Almost all organizations have servers on-premise or in the "cloud." Some are robust and some are simple, used for everything from storing files to databases to sensitive information and communications services.
Regardless of what they're used for, servers contain a wealth of information that hackers and threat actors target. Here are three reasons attackers love your servers:
Servers are high value
Servers contain your most valuable data. Hackers and attackers are well aware of this and will typically threaten to release your sensitive data if you don't meet their demands. They can use ransomware to lock your files or simply steal your data and offer it for sale on the dark web.
Server downtime is costly
Unexpected downtime of your server and services can seriously impact your productivity. Attackers can remove your access to your important files and databases, communications and other mission-critical tools. A ransomware attack can critically grind your organization to a halt unless you have a way to recover or pay the ransom demand.
Servers are a perfect staging ground
Servers are usually well connected in an organization's network as well as to the Internet and run 24x7. This alone makes them a perfect platform for hackers to use as a launch point for further attacks into your network. Once compromised, servers can be used to perform reconnaissance to find other systems and weaknesses that can be exploited. Some hackers will infect servers to make them serve as botnet servers to impact other organizations, effectively creating a "web" of malicious servers use to attack others.
So what can you do to protect yourself and your systems?
A common myth is that just moving everything to the cloud makes them secure. This is not true. The "cloud" is just someone else's infrastructure and hardware that you're paying to use (like renting an apartment). Once your systems have been migrated to a cloud service, you still have to protect and secure it just like you would a server in your network (physical or virtual). That means using endpoint security (otherwise referred to as "antivirus") and a next-gen firewall capable of detecting and preventing advanced threats and using deep-learning neural networks analyze behavior of known and unknown threats.
To enhance your security from cyber threats, consider these best practices:
Use a commercial-grade firewall with advanced threat management capabilities.
Regularly back up your data on something or somewhere other than another computer or a USB storage device.
Use business-class endpoint protection (antivirus) that uses deep-learning artificial intelligence and neural networks to detect and stop even zero-day threats.
Educate your employees on a regular basis on cybersecurity awareness.
Change your passwords on a very regular basis. Use passphrases instead of traditional passwords.
Start using Multi-Factor Authentication (also called 2FA) for more secure access to your information.
Create a disaster recovery plan that covers natural disasters to infrastructure damage to cyber attacks
Firestorm Cyber is a Top 200 MSSP and offers industry-leading solutions to protect you and your business, from small to enterprise.
Contact us for a free assessment and discuss how to enhance the security of your systems and servers:
+1(706) 410-2966
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