The world is slowing down during this COVID-19 pandemic. Wall Street is being hit hard. People are no longer going out. We’re told to quarantine or self-isolate and not engage in groups. Cyber-attacks during the pandemic are on the rise as criminals seize this opportunity.

You can bet there’s one group that’s not slowing down at all. In fact, they’re probably working overtime while the rest of us have our lives turned upside down. Cybercriminals and hackers know there’s no better time to strike than during a global crisis. While you are distracted and spending your time trying to make sense of this new normal, they are finding new ways into your IT network so they can steal data and passwords, compromise your clients’ private information and even demand large ransoms.

Cyber-attacks during the pandemic are expected to surge, with cybercrime already on the rise and projected to cause $6 TRILLION in damages by 2021! But, if history repeats itself, hackers will be out in full force throughout this coronavirus scare. We fully expect in the upcoming weeks that headlines will change from stories about COVID-19 to accounts of a frenzy of cyber-attacks on corporations and small businesses.

Here are solutions you can implement now to help protect your business data, money and productivity from cyber-attacks during the pandemic:

Be more suspicious of incoming e-mails.

Because people are scared and confused right now, it’s the perfect time for hackers to send e-mails with dangerous malware and viruses. At this moment, your in-box is probably filled with “COVID-19” subject lines and coronavirus-focused e-mails. Always carefully inspect the e-mail and make sure you know the sender. There’s a CDC-gov e-mail address out there now that’s not legitimate and is spamming inboxes across the country.

Avoid clicking links in the e-mail unless it’s clear where they go. And you should never download an attachment unless you know who sent it and what it is. Communicate these safeguards to everyone on your team, especially if they are working from home.

Many of these pitfalls can be significantly reduced if not completely eliminated with a good email security system. We can provide a complete email security solution complete with anti-phishing, anti-spam, anti-virus, attachment scanning, and encryption. This solution is especially useful in compliance situations where you need to ensure that certain types of data (ePHI, PII, etc) are transmitted and received securely.

Ensure your work-from-home computers are secure.

Another reason we expect a rise in cyber-attacks during this pandemic is the dramatic increase in employees working from home. Far too many employers won’t think about security as their team starts working at the kitchen table. That’s a dangerous precedent.

First, make sure your employees are not using their home computers or devices when working, but if they must, let us secure them for you. Second, ensure your work-at-home computers have a firewall that’s turned on. Finally, your network and data are not truly secure unless your employees utilize a VPN (virtual private network). If you need help in arranging your new work-from-home environment, we would be happy to get your entire team set up.

We have several solutions available to ensure users can work effectively from home while still keeping your data secure.

Improve your password strategy.

During crises like the one we are all facing right now, your passwords could mean the difference between spending your time relearning how to grow your business and trying to recoup finances and private data that’s been hacked. Make a point now to reevaluate your passwords and direct your team to create stronger passwords.

Also, while it’s so convenient to save your passwords in your web browser, it also lessens your security. Because web browsers simply require their own password or PIN to access saved passwords, a skilled hacker can bypass this hurdle. Once they access your saved passwords, they can steal as much as they want – credit card information, customers’ private data and more!

Instead, you should consider a password manager to keep all of your passwords in one place. These password managers feature robust security. We would not recommend putting your trust in any of the low-cost/no-cost options. Remember, when the service is free, you (or your data) are the product. We have a complete password-as-a-service solution that gives you centralized, encrypted storage for all of your company’s passwords as well as control over who has access to them and complete visibility into who has viewed what passwords, and when. Please feel free to reach out and ask us about it.

Conclusion

You, your team, and your family have enough to concern yourselves with in regards to staying healthy, living a more isolated lifestyle, and keeping your business strong. There’s no need to invite in more problems by letting your computer and network security slide during these times.

If you need additional security advice or would like to have a consultation to discuss how to keep your data safe from cyber-attacks during the pandemic, simply connect with us today.

At Allstate Computers, we specialize in providing leading IT and cybersecurity services tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Our dedicated team emphasizes ethical conduct, exceptional customer service, and a commitment to building long-term relationships. We prioritize understanding and manage your IT risks, while supporting you and your staff to ensure your business stays secure and efficient.

Ready to enhance your IT infrastructure and security?