Reputation management can mean the difference between earning the next contract and losing out to a competitor. In that regard, ensuring that your organization’s most prescient threats are accounted for can help avoid the bad press and brand erosion that follow in the wake of a cyberattack.

Before the breach, Kalispell Regional Healthcare was acknowledged for its distinguished data security readiness standards. Unfortunately, the lack of employee awareness training led to a phishing scam that made the entire network vulnerable. In today’s digital landscape, comprehensive phishing scam awareness training should be a routine requirement for any employee with an email address.

Whether in the form of ransomware payments to regain access to their networks or interrupted processes due to downed servers, the costs associated with ransomware can quickly escalate. With such attack vectors on the rise, businesses must take responsibility and protect their valuable IT infrastructure.

Spear phishing attacks are highly targeted and can be difficult for employees to identify. However, as more data becomes available to bad actors, businesses need to plan for this reality, training employees to spot small differences that often reveal a threat. The Ocala City tells a cautionary tale that failing to adjust to today’s threats can be an expensive mistake.

Cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to profit from businesses’ IT vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, these bad actors only have to execute their strategy once to inflict incredible long-term damage on a company. This complicated threat landscape makes it especially important that businesses regularly assess their cybersecurity stance to ensure that they are ready to defend whatever comes their way.