RISKS

RISK TO NETWORK SECURITY
Trends in Network Security Risks

Threats are continuously shifting, evolving, and growing in terms of
sophistication and severity.
Some of the current, top cybersecurity risks include:
 Remote Work: Following the 2020 lockdowns, many more
employers are now offering remote or hybrid working arrangements.
These arrangements raise a host of new challenges for cybersecurity
professionals, including home office security, BYOD policies, and
more.
 Ransomware: The threat of ransomware isn’t new. However, the
volume of such attacks has increased in recent years. When paired
with the more sophisticated phishing and social engineering methods
of modern-day cyber attacks, ransomware is a threat to keep your eye
on in the coming years.
 Cloud Services: Cloud-based applications offer many benefits to
organizations, like cost savings, scalability, and more. However,
attackers often target such services to get at organizational data.
Insider threats, unauthorized access, and other challenges can make
your cloud services points of vulnerability for your organization.
With these trends in mind, let’s take a look at some of the top network
security risks and how you can address them in your organization.
1. Encryption
Encryption is a double-edged sword. In recent years, organizations have

looked to protect sensitive data by scrambling communications, what we
know as encryption. “End-to-end encryption” can create a false sense of
comfort for consumers, Bloomberg recently reported. The reality is that a
hacker can control the device in a variety of ways, including gaining
access to the “full discussion regardless of what security precautions are
built into the app you are using.” Encryption essentially gives hackers free
rein to operate prior to their eventual detection and remediation.
2. Ransomware
Network-based ransomware can cripple systems and data. This threat is
particularly alarming as it does not rely heavily on the human element to
execute and bring an organization to its knees.
Many times, to be successful with an attack, an active and unpatched
workstation and an automated software update are the only set of needs.
Data can be compromised or lost altogether on an infected device. And
further compounding the problem is the fact that many small to medium-
sized businesses do not report ransomware attacks as they occur.
As CPO Magazine noted, many ransomware attacks go unreported, and
more than half of all ransomware attacks begin with social engineering
attacks.
Preventative measures against ransomware include:
 Using Diverse Backups
 Keeping Antivirus Up-To-Date
 Maintaining Patch Updates
 Installing File and System Integrity Monitoring Software
 Compliance Maintenance
Learn more about how businesses can be prepared for ransomware.
3. DDoS Attacks
DDoS attacks come at a real cost. The severity and frequency of DDoS
attacks have many network managers concerned. Hackers infiltrate
organizations by flooding websites and networks with questionable traffic.
Two avenues are emboldening criminals in their nefarious endeavors.
“DDoS for hire” services are one means through which hacking/attack
skills are offered in exchange for money.
The other channel used is the wide adoption of Internet-of-Things (IoT)
technology. IoT widgets with poor security defenses are easy targets.
Defending against DDoS attacks doesn't have to be a challenge. Ways to
help defend against DDoS attacks include:
 Identifying unusual traffic activity
 Using the needed amount of bandwidth
 Avoiding the wrong response to extortion attempts
 Immediate contact with your ISP
 Developing a Comprehensive Approach to DDoS Security
4. Insider Threats
Insider threats continue to infect organizations of all sizes. Experts
estimate that insider threats are behind roughly 50 percent of data
breaches, according to McKinsey & Company. Such incidents are usually
driven by financial gain or negligence.
Though the thought process behind insider threats is gaining popularity
within organizations, enterprises may not always be proactive as the
majority of network security defenses are configured to protect from
external threats.
Insider abuse can include but is not limited to:
 Remote access to sensitive data
 Unauthorized deletion of data
 Unauthorized access to shared folders
 Unapproved hardware/software
Organizations may find that those who already have legitimate, authorized
access to sensitive data operate illicitly, many times with few or no
limitations on their access and agency. This reality underlines the need
for consistent monitoring of suspicious activity.
Utilizing a file integrity monitoring (FIM) software can help reduce the
risk of costly insider breaches, especially a FIM tool with integrity that
helps with Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) strategy.
5. Cloud Security
The security behind legitimate cloud services is being co-opted. As more

organizations gravitate toward the cloud for data storage and retrieval,
hackers have found a way in. They use the same legitimate services but
may have ulterior motives and can wreak havoc.
Organizations can be left vulnerable as they have come to trust common
cloud platforms and take a reactive approach to any questionable activity.
This comes at a huge cost to them in the form of downtime and leveraging
resources to do damage control.
Several incidents have been reported recently, including one affecting the
City of Tallahassee and resulting in an initial loss of $500,000 from the
city’s human resources department. According to a previous Tech
Times article, a Dropbox link was used in a phishing scam from the email
account of the city manager. The link contained a virus allowing hackers
to infiltrate the payroll network and induce panic.
As Software-as-a-Service(SaaS) continues to grow, and services move to
the cloud, organizations still need to be wary of policies and procedures
that can lead to a false sense of responsibility and security for data in the
cloud.
6. SQL Injection
For many organizations, company data is stored in a server using SQL. As

a result, your company data may be vulnerable to an SQL injection attack.
First appearing in 1998, an SQL injection attack occurs when a cyber
attacker uses code to access, change, or destroy private company data.
Attackers use vulnerabilities in your application software to create a fake
identity, manipulate company data, and even void transactions or change
balances in the books.
Regularly check your software for vulnerabilities to protect against this
type of attack. You will also want to monitor your file integrity
continuously to remediate changes that occur as a result of SQL injection
attacks.
7. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
Also known as a MIM attack, a “man-in-the-middle” attack occurs when

an attacker “eavesdrops” on communication that should be private.
In this type of attack, the attacker may intercept an email, chat, or another
message between two parties. They can then use their access to spoof
messages, alter data, or engage in social engineering attacks.
Some examples of MIM attacks include:
 Wi-Fi hacking
 IP spoofing
 SSL hijacking
 DNS spoofing
How To Defend Against Network Security Risks
For many in IT, network vulnerabilities might not be emerging risks but
oversights. The continual challenge of maintaining compliance and
maintaining the integrity of the enterprise IT infrastructure is not always
standardized.
Utilizing file and system integrity monitoring software, specifically one
with auditing capabilities, flexible response options, and automated
detection processes, may decrease the risk organizations face daily.
Network-wide file and system integrity monitoring can establish total
accountability with audit trails that cannot be altered. It should also offer
unique, advanced protection against threats by providing admins with the
ability to restore systems and files to a prior state immediately.
To see for yourself how CimTrak can protect your business from the most
insidious security risks, check out our Instant Preview. You can also learn
more about File Integrity Monitoring by accessing our free resource, the
FIM Brief, today.

RISKS

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RISK TO NETWORK SECURITY

Trends in Network Security Risks

Encryption is a double-edged sword. In recent years, organizations have

The security behind legitimate cloud services is being co-opted. As more

For many organizations, company data is stored in a server using SQL. As

Also known as a MIM attack, a “man-in-the-middle” attack occurs when

How To Defend Against Network Security Risks

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