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5 Cyber Security Threats for Organizations Face and How ISO Standards can Help
- 2022-11-01
The task of protecting a company’s data against hacking and data breaches is becoming more and more complicated, demanding the use of several systems, technologies, and personnel. Everything can come to naught if the entire system is not successfully regulated to provide transparency over what functions well and what does not, as well as how everything relates to corporate goals and strategies.
The evolution of cybersecurity
The first cyberattack was recorded nearly two centuries ago, in 1834, by the Blanc Brothers (François and Joseph Blanc) in France, and it was nothing like the cyber-attacks of today’s world. However, because there was no law prohibiting the misuse of data networks at the time, the Blancs were not found guilty.
Many years later, in 1988, to give himself a sense of the scale of the web, Robert Morris, a graduate student at Cornell University, developed what would become regarded as the first worm on the internet. The worm caused computers to become infected and reinfected at a rate that was far higher than Morris had anticipated, turning what had initially been a relatively benevolent experiment into a ferocious denial-of-service attack. Morris was the first individual to be found guilty of breaking the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act in a jury trial after being identified as the worm’s creator.
Today, cybersecurity is defined as the process of defending sensitive information and crucial systems against online attacks.
Nevertheless, the development of the internet is nothing short of revolutionary. Forecasts predict that over the next 15 years, its effects will outpace those of the Industrial Revolution, which lasted for 50 years. What is more, according to a recent report by IDG, 78% of IT executives expressed a lack of confidence in their company’s current IT security posture and saw room for improvement.
Thus, due to this shifting environment, it is crucial for companies to keep up with the newest cybersecurity practices while fighting the conflicts of cyberattacks.
Five most common cybersecurity threats
Nowadays, companies encounter countless cybersecurity threats. According to EarthWeb, every 39 seconds, a cybercrime happens. The five most common cybersecurity threats include:
1) Ransomware
Ransomware is a kind of malicious software intended to prevent users from accessing a computer system until they pay a certain amount of money. It is considered one of the most dangerous threats in cyberspace.
2) Malware attacks
Any intrusive program created by cybercriminals to steal data and disrupt computer systems is referred to as malware, which is short for “malicious software.” Malware types that are frequently encountered involve viruses, worms, Trojan viruses, spyware, adware, etc.
Organizations presume they are secure. However, to be protected against any sophisticated malware, organizations need to implement technologies that continuously monitor and identify malware.
3) Social engineering attacks (Phishing)
A social engineering attack is a kind of cybersecurity threat that depends on persuading people to reveal confidential information, provide login information, grant admission to a personal device, or otherwise jeopardize their online security.
If someone emails you asking for your passwords, personal information, or any other sensitive information, that is a sign of a social engineering attack.
One of the most prevalent types of cyberattacks is phishing, and its frequency rises year after year. Approximately 90% of all data breaches are caused by phishing.
4) Botnets
A botnet is a collection of devices that have been hijacked and connected to the Internet. Each of these devices has been infected with malware that allows its remote controllers to take control of them without the owner’s awareness. It is more difficult to track down since botnets use numerous “bots” to construct fictitious locations all over the world.
5) DDoS Attack
A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) assault is a deliberate attempt to prevent users from accessing a server or network resource. It is accomplished by overloading a service, which causes a brief suspension or interruption of it.
How ISO Management Systems and CSA STAR certifications can help
Today, cybersecurity is seen more as a business risk than just an IT problem. That is because of the financial losses and reputational harm brought on by a cybercrime. Thus, one of the last things that corporate executives or leaders really want to think about is cyberattacks. The issue is that, even while cybersecurity does not immediately impact your top line, ignoring it can seriously hurt your bottom line.
The best method to defend against the five threats elaborated above and others is to have your business adopt a structured cybersecurity practice. Deploying technologies that continuously monitor and identify malware that has gotten past perimeter security is essential. Modern network visibility and intelligence, together with many layers of protection, are necessary for adequate defense against advanced malware.
Thus, organizations can depend on the most up-to-date ISO standards and CSA STAR certifications to overcome any security issues that they might face.
ISO/IEC 27000 family of standards
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) have published the ISO/IEC 27000 family of standards to ensure that infrastructure, particularly data centers, adhere to specific legal, technical, and physical regulations to ensure the privacy, availability, and integrity of data stored there.
Standards that are part of this family and against which organizations can be certified are ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701. Other standards like ISO/IEC 27017, ISO/IEC 27018, and ISO/IEC 27032 give specific guidelines, while ISO/IEC 27002, ISO/IEC 27005, and ISO/IEC 27007, among others, help organizations to better implement the requirements of the standards.
ISO/IEC 27001, or the Information Security Management System (ISMS), is one of the most popular standards in this family that every organization, no matter the type or size, can benefit from. It confirms that organizations keep information assets secure by building an information infrastructure against the risks of loss, damage, or any other threat to their assets. As it is a management system standard and it corresponds to the Type A of ISO standards, organizations can get certified against it. By getting certified, organizations not only benefit from the best practices it contains, but they also reassure their customers and clients that the requirements of the standard have been followed.
Another very important standard of this family is ISO/IEC 27701 Privacy Information Management Systems (PIMS) Certification. By upgrading the current ISMS based on the requirements of ISO/IEC 27001 and the guidelines of ISO/IEC 27002, ISO/IEC 27701 helps organizations create, manage, and continuously develop a PIMS.
CSA STAR Certification
Having an ISO/IEC 27001 certification together with a CSA STAR (Security, Trust, Assurance, and Risk) Certification is a great combination for Cloud Service Providers (CSPs).
By obtaining the CSA STAR Certification, CSPs show their clients that they are using best practices to protect data in cloud applications.
CSA STAR certification helps cloud service providers prevent several security issues. It enhances their reputation as a trustworthy cloud service provider, demonstrates their commitment to openness and best practices, and creates a strong program for cloud-specific security.
ISO 22301 - Business Continuity Management System standard
The quicker a company implements the necessary security measures after becoming a victim of a cyberattack, the better its chances are of preventing other assaults and minimizing their impact and harm. Because of this, the Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) ISO 22301 standard was created to safeguard organizations from risks, lessen the likelihood of disruptive incidents, and guarantee that their operations can resume after them.
Additionally, the ISO/IEC 27031 standard, which is also a member of the ISO/IEC 27000 family, acts as a complementary one by addressing the procedures to be followed to guarantee the continuity of information and communication technologies in the event of disruptive occurrences. It can be considered an addition to ISO 22301, which is targeted specifically at the ICT environment.
ISO/IEC 20000-1 IT Service Management Systems
The Service Management Systems (SMS), ISO/IEC 20000-1 standard, outlines the conditions that must be met by the service provider for an SMS to be planned, established, implemented, operated, monitored, reviewed, maintained, and improved. The most significant benefit of ISO/IEC 20000-1 certification is that it attests to an organization’s ability to continuously enhance the provision of its IT services.
ISO 28000 Security Management Systems
The ISO 28000 standard outlines the specifications for a security management system, including those elements essential to supply chain security assurance.
An organization will ensure that security and threats from logistical operations and supply chain partners are managed and controlled by obtaining ISO 28000 certification. Additionally, by conducting a third-party audit and getting certified, organizations will gain a business advantage in a highly competitive market.
Get certified with MSECB
MSECB is accredited by IAS to offer audit and certification services against the above-mentioned ISO standards and a CSA Corporate Member to offer CSA STAR certification. These certifications help organizations be prepared in the fight against cybercrime. If you are interested in certifying your organization and staying cyber safe, start by getting a Free Quote today.
“Anything that cannot be measured would be difficult to improve.”
– Oludare Ogunkoya, MSECB Auditor for ISO/IEC 27001:2013, ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018, ISO 22301:2019, ISO 9001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018
Additionally, to see how other organizations have benefited from our certifications, please see their success stories.
