Over the past few years, cybercriminals have used increasingly sophisticated attack techniques, and as a result, we have witnessed a dramatic upsurge in cyber attacks in the Middle East. Ransom Attacks, for example, gained a bad reputation by spreading chaos throughout the region and the world. According to the latest report on KSN ransom attacks, the number of victims of the attack almost doubled between 2016 and 2017. While such cyber attacks could be Destructive to some institutions, it is a wake-up call to other institutions, and many of these institutions have been encouraged to use Security means and IT security management better.

The first step is to find a strict security solution; but that alone is not enough. According to a recent study by Kaspersky Lab and B2B International, 52% of enterprises acknowledged that employees are the biggest weaknesses in IT security and accounted for 46% of e-security incidents last year.

The term “prevention is better than cure” applies exactly to the world of IT security. When it comes to combating cyber threats, having an enterprise workforce that is proficient in the Internet is no less important than using a security solution. Internet-savvy employees can be the winning weapon in this endless battle against criminals, helping to prevent, identify, and predict attacks on their companies.

Avoid ransom attacks 101
Rape attacks have begun and will not stop, so we must do everything in our power to educate ourselves on this subject. Ransom attacks can be easily avoided by taking simple measures such as not opening and following suspicious links, avoiding opening attachments from unknown or unrecognized sources, and using security solutions at all endpoints, including computers and mobile phones. Regular backups of data are an important security tool and will help you recover your data easily if you fall victim to one of the ransom attacks.

Find the right balance
An overwhelming 44% of enterprises report that employees do not follow IT security policies. Institutions must work to strike the right balance between developing and implementing IT security policies, which helps prevent employee neglect and enhances security solutions.

Do not hide emergency security
Your staff should be made aware of electronic threats on a regular basis, as this will help raise awareness among staff and encourage them to focus their attention on detecting rather than hiding emergency security situations. According to our study, staff often fail to act effectively when their organization is exposed to a security breach. In 40% of organizations around the world, employees hide security breaches when they occur, perhaps out of fear of being punished, which is a big problem between larger institutions than small ones.

Keep the update down
Software companies often find security holes in their applications and then issue immediate updates to correct them. It’s important to encourage employees to install these updates on their devices in a timely manner so that your organization remains immune from cyber attacks.

Choose strong passwords
Measures should be taken that require employees to choose complex passwords to use their devices, especially if your organization is adopting the BYOD policy. Choosing unique passwords for each device reduces infiltration opportunities and makes it difficult for cybercriminals to achieve their goals.