What is a Cyberattack?

Use strong, unique passwords

Avoid using simple or repeated passwords. Use long passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.

If you’re worried about forgetting a complex password or keeping track of multiple login details for different platforms, consider using a password manager. It stores your credentials securely and can fill them in automatically when needed.

Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security beyond your username and password. When logging in or performing sensitive actions, like transferring money or changing account settings, you’ll be asked to provide a second form of verification. This could be a one-time code sent to your phone, a prompt in an authenticator app, or a fingerprint scan.

MFA ensures that even if someone gets your password, they won’t be able to access your account without this second form of verification, making it much harder for attackers to break in.

Be cautious with emails and links

Don’t click on suspicious links or download unknown attachments. Even emails that look legitimate could be well-masked phishing attempts aimed at stealing credentials. Always double-check the sender.

Red flags to watch out for include:

• Email addresses that don’t match the official domain
• Urgent or threatening language (e.g., “Your account will be locked”)
• Unexpected attachments or links
• Poor grammar or spelling errors
• Generic greetings like “Dear Customer” instead of your name
• Requests personal or financial information
• URLs that look strange or slightly misspelled

Note: Legitimate organizations never ask for sensitive information via email. If something seems suspicious, verify directly through official channels.

Keep software updated

Outdated software often contains security vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. Research shows that attacks targeting known vulnerabilities increased by 54% in 2024. This shows that you cannot afford to delay software updates, as failing to patch known vulnerabilities significantly increases your exposure to cyberattacks.

Turn on automatic updates where possible and ensure that all your devices, operating systems, and applications are up to date. This simple habit is one of the most effective defenses against threats.

Use antivirus and firewall protection

Antivirus software helps detect, block, and remove malware before it causes harm. Firewalls act as a barrier between your device or network and the internet, blocking unauthorized access and suspicious traffic. Together, they provide a strong first line of defense.

Be cautious with public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks in places like airports, hotels, and cafes are often unsecured, making it easy for attackers to intercept your data. Without proper protection, someone on the same network can see what you’re doing online, steal login details, or inject malware.

To stay safe:

• Avoid accessing sensitive accounts or making transactions on public Wi-Fi.
• Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your traffic.
• Disable file sharing and auto-connect features.
• Always log out of accounts when you’re done.

Train staff and raise awareness

Your security is only as strong as your weakest link. Many successful cyberattacks happen because of simple human error.

Data from Verizon shows that in 2024, 60% of breaches involved the human element, with credential abuse being the leading cause, accounting for 32% of those incidents, followed by phishing and other social engineering attacks at 23%. That’s why cybersecurity needs to be a shared responsibility across your team.

Regular training helps employees recognize threats and avoid risky behavior. These sessions, often led by internal security teams, should teach staff how to respond to cyber incidents when they happen, who to report to, and what actions to take immediately to limit damage.

Rapid response tips might include isolating affected systems, preserving evidence, and alerting IT right away.

Limit access and permissions

Not everyone on your team needs access to all systems or data. More people with access creates more potential entry points for attackers. Applying the principle of least privilege helps reduce that risk.

To limit exposure and improve security:

• Give users access only to the tools and information they need to do their job.
• Use role-based access controls (RBAC) to manage permissions.
• Review user accounts regularly and remove access that is no longer needed.
• Use multi-factor authentication for sensitive systems.
• Monitor user activity to detect unusual behavior early.

1. Detect the attack early

Monitoring systems should be in place to alert you to suspicious activity in real time. This includes tools like intrusion and threat detection systems.

Train your team to spot early warning signs, such as unauthorized access attempts, unusual login locations, sudden spikes in network activity, or system slowdowns. Quick detection is the first line of defense in damage control.

2. Notify the incident response team

Right after detecting a potential cyberattack, your next step is to alert your incident response team. Depending on the size of your business and available resources, this could be an internal team or an external cybersecurity partner like Acrisure Cyber Services.

The sooner the team is activated, the quicker they can begin investigating the breach, containing the threat, and minimizing further damage. Having a clear, documented response plan ensures everyone knows who to contact and what steps to take.

3. Isolate affected systems

After the incident response team is notified, the next step is to contain it by isolating the affected systems. This limits the attacker’s ability to move across your computer network and cause further damage.

Isolation can involve disconnecting compromised machines from the internet, disabling shared drives, or shutting down servers showing signs of infection.

4. Contain the threat

With a clear understanding of what systems, data, and access points have been affected, the next step is to stop the attack from spreading further across your environment. Containment aims to cut off the attacker’s ability to move laterally or escalate the attack.

Steps to contain the threat include:

• Disabling or resetting credentials for compromised accounts.
• Blocking malicious IP addresses and domains.
• Applying patches to known vulnerabilities.
• Increasing monitoring on high-risk systems.

Note: This is different from isolating affected systems (step three). Isolation is about disconnecting specific machines already known to be infected. Containment is about securing the broader environment to prevent further compromise.

1. Inform key stakeholders

Notify key internal stakeholders, including executive leadership, compliance and legal teams, and relevant department heads. Ensure everyone understands the current status, impact, and next steps. This helps with coordination, avoids misinformation, and prepares teams for any public or regulatory disclosures.

2. Conduct forensic analysis and close security gaps

Begin a detailed investigation to understand how the attack happened, what systems were affected, and whether the threat still exists. This includes checking all endpoints, servers, and databases that may have been accessed during the attack.

Use the findings to confirm the attack vector and the path they followed through your network. After that, close any security gaps that made the attack possible.

3. Implement business continuity

Maintain critical business operations and essential services while the attack is being investigated and systems are being restored. This may involve switching to backup systems, using alternative communication channels, or running in a limited capacity.

Only use backups created before the attack occurred. Also, before bringing systems back online, scan them thoroughly to ensure they are free of any lingering threats.

4. Monitor for further threats

Watch for follow-up attacks, signs of advanced persistent threats, or lateral movement across your network. Use threat detection tools and review system logs to catch hidden activity that may have evaded detection.

Continuous monitoring during this period is key to making sure the attacker hasn’t left backdoors or other ways to regain access.

5. Notify external parties if necessary

Depending on the nature and scale of the attack, you may need to inform external parties. These could include regulators, legal counsel, insurance providers, and cybersecurity authorities.

If sensitive data were exposed, customers and partners should hear about it directly from you rather than from third-party sources. Being transparent builds trust and helps protect your reputation.

6. Document everything

Keep a detailed record of every action taken during and after the incident. This includes timelines, decisions made, communication logs, system changes, and recovery steps.

Thorough documentation supports internal reviews, helps meet compliance requirements, and improves your response to future incidents. It can also serve as key evidence if legal issues arise and can help you avoid regulatory fines.

1. Completely restore all systems

Focus on fully restoring normal operations. This means moving away from temporary workarounds or limited setups and bringing all systems, services, and infrastructure back online. At this stage, it’s important to verify that everything is stable, secure, and running as expected.

2. Review security policies and procedures

Review and update your organization’s security policies, procedures, and incident response plans. Make sure they reflect lessons learned from the incident. This will help strengthen your defenses, reduce the risk of a similar incident, and prepare you for a faster, more effective response if another attack occurs.

Malware-free attacks are on the rise

Instead of installing malware, many attackers now use tools that already exist in your systems. This makes their activity harder to detect. A 2024 report from CrowdStrike found that 79% of breaches were malware-free, up from 40% in 2019.

Alternatives they might use include:

• Living off the Land (LotL) techniques, such as PowerShell, WMI, or Task Scheduler.
• Hijacking remote access tools (RATs) that your IT team already uses.
• Credential abuse, where attackers steal, buy, or guess usernames and passwords to access systems without raising alarms.

AI-powered attacks

Cybercriminals are now using artificial intelligence (AI) to make their attacks faster, smarter, and harder to detect. These AI-powered attacks can automate their schemes and scale up their efforts.

AI can also be used to trick people. Scammers use it to create more realistic phishing emails, fake audio, and even deepfake videos. Research shows that:

• 92% of financial institutions say fraudsters are already using generative AI.
• 44% report that deepfakes are being used in scams.
• 56% cite AI-powered social engineering as a major tactic used to manipulate victims.
• 60% of financial professionals highlight voice cloning as a growing concern.
• 59% mention SMS and email phishing scams powered by AI as frequent threats.

Attacks targeting the cloud

As more companies move to the cloud, attackers are following.

In 2024, 80% of companies experienced a cloud security incident, and over 60% reported public cloud-related breaches. 23% of cloud security incidents stemmed from misconfigured settings, and around 27% of businesses had public cloud breaches.

Human error plays a large role in many cases, as over 82% of cloud security issues are linked to identity or configuration mistakes.

Securing your cloud environments has never been more essential, especially with the cost of public cloud breaches averaging $5.17 million in 2024, a 13% increase from the previous year.

Workplace device vulnerabilities

As organizations adopt more digital tools, managing device security has become increasingly complex. Many companies now struggle with blind spots due to unauthorized or unmanaged devices connecting to their systems.

Almost 25% of UK businesses detect unauthorized devices accessing corporate data at least monthly, and 48% have experienced a data breach originating from unmanaged devices in the past year.

Remote work further elevates this threat. Employees working from home or on the go often rely on personal devices, unsecured networks, and poorly configured routers. These conditions create easy entry points for attackers.

Without proper protections and visibility, even one insecure home office can become the weak link that compromises the entire organization.