It is estimated that as of 2022, over 60% of all corporate data is stored in the cloud, making millions of records vulnerable to hackers.1 If you work in IT—whether you’re the director of engineering for a multinational corporation, a system administrator for a small business, a systems analyst for an IT consultancy firm, a database administrator for a nonprofit, or a programmer for an app vendor—you must be aware of security vulnerabilities and do your part to prevent exploitations.
There are a number of ways hackers can compromise data. But one of the most pressing current threats is “zero-day exploits.”
What Is a Zero-Day Exploit?
A zero-day exploit is a hacker attack that takes place between the moment hackers uncover a security vulnerability and the moment the vendor patches that vulnerability. Imagine if your house had an unlocked door you didn’t know existed. A zero-day exploit is when someone else finds that door and robs your house before you notice the door exists and can lock it. Zero-day exploits can target software programs, operating systems, web browsers, website plug-ins like Flash, and other applications installed on an individual computer or IT system.
How Common Are Zero-Day Exploits?
While it used to take weeks or even months for hackers to begin widescale exploitation of a newly discovered vulnerability, modern technology now makes it possible for hackers to wage widespread attacks within the same day or hour of uncovering a vulnerability. This has contributed to a growing number of zero-day exploits. In fact, there were at least 66 zero-day exploits reported in 2021, almost double the total for 2020.2 This makes protecting your information technology increasingly difficult. But there are steps you can take.
How Can You Protect Against Zero-Day Exploits?
The nature of zero-day exploits means you don’t know your vulnerability until after a hacker has already attacked you or someone else through that vulnerability. Unless you employ a crack team of IT security experts who can provide real-time monitoring of your systems, their operations, and communications, your best strategy is to focus on prevention and response planning. The following steps can help:
Keep Your OS Updated
Many businesses fail to regularly update the operating system (OS) on all of their computers and other devices. Some even continue to use outdated operating systems like Windows XP. But if you want to make things difficult on hackers, make sure you’re running an OS that is still being supported by its provider, and install all updates to the OS as soon as they’re released.
Run Good Anti-Virus/Anti-Malware Software
The defenses built into your OS are not enough. To fully protect your devices from new threats, you need the additional protection of anti-virus/anti-malware software that includes a firewall, real-time scanning, phishing detection, and rapid-response updates.
Keep All Software Up to Date
If you run software that accesses the internet, that software can be vulnerable to hackers. Make sure you install all updates—even on things like video games. Additionally, make sure everyone in your business is using a secure browser (like Chrome or Firefox).
Regularly Change Passwords
How often do you or others in your organization change your passwords? If you’re like many businesses, the answer is something close to never. That’s bad news if a hacker has ever stolen your passwords—even if they stole them years ago. To strengthen your IT security, make sure everyone in your organization changes their passwords regularly.
Make a Contingency Plan
What will you do if hackers access your data? You need to make sure you are backing up your data in a separate location so hackers can’t erase vital files. You need to have a plan for getting vital operations back online if hackers disrupt your systems. And you need to have a plan to minimize the impact of stolen information.
How Can You Learn More?
If you have an IT job, you can improve your ability to protect against zero-day exploits—and maybe even advance your IT career prospects—by earning an MS in Cybersecurity. This advanced IT degree provides a strong foundation in cloud computing, cybercrime prevention and protection, and security risk management. And thanks to online education, you can even use your mobile devices and laptops to earn your master’s in cybersecurity at Walden University.
Earning your MS in Cybersecurity online can make it possible for you to advance your education without taking time off from your current job. That’s because when you enroll in an online university like Walden, you can complete your coursework from anywhere with internet access, on a flexible platform that’s designed to let you continue working full time.
Walden has been designated a Champion of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, co-founded and led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the Department of Homeland Security.3 This designation confirms Walden’s commitment to cybersecurity and creating a safer, more trusted internet.
Zero-day exploits pose a serious threat for all organizations. With an advanced IT degree, you can become a leader in protecting organizations from hacker attacks.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering an MS in Cybersecurity degree program online. Expand your career options and earn your degree using a convenient, flexible learning platform that fits your busy life.
1Source: www.statista.com/statistics/1062879/worldwide-cloud-storage-of-corporate-data
2Source: www.technologyreview.com/2021/09/23/1036140/2021-record-zero-day-hacks-reasons
3Source: https://staysafeonline.org/programs/cam-2022-champion-organizations
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.