Tell-Tale Signs Your Business Is Experiencing A Data Breach

Cyber attacks and data breaches targeting businesses are at an all-time high. The number of reported data breaches leaped by about 68% in 2020, which was the highest recorded then, with reports showing over 1,832 data breaches. By March 2022, publicly disclosed security incidents indicated close to 4 million records were breached. As alarming as these figures sound, that’s not the worse part. Unfortunately, few companies are equipped to handle data breaches, as only 5% of US business files have adequate protection. So, how can you tell if your business data is under attack? Here are a few signs to look out for.

1. You’ve noticed changes to your business files

When you start noticing business files going missing for no reason or changes to critical file names, formats, etc., it’s time to be alert. Making such changes to important business files gives cybercriminals more than enough time to access your files, offload their data, download the information they need, or make fraudulent transactions. Anytime you notice sensitive business files going missing or appearing with changes you haven’t made, that could be an indication that an unauthorized person is accessing them. 

2. Slow network too often

Almost every business experiences slow networks once in a while. But if you find your computers running slow too often, that should raise some concerns. To be certain, ensure that your computers have the latest security and software updates. If your system is still running slowly, check in with other businesses or peers using the same network to find out if they are experiencing similar issues. Also, find out from your network provider if there are challenges you need to know about. 

If none of the above issues are responsible for the slow network, you may be experiencing some data breach. This is because the unauthorized transfer of business files can cause your network to slow down.

3. Login difficulties

Do you or your staff struggle to log into your company accounts even though your login details are correct? That could be a sign of data compromise from attackers. But first, be sure that you haven’t changed your login details recently. If you work with a team, confirm from everyone that no one has made any unauthorized changes. It also helps to ensure that you haven’t made any recent changes to your web design, especially the administrative login credentials.

Suppose you have been locked out of your business website, blog, or any online business account. Then, a cybercriminal may have tried unsuccessfully to access your files or succeeded but changed your login credentials after hacking in. 

4. You’ve noticed strange administrative activities

Once a hacker or cybercriminal gains control of your business website, blog, social media accounts, etc., they waste no time trying to make the changes they want to achieve their desires. If you notice sudden permission changes, changes in your configuration settings like unauthorized file sharing, changing viewer restrictions to critical files, and so on, your account has probably been hacked. 

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay