43% of ransomware attacks are launched a on Friday or Saturday
Imagine leaving your front door wide open at night. Easy pickings for any opportunistic thief, right? The same principle applies to cybersecurity. Most cybercriminals aren’t after a specific company – they’re like digital burglars, scanning for weaknesses and exploiting them. This year, Sophos research shows a worrying trend: attackers are targeting businesses outside of regular working hours and extending their dwell time within compromised systems. This means defenders have less time to detect and respond to the threat.
The Challenge: Evolving Threats, Shrinking Response Windows
Cybercriminals are constantly refining their tactics. Gone are the days of elaborate, targeted attacks. Today, it’s about efficiency for attackers. They use automated scans to identify vulnerabilities in a vast number of systems simultaneously. Dwell time – the time attackers spend undetected within a compromised network – is increasing, giving them more opportunity to wreak havoc.
The Solution: Friction, Friction, Friction
The good news: just like securing your physical premises, you can make your digital environment a tough nut to crack for opportunistic attackers. The key? Increase friction in their path. Think of it as building layers of security that slow them down, frustrate their attempts, and ultimately make your business a less attractive target. Here’s how:
- Layered Defences: Don’t rely on a single security solution. Implement a multi-layered approach that combines firewalls, intrusion detection systems, endpoint protection, and data encryption.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step beyond a username and password.
- 24/7 Protection: Cybercriminals don’t take weekends off. Neither should your security. Implement solutions that provide continuous monitoring and threat detection, even outside of regular working hours.
Most active adversaries don’t deliberately target a particular organisation. Instead, they scan and look for organisations with gaps in their security defences and then go in for the kill. This year, Sophos found that these cybercriminals target organisations outside of typical working hours and increased their DwellTime to reduce defenders’ response windows.
As bad actors’ techniques evolve, cybersecurity teams need to increase friction wherever possible. Layered defences, MFA, and 24/7 protection keep attackers at bay.
Bee IT & Sophos: Your Security Partners
Bee IT, in partnership with Sophos, offers a comprehensive suite of security solutions designed to help you build a robust defence against cyberattacks. From advanced threat protection to user awareness training, we have the expertise and the tools to keep your business safe.
Don’t wait for a cyberattack to happen before you take action. Contact Bee IT today for a free security assessment and learn how we can help you fortress your business against opportunistic threats. Find out more about Sophos Security Solutions »
