How to recover your Company’s environment after attempts of attacks

Unfortunately, we live in a time when any Company is subject to being target of attacks attempts from virtual criminals. Those attacks aim to kidnap data for the purpose of receiving a ransom, consequently causing a strong impact in the reputation of the Company.

Several techniques are used. Therefore, a Company may possess a security environment well-structured with robust and trustworthy equipment, even though, this is not a guarantee of total protection for their respective environment.

Once an attack attempt has occurred and has been successful, unfortunately there is no way for returning to the time and fulfilling the gaps which perhaps have been exposed.

However, identifying the defective points, as well as the possible improvement possibilities, will make the environment safer. Thus, avoiding possible new equal attempts of attacks.

POINTS OF ATTENTION AFTER ATTEMPTS OF ATTACKS

Let’s see, on the following, important points to be verified in any Company that might have suffered a successful attempt of attack.

Be sure that there are no evidences of the attack caused 

Once that the Company suffered an attack and it has been successful, it is fundamental for the Company to assure that such an attack has been completely neutralized. Mainly, that there aren’t any indication that the same thing is still occurring.

There is no way how to return with any operation, if there is not the certainty that the attack is not active anymore.

Evaluation about the damage caused

This step is one of the most important when a Company suffers an attempt of cyberattack that is successful. It consists on a general evaluation of what has been in fact, reached and compromised by the attack. It will allow the Company to take decisions which aim to diminish the impact caused.

It is important for the Company to evaluate and take the right attitudes that can aim for the transparency to their respective clients about what occurred. As well as testing the actions that are being taken to prevent new attacks.

Identify more details about the attack that was carried out

To perform a scan on the network is of the utmost importance in order to map out from where the attack came from. As well as, which were the techniques used, or addresses of network utilized. In some cases, it is important besides consulting the respective provider, to possess tools which allow for the mapping of the network with precision, providing statistical information.

In this aspect, some Companies can believe that for the fact of possessing updated and trustworthy equipment, they will be able to identify all the information relative to the network traffic.

However, only that is not enough. It is very important that your Company possess monitoring solutions of network that allow to give greater precision about what is trafficked. Both on the external network (through the Operator) such as in the internal network.

In several cases, the information provided by the Operator, might be insufficient for a more precise diagnosis.

Review the policy of data backups 

It is fundamental that your company have a predefined policy about the backups of the data. As well as, which strategy will be adopted for that those data might be promptly restored, in case a data loss occurs due to a successful attack.

Review your structure 

In several cases, a partial replacement might be necessary or even an integral one of the network infrastructure. Mainly, when such actives do not possess more respective updates from the manufacturers.

The usage of equipment with outdated technology will enable for the opening of gaps to new invasions. Primarily, for not possessing more updates to correct new vulnerabilities.

Reconsider your access policies

For many times, the attackers will try to encounter some sort of breach through common access of users. For that, it is important that a policy might be defined to the access criteria. As well as, necessary privileges and passwords with more demanding standards.

Besides that, it is important to ascertain which are the implications that have external access. Especially, its main attributions.

Return your operation gradually

Once that every point has been identified and mapped, the process of return to normality of the respective activities might occur. However, it doesn’t mean that the Company will stop observing the requirements relative to the security, on the contrary, the Company must reinforce, if possible, the technical team to have the capacitation and training for the existing team or with the contracting of new professionals specialized in the segment of the Information Security.

The monitoring of all the infrastructure is fundamental, not only for avoiding that the same types of attacks attempts occur but, for preventing that other types of attacks might end up occurring.

Without a doubt, recovering the environment of one company after a successful invasion is a great challenge, and not only in the technological part, but also in the part of reputation.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

We desire that no Company pass through a situation such as this. However, bearing in mind the high growth of cyberattacks in the world, it is fundamental that the Companies may have a well-defined path about what to do and how to neutralize any threats which possibly might arise.

For that, technology is essential because with it, is possible to create defenses and prevent that cybercriminals end up being successful in their attempts of invasion.

In this way, there are no doubts about the importance of investing on network management. In this same manner, bringing not only benefits to the network visibility but also being a complementary way to seek for the prevention of problems that might cause the dropping of network services.

Thinking of that, Telcomanager present in the market since 2002, and a leading Latin America brand in the sector of software for managing networks. Also counting with a unique and innovative technology, deploying smart solutions in the monitoring of data that will provide a stratified vision of the traffic, is now allowing your Company to follow the most important aspects of your network, in real time.