Modern ransomware is much more complex than it used to be. Once upon a time, you’d see a malicious message in an e-mail that would flash up with a ransom note and demand you pay a certain sum of money to restore your data. Ransomware has evolved over time, though, with attacks becoming more sophisticated and targeted.
So how can you protect your data from hackers and what is the best way to expose security weaknesses within your organization? The level of threat we face today is so bad that in 2017, 697,000 new ransomware attacks took place. Ransomware attacks are getting more and more sophisticated, and the people behind them are so good that they are now targeting large corporations.
In a report from Dell, we can see that no organization can expect to be safe from being hit by ransomware attacks. A survey of over 2,000 business leaders revealed that a significant number of businesses will have suffered an attack. Among those questioned, 15% have suffered attacks.
How can an IT team avoid this disaster and protect their data? The easiest way is by adopting a ‘trust but verify’ approach. As security tools are constantly getting better and better, users become more and more skeptical of malicious actors trying to infiltrate their organizations. This means they will be more cautious with sharing confidential information, and will be more reluctant to open e-mails or attachments. This reduces the risk of a successful attack, and also leaves the door open for companies to implement policies which require users to demonstrate that they are not negligent.
The ‘Trust but Verify’ approach
Having a policy in place means that the moment an attack is discovered, IT teams will know exactly what they need to do in order to make their business more secure. However, the trust issue means that IT teams must get their message across to the people on the frontline, the ones who are actually dealing with attacks.
PDF DRM: Enforcing document security that works
Using DRM for document security works because, when a document is created on your company’s network, it can be protected from being scanned and uploaded to the cloud. Companies and individuals can cover document safety concerns safely today with digital rights management solutions. DRM can secure your classified data in PDF documents and files without having to sacrifice user productivity.
A digital rights management (DRM) solution can help protect your company from having its confidential information stolen, while still allowing people to use documents in the way they were meant to. A DRM solution empowers you to go over and beyond encryption safety to completely control document usage and the information it contains. With DRM, you can:
- Block readers from accessing documents
- Prevent authorized users from copying sensitive data
- Control how users access your content
- Prevent sharing
- Disable printing
- Block screenshots
- Lock use to authorized devices and locations
- Track PDF usage – view when documents are opened and/or printed.
- Add dynamic watermarks that contain user information to identify users.
By using digital rights management for document security, you can keep confidential data safe, and still let people read and download files on the go. It’s a great solution, and it works really well. What’s more, your business and users will love the extra level of security.
The state of digital security: time for a refresh
With the amount of cybersecurity threats continually on the rise, users need to become more savvy about using the internet to protect their personal data. Most people will be familiar with sites like Facebook which store your private information, as well as work, credit and bank details. Facebook also offers ways for people to manage the safety of their account – things like how they’re shown certain ads, or even how much access a person has to their own account.
These examples illustrate how the main users of these online social networks have been successfully trying to protect their own data. There is a stark contrast to that of what happens when users are directed to sites with unreliable digital security. These examples demonstrate how vulnerable people are to being hacked by attacks originating from fake or suspect-looking sites.
Many users are also aware that whenever they submit personal information or log onto a website, they’re submitting their details to a large number of websites. The risks are large when someone is linking their data to a website, so this issue needs to be addressed by those who use websites, to make it less likely for users to be hacked.
The best time to apply DRM to business documents
When it comes to keeping your organization’s documents safe, the best time to start applying DRM is when you’re planning the creation of documents and ensuring you’re working with a trusted source that can provide you with the necessary security and encryption.
This isn’t the case for every business, however, so the best time to start using DRM is when you’re establishing a new document security process. You can start small, with documents that may contain information of high risk to your company, as these are the most likely to be leaked or hacked. Once you’ve established that process, you are safely on the road to controlling data breaches.
