We are at war against cybercrime. And this war is just getting started. 

The enemy we are fighting is a massive and complex global network of hackers who are using sophsticiated cyberweapons to infiltrate companies and extort data and money. Global cybercrime is expected to cost $2 trillion annually by 2019.

It’s even possible that the enemy is already inside of your organization — working either covertly with embedded malware, or as a malicious insider.

The good news is that you don't have to go overboard trying to protect your business from cybercrime. Focus on attaining a basic level of cybersecurity, and you’ll be better off than most of your competitors.

Here are five things you can do to fight back against cybercrime:  

1. Circle your wagons: The first thing you’ll want to do is centralize your company's endpoints (meaning company-owned and BYOD devices like laptops, personal computers, smartphones and tablets). Why is this important? And endpoint can be a direct gateway into a private network. Each one needs to be properly secured to avoid being exploted by hackers. 

2. Monitor your network: This one should be a no-brainer. The only way to prevent cybercriminals from harming your business is to actively monitor your network for threats. Threats must be discovered and eliminated early on, in order to prevent them from cascading throughout the network and causing damage. Investigating security events on the network can also provide insight about larger threat campaigns that are being launched against your organization.

3. Keep up with cyber housekeeping: It's also important to perform regular system maintenance, to ensure that all hardware and software are equipped with the latest security updates. When new patches are released, they need to be applied immediately. Neglecting security updates will leave the door wide open for hackers. 

4. Educate your employees: You can’t win this war on your own. You will need the support of every single account or device-holding employee in your organization. Consider offering a cybersecurity training course for your employees, which will educate them about the threat landscape and give them the skills they need to remain safe online.  And put everyone on full alert for dangers like ransomware and social engineering.

One of the most important things you can do is to have a plan in place in case your organization does get infected with something like ransomware. For instance, employees should be instructed never to submit a ransomware payment on their own, as doing so could make the problem worse. Security incidents should immediately be reported to IT.

5. Hire a managed services provider (MSP): Trying to fight cybercrime on your own will drain your resources and possibly leave you vulnerable to attacks. Instead, consider consulting with a managed services provider (MSP) like Apex Technology Services to handle the job. In doing so, you’ll receive access to expert guidance, cutting-edge cybersecurity services and rapid response troubleshooting. It’s a safer and more cost-effective way to protect your business from online threats.

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A new breed of hacktrepeneurs has awoken and they have little to fear and everything to gain by infecting as many companies as possible and extorting money from them. Apex Technology Services stands ready to protect your company regardless of whether it’s located in New York City; White Plains, New York; Connecticut; Australia; Europe; or anywhere else. Our full suite of cybersecurity and IT support services is at your disposal, enabling you to spend less time worrying about and more time growing your business.

To ensure your security, consider one of our most popular services — Auditing & Documentation — which pinpoints vulnerabilities in your infrastructure, process flow and internal security procedures.