and well-equipped for a cyberattack. Those are just a few indicators of potential vulnerabilities that could leave your organization at risk, but the list extends far beyond those points. If you’re unsure whether you are adequately prepared and protected against ever-evolving cybercrime risks, reach out to us today. We will assess your network and ensure that you have all the necessary tools and resources to protect your organization’s most critical assets.

The number of ransomware attacks continues to rise following the global pandemic and the increase in remote work.  In the past five years, the number of ransomware attacks has risen by 13%, and the average cost of these attacks has increased at an even faster rate. In 2023 the average ransom was $1.54 million, nearly doubling the 2022 figure of $812,380. These numbers don’t include lost business time, wages, files, or equipment, or any third-party remediation services acquired by a victim. While business email compromise (BEC) is one of the top cyber threats affecting companies, BEC is often followed with a ransomware payload. A payload is a threat that receives significant press coverage because of the damage both financially and operationally. The damage can include compromised customer data, a tarnished reputation, loss of productivity, and more. Let’s take a closer look at what ransomware is and how you can strengthen your defenses against it.   What is a Ransomware Attack and How Does it Work? Ransomware is a form of malware in which threat actors encrypt information on a computer system so users are unable to access their own data. The hackers then demand payment in exchange for releasing the information back to the owner. Hackers commonly use email phishing and remote desktop protocol vulnerabilities to gain access to networks and deploy ransomware software.  Here’s an overview of what that typically looks like:    First, hackers infiltrate an organization’s network through stolen credentials and remote access malware.  Next, they destabilize critical administrative accounts that control backup, Active Directory (AD), Domain Name System (DNS) servers, storage admin consoles, and other key systems.   With access to the backup administration console, backup jobs are turned off or modified and retention policies are changed. This also gives threat actors a roadmap to where sensitive application data is stored.  Often security software such as anti-virus components are circumvented or turned off.    Hackers then encrypt the data and steal data for use in future criminal activities.   Ransomware doesn’t have to be encryption only. Data exfiltration and subsequent ransom demands are quickly growing across the cybercrime landscape. LockBit, the hacking group that recently demanded $50 million from global IT consultancy Accenture, possessed data exfiltration software capable of easily downloading data from compromised systems.    Prevention and Mitigation When you consider the possibility of how ransomware can affect you, you should think about it as a matter of when, not if. It’s better to anticipate a worst-case scenario than to be underprepared in the event of an attack. CRC Data Technologies constantly monitors the integrity of your network in order to ensure all your critical data is secure from loss or theft, your firewall is restricting traffic to only necessary communication, and there are no misconfigurations in your security. Although it’s impossible to guarantee 100% protection against ransomware, we can help reduce the likelihood of an attack and mitigate the damage in the event of an incident by implementing tools and techniques that can be used to improve the security posture of your business.  Discover and Monitor Every Asset When unidentified assets exist on a network without being accounted for, it can introduce operational and security risk. Unmanaged and unmonitored endpoints are prime targets for hackers because they’re more likely to be outdated and have vulnerabilities. We can only manage the assets you have on record, so utilizing automated network scans are important in asset discovery. With ongoing scans, we can quickly find and monitor new devices as they join the network and then understand each device’s health.     Software Patching Once assets are identified, CRC will monitor and manage them effectively. Keeping operating systems, software, and applications current and up to date can reduce the cybersecurity risk level of your business. A remote monitoring and management (RMM) tool helps with continuous patching. This technology enables you to automatically deploy updates to endpoints, ensuring that you never fall behind with your patching needs.  Deploy an Endpoint Protection Tool Endpoint security is another crucial element of your overall cybersecurity posture. CRC Data Technology leverages endpoint detection and response (EDR) technology to help with the protection of endpoints such as servers, laptops, desktops, mobile devices, and more. An EDR tool is capable of quickly identifying many different virus and malware variants, as well as automatically taking remediation actions such as restoring unsafe files to an acceptable previous state.  Enhancing your Cybersecurity Toolset Ransomware attacks are more targeted and sophisticated than ever before. This is why it is critically important to have a partner to help you keep pace with the ever-changing threat landscape and bolster your cybersecurity defenses, as well as prepare to respond in the event of a ransomware attack. By working with CRC Data Technologies, the responsibility of monitoring and maintaining a secure network is off your back. We’re happy to help, reach out to us today for more information.