In today’s flexible working world, the lines between the office and the outside have blurred. But one thing remains clear: everyone is at risk of being affected by cybercrime.
Whether your team is logging in from a cozy corner of their favourite coffee shop or sitting at their desk in the company headquarters, they’re all connected to your network. And that means they’re all potential targets.
We’ll guide you through our insights into cybercrime and security, and share what you can do to protect your team, clients and business. It starts with a story about coffee and ends with a trip to Venice!
The real cost of an iced latte
First, let’s share a story that one of our clients recently shared – a story that she refers to as the “Iced Latte Incident.” What started as an innocent coffee break quickly escalated into a multi-million-dollar disaster.
Picture this, she says…“on a sunny afternoon, Julia from our Sales team was enjoying her iced latte at Dineen’s, catching up on emails after a client meeting. We had, I thought at the time, good cybersecurity practices in place. Julia used secure passwords and kept her screen angled away from prying eyes…”
She continued telling the story, her face reddening with the memory…“What Julia couldn’t see in the busy cafe, was a cybercriminal exploiting the unsecure wifi network. The attacker used token tailgating to access our system and client records. It all happened so fast. And it was devastating…”
…“The attacker accessed our clients’ personal and billing information. Within minutes, they had siphoned thousands of client records and emailed their accounts payable teams, claiming there were unpaid bills. Before we could contain the situation, millions of dollars had been drained from our clients’ accounts. The criminals funneled the stolen funds into untraceable cryptocurrency wallets and sold the clients’ account details on the dark web.”
Unfortunately, this story is more common than you may think.
Can you afford to be a sitting duck?
Stories like the “Iced Latte Incident” are why we’ve seen more business leaders than ever taking cyber threats seriously. The numbers don’t lie: 92% of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) have reported that their clients suffered a cyberattack in the past two years. Billions of dollars have been lost and the fallout extends far beyond the financials – it hits your reputation, your client trust, your very survival as a business.
The reality is, if your business operates online, you’re already a target.
In response to these growing threats, the demand for cyber insurance has skyrocketed. We’ve seen 87% of MSPs jumping on the cyber insurance bandwagon to protect their assets and data. But here’s a couple of kicks to the teeth: 1) insurance premiums have soared, and 2) getting cover isn’t as straightforward as it used to be.
Insurance providers are becoming increasingly selective, demanding that businesses demonstrate robust cybersecurity measures before they’ll even consider covering them. Without these measures in place, you could face higher premiums – or worse, find yourself uninsurable.
So, how do you avoid becoming the next cautionary tale? The answer lies in a comprehensive cybersecurity solution. By implementing a platform, like iON Guardian, you’re not just protecting your business from cyber threats; you’re also able to save money on cyber insurance premiums.
Identity is the new perimeter
We think of cybercriminals as petty thieves in Venice. As crowds of people squeeze through tiny streets, stopping to take pictures and browse boutique shops, pickpockets are lurking. They are looking for the easy options; the open rucksack, the unattended handbag. If your valuables are tucked away in a secure pocket, they’ll move on to the next victim.
In the digital world, your “valuables” are your identity credentials. “Identity is the new perimeter” is a phrase we use often. The truth is, human error is one of the most common ways attackers gain access to sensitive information. A single click on a malicious link can open the door to catastrophic consequences.
Hackers only need one access point to compromise your system, so you need to cover all your bases. In a world where digital trust is everything, ensuring your security measures are robust enough to prevent breaches is more crucial than ever – from both a digital and human perspective.
Simplified security, maximum protection
iON Guardian provides a comprehensive defense to cover all bases. It’s built to be accessible to businesses of all sizes, with a fixed price and per-employee fee that covers nine essential security controls. The all-exits-secured approach means you don’t have to juggle multiple subscriptions or hire a team of specialists.
Let’s revisit Julia’s story. Here’s how things could have played out differently with iON Guardian:
Email Security: With API-based active protection, Julia’s emails would have been automatically scanned for malicious attachments and phishing attempts, reducing the risk of a session token being intercepted.
Cloud Data Protection: Files would have been encrypted when shared, preventing unauthorized access even over unsecured wifi.
Phishing Simulations: Regular simulations would have trained Julia to recognize and avoid phishing attempts, making her less likely to fall victim.
Endpoint Security: Julia’s laptop would have been shielded from malware and ransomware, with an automatic cleanup process to safeguard her data if anything suspicious was detected.
Secure Browsing: Our browser extension would have blocked access to known malicious sites, keeping Julia safe while she worked online.
Dark Web Monitoring: Continuous scanning would have alerted us if any of the company’s or clients’ credentials were leaked.
External Risk Scanning: We would have identified any vulnerabilities or outdated software, addressing them before they could be exploited.
Security Awareness Training: Ongoing training would have kept Julia informed about the latest threats, reducing her risk of making a costly mistake.
Cloud Directory Posture: Strict access controls would have ensured that only authorized users could access sensitive data, protecting the organization from unauthorized access.
Don't wait for a crisis
Julia’s “Iced Latte Incident” is a stark reminder that without robust cybersecurity, even a normal afternoon can turn into a nightmare. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are tools that ensure your business is protected – comprehensively and affordably.
The digital world is full of threats, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Let’s make sure your next iced latte isn’t the start of a multi-million-dollar disaster. Secure your business with iON Guardian and focus on doing what you do best, not worrying about cybersecurity.
