Implementing Top Cyber-Security Strategies for Robust Digital Finance

As the world’s financial environment becomes increasingly cashless, the growth in digital payment transaction value is increases. This means that vendors of cybersecurity services will have more opportunities. Banking and payment companies are pursuing newer and more powerful security infrastructure and services to combat fraudsters.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are the most widely utilized method for protecting data by businesses of all kinds and individuals. VPNs have become must-have tools to safeguard all information shared over the internet, such as payment information and tax returns. In addition to using a VPN to reduce cybercrime risk, there are various more security precautions to take.

Below are the few strategies to consider for a Robust Digital Finance:

  1. Utilize a Firewall

A Firewall is a type of security device that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic based on a set of established rules or ‘perimeters’, and can prevent illegal access from the outside. They prevent the malicious source from communicating with your computer. Client firewalls and Appliance firewalls are the two most common types of firewalls. A client firewall is a piece of software that is placed on a computer and monitors all network traffic. Whereas, an appliance firewall is a hardware device that connects your computer to the internet.

  1. Update Applications and Operating Systems

Software and application updates are one of the important measures to keep yourself safe from cyber attacks. Without these updates, it compromises the functionality of the computer system. These updates allow end-users to enjoy new features and other new enhancements. They eliminate software bugs and improve efficiency. One of the main reasons of updates is that it prevents security breaches.

  1. Perform Regular Backups

One of the overlooked aspects of business security is irregular backup schedule. Depending on the size of the business, backups can be done on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Backups are important for the business because loss of any data can have a negative image on the brand. Cloud computing is said to be one of the safest and convenient options. However, additional backups are required to be on the safer side.

  1. Training Employees

Not just the applications and cloud computing that can make a business threat free, it is also the employees who enforce these softwares – which is why employee training is important. It is important to instill awareness of the different forms that cybersecurity threat can take. It is important for the employee to be able to identify and report cybersecurity threats.

  1. Manage User Permissions

Role-based access controls programmes can be used to manage user permissions. It’s used to guarantee that staff only have a certain level of access to the information they need to do their jobs. Successfully managing user rights can reduce ‘inside threats’, increase staff productivity, and save overall expenses.

  1. Use Unique Passwords and Change them Frequently

Using unpredictable passwords and periodically updating them can lower the risk of compromise.This can throw the hackers little off guard. When hackers cannot predict the password, they tend to attempt all the possible passwords. Brute forcing is only effective when the passwords are simple. Hence, having a complicated unique passwords can go a long way.

  1. Develop and Enforce Mobile Access Policies

Businesses may empower people by granting access to corporate files, provisioning apps to mobile devices, and securing sensitive data by restricting access based on role assignments via mobile access policies. Enrollment policies can check that the devices is policy-compliant, that it fulfils the minimal OS requirements, and that it can enrol a certain number of devices. To prevent information from leaving the workplace, data leakage security restricts mobile device functionalities such as cut, copy, paste and so on. Maintain strict adherence to these policies at all times to guarantee that data is kept safe.

Although the ability to do business over the internet has provided us with a great deal of convenience, the prevalence of cybercrime only requires the use of best practises to keep a digital business safe.

This include keeping software up to date, employing strong passwords, teaching personnel about security best practises, and following to the company’s access regulations.

A secure business should ideally be reinforced both internally through best practises and externally through the use of the most up-to-date security technologies and software to ensure confidence while dealing online.

Learn more at the BFSI IT Summit

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Major Cybersecurity Threats in Banking to Watch Out in 2022

As a result of globalization, the world has become a global village. The world’s economies, cultures, and population have become increasingly intertwined and entangled as a result of an increase in the demand for digital transformation. The days of manual banking have long gone. Banks and other financial organizations have rapidly adapted to digital technologies over night. Millions of users are using online banking and other internet mediums to conduct business of huge value.

It is pretty evident as to why the banking and financial sector has become a prime victim of cyber security threats. The cybersecurity world is of a dynamic nature and with that, threats becoming increasingly complex. The stakes are pretty high when it comes to banking and financial sector – not only are large sums of money at risk, but when banks and other financial systems are compromised, it can result in disruption to the economy.

Banking and financial institutions collect, process, and store a large amount of confidential information and data on their servers and systems. With the continuous rapid growth of volume and sophistication of cyber threats, swift efforts are required to protect and secure critical corporate and personal information, as well as, national security. The internet is important and profitable, but it is also vital to understand how to use it safely.

With the extent and frequency of data breaches are increasing, it’s more than important to be aware of the upcoming cyber security trends to watch-out in 2022.

1. Ransomware

Since 2018, the annual share of ransomware attacks faced by enterprises have increased, culminating at 68.5% in 2020. And for several years now, ransomware has been a huge nuisance for businesses all over the world, and it doesn’t seem to be resolved anytime soon. This is a type of cybersecurity threat in which files are encrypted and users are locked out of their systems, with hackers demanding money to gain access again.

2. Risk posed by remote work

The use of remote work, hybrid workplace, and cloud-based software platforms has grown practically universal as the pandemic approaches its third year. This also means that financial institutions are more vulnerable to cyber threats than they have ever been. Employees are no longer always accessing data on organization’s networks and servers, necessitating increased surveillance.

3. Cloud-based Cyber Security Threats

As more software systems and data are housed in the cloud, cybercriminals have seized this opportunity, and cloud-based attacks have increased. To protect themselves against critical breaches, the banking and financial sector must ensure that their cloud infrastructure is configured securely.

4. Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks

Social engineering is one of the most serious threats to banking and finance. People are amongst the weakest link in the security chain, as they can be tricked into divulging important information and credentials. This can impact both staff and consumers of the institution.

Social engineering can take numerous forms, such as phishing campaigns, or sending false invoices that appear to be from reputable sources. It is critical to keep your employees up to date on social engineering tactics and how these threats are evolving.

5. Supply Chain Security Threats

Targeting a software manufacturer and then producing malicious code to customers and others in the supply chain in the form of products or updates that appear to be legal is becoming an increasingly common way of malware distribution by cybercriminals. These threats compromise distribution systems, allowing cybercriminals to gain access to the networks of the supplier’s customers.

CONCLUSION

By planning ahead of time to deal with cybersecurity threats and solutions now, you maybe ahead of the game in 2022. There will always be new difficulties in cybersecurity, but if you have the basics in place, you will be well-prepared to tackle anything that lies ahead.

Learn more at the BFSI IT Summit

Event Organised by Exito Media Concepts Pvt Ltd