Prevention techniques for top 10 common cyberattacks

Stay alert, stay informed and collaborate with your technical teams to implement strong preventative measures, keeping your workplace safe from cyber threats

Last quarter we wrote about what an employee might first witness when facing 10 common cyberattacks. Then we provided guidance for the employee on how to react to each scenario.  This week we highlight effective prevention techniques to stop those 10 common cyberattacks from even happening to begin with. In this article, we’ll focus on the critical role end users, IT departments, vCISOs and MSPs all play in preventing these attacks.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have limited time and money to spend on cybersecurity.  This leads to less robust security measures than larger enterprises. Consequently, a combined effort of technical measures and employee actions are essential for defending against the top 10 most common cyberattacks we’ll review.

We’ll explore practical, and often inexpensive, prevention strategies that you should implement to secure your environment, your data and your business.

Prevention techniques for 10 common cyberattacks

Last week we discussed how end users are witnessing 10 common cyberattacks including wire fraud, ransomware and business email compromises to name a few. Then, we outlined how employees should react to those attacks to prevent and minimize damages. This week, we’re here to show you ways to prevent these attacks entirely, starting with wire fraud.

1. Wire fraud prevention techniques:

• Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA): Implement MFA for all financial transactions to add an extra layer of security.
• Verify Requests Independently: Always verify wire transfer requests through a secondary communication method, like a phone call to a known contact number.
• Set Up Alerts: Configure bank account alerts for any unusual transactions.

BONUS: Establish strict protocols for verifying and authorizing wire transfers, ensuring no single employee has full control over the process.  CyberHoot’s Policy Library has a sample Wire Transfer Protocol you could start with.

2. Business Email Compromise (BEC) prevention techniques

• Email Filtering and Security: Implement advanced email filtering solutions to detect and block phishing attempts.
• Employee Training: Regularly train employees on recognizing phishing emails and the importance of verifying unusual requests.
• DMARC, DKIM, and SPF: Use these email authentication protocols to reduce the risk of spoofed emails.

BONUS: Conduct regular positive and educational phishing simulations to keep employees alert and aware of potential threats. You no longer have to trick employees and shock them with failures to educate them. CyberHoot’s Positive reinforcement and educational phishing simulations are hyper realistic, provide metrics showing every last employee has completed them, and are easy and simple to setup and administer.

3. Ransomware prevention techniques:

• Regular Backups: Maintain regular, offline backups of all critical data to ensure quick recovery in case of an attack.
• Patch Management: Keep all systems and software up-to-date with the latest security patches.
• Network Segmentation: Segment your network to limit the spread of ransomware if a breach occurs.

BONUS: Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and respond to malicious activities in real time.

4. Phishing prevention techniques:

• Email Security Solutions: Use email security solutions to filter out phishing emails before they reach employees.
• Security Awareness Training: Conduct regular training sessions to educate employees about the signs of phishing and proper responses.
• Phishing Simulations: Run positive and educational phishing simulations from CyberHoot to educate, test and reinforce employees’ ability to recognize and report phishing attempts.

BONUS: Encourage employees to pause and think before reacting to any urgent or emotional email, promoting a culture of skepticism towards unexpected requests.

5. Credential stuffing prevention techniques:

• MFA Everywhere: Require MFA for all user accounts to add an extra layer of security against unauthorized access.
• Password Policies: Enforce strong password policies, including the use of long, unique passwords stored in a password manager.
• Monitor and Respond: Continuously monitor for unusual login attempts and respond quickly to any detected threats.

BONUS: Educate employees on the importance of not reusing passwords across multiple sites to prevent credential stuffing attacks.

6. Social engineering prevention techniques:

• Awareness and Training: Regularly train employees on recognizing social engineering tactics and proper procedures for verifying requests.
• Verification Protocols: Establish clear protocols for verifying the identity of anyone requesting sensitive information or access.
• Reporting Mechanism: Create an easy-to-use reporting mechanism for employees to report suspicious interactions.

BONUS: Use role-playing scenarios during training sessions to help employees practice recognizing and responding to social engineering attempts.

7. DDOS prevention techniques:

• DDoS Mitigation Services: Use DDoS mitigation services to absorb and mitigate attack traffic.
• Scalable Infrastructure: Design your infrastructure to handle high traffic volumes and absorb DDoS attacks.
• Incident Response Plan: Develop and regularly update an incident response plan specifically for DDoS attacks.

BONUS: Conduct regular drills to test your incident response plan and ensure all team members are prepared for a DDoS attack.

8. Malware prevention techniques:

• Antivirus and Anti-Malware: Use reputable antivirus and anti-malware software with real-time protection.
• Regular Updates: Keep all software, including antivirus definitions, up-to-date.
• User Education: Train employees on safe browsing habits and the dangers of downloading unknown files or clicking on suspicious links.

BONUS: Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized software from running on your systems.

9.  Insider threat prevention techniques:

• Access Controls: Implement strict access controls and regularly review user access to ensure it aligns with their job responsibilities.
• Monitoring and Auditing: Continuously monitor user activities and conduct regular audits to detect any suspicious behavior.
• Employee Education: Educate employees about the importance of data security and the consequences of unauthorized access.

BONUS: Create a positive work environment to reduce the likelihood of disgruntled employees becoming insider threats.

10. Zero-day prevention techniques:

• Patch Management: Implement a robust patch management process to quickly apply critical updates.
• Vulnerability Scanning: Conduct regular vulnerability scans to identify and address potential weaknesses.
• Threat Intelligence: Stay informed about the latest threats and exploits through threat intelligence services.

BONUS: Use intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) to detect and block attempts to exploit vulnerabilities.

In today’s attack-filled digital landscape, preventing cyberattacks from succeeding is a top priority for everyone. Understanding these top 10 cyberattacks and knowing how employees, IT departments, vCISOs, and MSPs can help prevent them will significantly reduce the risk and impact of such incidents.

While technical teams play a vital role in securing the environment, the proactive engagement of employees is crucial in supporting these efforts. Stay alert, stay informed and collaborate with your technical teams to implement strong preventative measures, keeping your workplace safe from cyber threats.

Katie Boquetti is a cybersecurity analyst with CyberHoot.