As the war in Ukraine rages on and the United States levies sanctions against Russia, President Joe Biden has warned American businesses to be on the lookout for Russian cyberattacks.
Biden’s warning was echoed by Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology. Though Neuberger didn’t cite any specific plans, she told reporters there is “intelligence claiming the Russian government is exploring options for potential cyberattacks on the critical infrastructure in the United States.”
This could mean trouble for businesses of all sizes, especially since cybercriminals often target small companies that they believe don’t have the manpower, resources or time to safeguard their business with proper Russian cyberattack prevention.
While Biden has pledged to do what is necessary to defend the nation’s critical infrastructure, he said the federal government cannot do this alone, and businesses need to better protect themselves against possible attacks.
The White House has released a tip sheet on Russian cyberattack prevention and the best ways to prepare yourself in the event your liquor store, sports apparel shop or museum gift shop becomes a target.
Some of the tips include:
Meet local officials — If you haven’t already, reach out to your local FBI field office or CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) Regional Office to establish a relationship in the event you would want to report something suspicious. You can also visit the CISA and FBI for more information and resources on Russian cyberattack prevention.
Engage your employees – Sometimes, your best line of defense can be the person sitting or standing right next to you. Train your employees in the best cybersecurity practices, such as how to identify and sidestep potential ransomware and phishing attacks and conduct exercises and emergency drills so you and your staff know what to do in the event of a breach.
Be proactive – Work with your IT team, whether in-house or one you have outsourced, to make sure your cybersecurity is updated, and your data is properly backed up and encrypted. You may also want to change passwords across your company, so that any data that does fall into the wrong hands cannot be accessed.
Add extra layers of security – Use MFA (multi-factor authentication) or 2FA (two-factor authentication) to make your network even harder access and give you more control over who can enter your and poke around your system.
Secure all devices – As more and more employees continue to work from home, it is imperative they are doing so securely. Make sure their smartphones, laptops and tablets have the robust security you need to ensure they are accessing your network as safely as possible.
If you’re unsure if your cybersecurity can withstand a Russian cyberattack, contact our team at C&K. We offer managed IT services and network security designed to safeguard retail businesses. Our cybersecurity services include round-the-clock, 24/7/363 protection, scalability and multi-level protection at an affordable cost.
You’ve worked too hard to lose your business to an attack. Partner with C&K and protect what you have built.
Contact a solutions advisor.
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