So it's Q4. Everyone is ramped up, trying to hit their annual goals. One problem–your security problems are about to snowball.
Because one thing that makes Q4 exciting is that breaches usually increase during that period.
If you're in fintech, this also means your software will have an influx of data (if the business is successful) as more transactions happen.
In healthcare, a trend has also been found that injuries increase during the holidays.
What I'm trying to say is there's going to be an influx of data and funds, everything hackers love.
Q4 is for holidays but those vulnerabilities lurking in your cloud environments and legacy systems don’t come bearing gifts.
The Cloud Could be a Problem
Cloud computing offers agility and scalability like never before. But to be honest: it’s also a double-edged sword. Here’s what you need to watch out for:
Misconfigured Security Settings: Rushing to deploy cloud solutions without proper security leaves your environment vulnerable. More employees also work from home during the holidays, and the chances of human error increase, potentially leading to significant breaches.
Expanded Attack Surface: The more applications and services you have in the cloud, the more places hackers can poke their noses where they don’t belong. Cybercriminals know that employees are on holiday so coverage is less and organizations are more focused on meeting year-end goals than on their security posture, making this a prime time for exploitation.
Data Breaches: Hackers are hunting for your sensitive customer data. If your cloud security is weak, you’ll find yourself on the wrong end of a nasty surprise.
Legacy Systems May be Too Old
Now, let’s talk about legacy systems. They’ve been around since the dawn of time, but sometimes that’s the problem:
Vendor Lock-In: If you’re tied to a legacy system, you’ve successfully entered the world of vendor lock-in, where updates and support go to die. I talked about this and how to avoid it in our most recent email newsletter. Sign up here.
Integration Challenges: Legacy systems often refuse to play nice with modern cloud solutions, creating gaps in your security that are larger than your aunt’s holiday fruitcake. These blind spots are a hacker's playground, especially when they see you’re too distracted to notice.
Inadequate Support: As technology evolves, vendors may stop supporting your outdated systems. And yes, you should update your systems. But it still feels horrible—no one’s coming to your rescue when things go south. And the holiday season usually drives in that direction.
It’s Q4. Hit Your Goals Without Letting Your Guard Down
Here are 4 strategies to help you avoid being in the cybersecurity news for all the wrong reasons:
Conduct a Security Assessment: Take a hard look at your cloud configurations and legacy systems. Identify vulnerabilities and patch them up before hackers decide to invite themselves to your software systems.
Educate Your Team: With remote work on the rise during the holidays, don’t let your team fall victim to phishing scams and social engineering. Invest in cybersecurity training to ensure they know the red flags.
Plan for Incident Response: Don’t wait until a breach happens to come up with a game plan. A solid incident response strategy is your insurance policy against chaos when the worst-case scenario rears its ugly head.
Consider a Security Partner: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to ask for help. Partnering with a cybersecurity provider can provide the expertise you need, ensuring you can enjoy the festivities without worrying about a cyberattack.
And unashamedly, I’ll say this: Resilient Software Security can help you with any of the security strategies you decide to pick. Just reach out to us.
Conclusion
Remember that your security problems aren’t going to magically disappear. No matter how much you hope they do.
So, gear up, stay vigilant, and make sure your security problems aren’t about to get worse.
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