It seems that not so long ago, the internet was just a place where we searched for information and made new acquaintances. Today, our whole lives are online: bank accounts, work projects, personal correspondence, family photos, medical records. Convenient? Yes. Safe? Well, let’s be honest, not really.
Hackers and scammers no longer wear black hoodies and sit in dark basements (well, only some of them). More often than not, they are entire teams with offices and work schedules, for whom hacking you is just another task on their calendar, like increasing conversion rates for a developer or marketer. Phishing emails, viruses, database leaks — all of this has long become commonplace.
And the problem isn’t just that you can lose money. Sometimes you lose things that can’t be sold at all: reputation, customer trust, peace of mind. Restoring these things is much more difficult than simply blocking your card and reissuing a new one.
In this article, together with Yevhen Kasyanenko, an expert and head of the KISS team, we will look at the main threats and methods of ensuring information security in order to learn how to protect your data and business.
“Today, data can be considered the heart of any business and personal life: money in your account, customer base, work projects, personal photos. The loss or theft of this information can cost much more than it seems,” says our expert.
Information security is about closing all the “loopholes” for data theft or damage. And yes, the danger comes not only from hackers, but also from employee errors, outdated software, or that flash drive you left in a taxi.
That’s why protecting your information is not an optional extra, but a prerequisite if you want to sleep peacefully and work without unpleasant surprises.
Any reliable data protection is based on three simple rules:
Adherence to these principles is like a good lock on a door: it does not interfere with life, but it saves you from trouble.
Cybersecurity is about protecting the digital part of your life: servers, corporate networks, clouds, websites, email. Anything connected to the internet is a target here. The goal is simple: to prevent attackers from getting inside and disrupting the operation of systems.
Information security goes further. It is responsible for all data, regardless of whether it is stored in the cloud, in a folder on a computer, or in a paper archive. This is not just about technology, but also about physical security, access control, employee training, and process organization.
In short, cybersecurity is part of information security, but without it, you cannot build a complete shield. One protects against attacks on the network, the other, in general, against any risks, wherever your information is located.
“Imagine that your company is like a fortress. Cybersecurity is the guard at the gate who makes sure that no one gets in through the internet. Information security is the whole complex: high walls, a moat, locks on the doors, and a safe that even the most cunning thief cannot reach. Remove even one element and the entire defense will be weakened,” notes Yevhen Kasyanenko.
To protect information, it is necessary to use comprehensive methods, which we will discuss in more detail.
Malware is a general term for all programs that harm devices and data. This includes:
Protection here is classic but essential: antivirus software with up-to-date databases, regular updates of all software, and caution with attachments and links.
Phishing is when you are presented with a fake version of the original: a website, email, or authorization form. You enter your data and it goes to the attackers.
Social engineering is more subtle: the criminal pretends to be a bank employee, technical support, or even a colleague and convinces you to disclose the necessary information yourself.
What helps protect you:
All of these measures work together to maximum effect.
A DDoS attack is when a website is literally flooded with internet requests so that it simply “crashes” and the server stops responding. Sometimes such attacks can be just a diversionary tactic to penetrate the system.
Account hacks most often occur due to:
Complex unique passwords, encryption, constant activity monitoring, and solutions that filter out excess traffic during DDoS attacks will help protect you.
AI now works “in the negative” — on the side of cybercriminals. It helps them:
The solution is to put “smart” defenders on the same technological level as hackers: use AI in defense. Such systems detect suspicious activity as it approaches and manage to block it before the attack can affect the business in any way.
Knowing what threats exist is only half the battle. The other half is knowing how to effectively counter them. There is no magic “Protect All” button, although the targeted protection tips we described above form the basis of a comprehensive approach, where technology, clear rules, and physical controls complement each other and cover all possible gaps in protection.
Technical measures are your digital shield:
But it’s important not to just “set it and forget it”; these tools must be up to date, properly configured, and work proactively, not after a breach has occurred.
Technical protection is important, but without clear rules and discipline, even the most expensive software won’t save you. That’s why it’s important to focus on three key points:
In most cases, the “weak link” is not the software, but the people. The more knowledgeable the staff, the less chance hackers will have of breaking through.
Yes, data can be stolen the “old-fashioned” way, simply by gaining access to the equipment. Solution:
This level of protection is often underestimated, but it saves the day when the problem arises not on the network, but right in the office or data center.
The digital world is developing very rapidly. But hackers are evolving along with it. The good news is that cybersecurity specialists also have trump cards. Today, these are artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Zero Trust concept.
AI in cybersecurity is like a smart guard who learns with every attack. It sees when user behavior deviates from the norm, anticipates threats, filters malicious emails, and blocks phishing attempts before they even arrive. Machine learning allows the system to adapt to new hacking schemes, and its response speed makes it a particularly valuable player in data protection.
Blockchain is like a shared ledger, with copies stored by hundreds of trusted participants around the world. Its advantages for cyber defense are as follows:
And it’s not just a storage facility, but an architecture in which the system itself prevents the rules from being circumvented.
Zero Trust translates into a simple principle: “Don’t trust anyone by default.” Even if a user is already on the network, that doesn’t mean they can go anywhere. Advantages:
In the era of remote work and dozens of entry points, this approach will act as a filter that blocks not only external attackers but also internal threats.
Today, businesses are rapidly embracing the digital world. Accounting, sales, customer correspondence, and even work chats are all conducted online. Convenient? Absolutely. But with that convenience comes a growing temptation for hackers.
Reliable protection is not only about installing the right software, but also about forming company habits:
Cybersecurity should be built into daily work, not turned on “as needed.”
Customer data should not be viewed simply as rows in a table, because it is essentially the trust that has been placed in you. The loss or leakage of this information hurts more than any fines. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the following aspects:
The more reliable the protection, the stronger the trust of customers.
Effective data protection starts with basic account settings and protection. Cybercriminals often take advantage of inattention and tight deadlines for resolving fake problems.
Below, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with general methods and means of ensuring information security that will be useful for everyone.
“Password creation should be illogical. What does that mean? The code you come up with for secure account access should be unique and contain all kinds of randomly arranged symbols and letters in different registers. But definitely not your date of birth, surname, or address,” says expert Yevhen Kasyanenko.
For convenience, you can use password managers that securely store data and automatically fill it in when you log in. But it is more reliable to use physical media for storing records.
The most common method of gaining access to personal data is through fake emails from banks, social networks, and popular services. Fraudsters disguise their links as well-known companies, which unconsciously forces users to open the content. It is important to check and compare official names and links.
Automatic updates to your operating system, antivirus software, and browsers instantly close the vulnerabilities that hackers love to exploit. The fresher the software, the less chance there is that someone will find a “back door” in it.
2FA is your extra key to your account. Passwords can be stolen, but without the code from an SMS or authenticator app, an attacker will hit a brick wall. It’s a simple action that turns your account into a fortress.
The faster technology grows, the faster new ways to hack it appear. This means that we need to study them now and think through measures to ensure information security.
Today’s methods of protecting information security on the network through encryption are reliable, until quantum computing comes into play. Such machines will be able to “break down” modern cryptographic algorithms into pieces in minutes, where a conventional computer would take centuries.
The solution already exists—post-quantum cryptography. These are new algorithms that will be resistant even to the power of quantum processors. But they need to be implemented in advance, otherwise the transition could be disastrous for data protection.
Artificial intelligence in the hands of cybercriminals is like an experienced hacker who never sleeps and works at the speed of light. AI algorithms can, in real time:
“You can only fight AI with AI,” says Yevhen Kasyanenko.
Smart cities are full of IoT devices, from traffic lights to video surveillance systems. But each of these “smart” points can become an entry point for hackers. Hacking sensors or transport systems can paralyze entire areas.
Protection here means encrypting communication channels, regular updates, and round-the-clock AI monitoring that will detect anomalies before a failure occurs.
The world of cyber threats is changing faster than we can get used to new technologies. Today, it is no longer enough to simply install antivirus software and hope that it will filter everything out. Data protection is a complex set of measures: from well-thought-out security architecture and employee training to the implementation of AI systems and post-quantum algorithms.
As Yevhen Kasyanenko, head of the KISS team, says:
“There is no finish line in information security. It’s like sports: if you stop training, you lose your form. Data protection is a continuous process, and the winner is the one who is always one step ahead of the threats.”
If you want your business and personal data to be protected not just “on paper” but in reality, start taking action now. At KISS, we will help you build a defense that will close all vulnerabilities and give you the main bonus—peace of mind. Contact us right now for a free consultation.
Today, every line of data is worth money. Customer databases, quarterly plans, figures in reports—one mistake, and these files are already in someone else’s cloud.
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Do you agree that understanding the threat allows you to better protect yourself against it? We hope so, because phishing operations are becoming more sophisticated every year. Global corporations and small businesses are vulnerable to information leaks, data...
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