In this period of fragility due to the COVID-19 crisis, during which work patterns and organisation were brutally changed, cyber attacks multiplied. Organisations were clearly not ready to digitise their processes so quickly and to securely support the remote working of almost all their employees. Online backup was therefore not a priority issue and its security benefits were clearly not considered. It is in this context that computer attacks have been able to achieve their goal, particularly those known as ransomware.
We will therefore try to understand the extent of this phenomenon, which is well known in the digital world, and see why it is important, especially today, to have a secure backup capacity in the cloud.
The challenges of cybersecurity in a context of fragility
Remote work and cybersecurity : a difficult cohabitation in the absence of online backup
The COVID-19 crisis has been an upheaval for all companies that had to stop all activity or work remotely. As the culture of face-to-face work is very strong in France, telework remained rather limited and not very well supported. In these exceptional conditions, disorganisation prevailed. Whether it be information systems managers, IT security managers or employees, none of them were prepared to continue the activity of their organisation under these conditions. For example, many employees used their personal computer equipment to ensure business continuity, and it was impossible to measure the security of this equipment. Between overly simple passwords and out-of-date software and antivirus software, company data was largely put at risk. Online backup software, which was either unknown or considered of little use by some companies before the crisis, was seriously missed by the SME players who had to reorganise. It is this fragility that hackers have tried to exploit throughout the health crisis.
Ransomware and phishing : an increase in cyber attacks
Ransomware first appeared in the 1990s. Since then, the phenomenon has continued to grow on the Internet for companies and their employees. With the increasing value of company data, this type of attack has become a real scourge. The health crisis was only one element that aggravated this phenomenon. What exactly is it about ? It is a hostage-taking and encryption of company data. The data can only be made available again in exchange for a ransom. After payment of the ransom, the hacker gives access (or not) to a decryption key to decrypt the stolen data.
As for phishing, this is a particularly effective method of hacking in times of crisis such as this because it has the particularity of playing on the victims’ fears. Thus, an employee receives an email that looks very much like a communication from his company warning him of a threat, a danger (the COVID in our case, or IT problems) linked to the crisis. The hacker asks the victim for personal data, which the employee willingly gives, believing that he or she is connected to the company. This way, the hacker can have access to the passwords or other information of the employee and/or his company, allowing him to access, delete or modify confidential files. On this subject, do not hesitate to consult our article : The top 10 different types of cyber attacks.
The benefits of online backup explained
Online backup is an automated solution that allows data to be stored in a remote location, a datacenter, and files to be sent and recovered via an Internet connection. It therefore provides maximum security for the data, protecting it from any form of disaster, hacking or computer breakdown. These online backup services are now among the most popular with companies of all sizes. There are three reasons for adopting this solution :
Online backup facilitates disaster recovery
This solution ensures that the company can resume business immediately in the event of an incident. Cloud-based software allows for a very quick recovery in a few clicks. It is now possible to recover all of your data in the event of an incident, or even the complete configuration of a machine. And once installed, online backup solutions require little investment, especially in terms of time, for users. The frequency of backups can be defined and they are then carried out automatically, without human intervention and without disrupting ongoing activities.
Automated, encrypted and low cost : a minimal time investment
By guaranteeing the security of the information saved through encryption, the service provider in charge removes a large part of the time spent on these matters. Once installed and set up, backups are automatic and the infrastructure outside the organisation does not require maintenance, generating savings on infrastructure costs.
Certified online backup solutions with a high level of security
The SecNumCloud security visa, created by the ANSSI (National Agency for Information Systems Security), from which oodrive benefits, guarantees companies the highest level of IT security (with the most demanding standards).
Online backup is an essential tool for companies of all sizes, especially in this difficult context where sensitive data is often put at risk. The rise of the notion of the sovereign trust cloud is a sign of the growing awareness of cybersecurity issues. The market for online backup solutions is expected to grow in the coming years, evolving with the increasing need for data security.