In the past few years, the news has been ablaze with varying reports of cybersecurity breaches from reputable companies and even government agencies. Domestic and foreign hackers alike are to blame for these attacks, and it can be difficult to track down the real culprits. Thankfully, as we become more aware of these cybersecurity breaches and the methods bad actors use to attack innocent businesses and individuals, it becomes easier to thwart and discourage cyber-attacks. The team at Mercy Bail Bonds believes it’s important to keep up with the changing times and develop protocols to keep cyber threats at bay!
A Piping Hot Cup of Cyber Securi-Tea
Cybersecurity breaches are one of the worst things that can happen to a bail bond agency. Agencies store sensitive information about hundreds, if not thousands, of people, including identification, payment info, and social security numbers. When the integrity of the data is compromised during a cyber-attack, every client is at risk and should be notified immediately of the data breach. With the increased connectivity of the world, and criminals getting smarter every day, bail bond agencies like Mercy Bail Bonds must stay current on cybersecurity improvements to ensure the safety of their clients’ private information and identity.
Some of the best methods for increasing cybersecurity of a bail bond agency include encouraging employees to maintain safe passwords that are made of combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols, performing regular security checks on their website and software using a trusted cybersecurity service, and keeping employees away from suspicious emails and advertisements online through training and education about the many forms of cybersecurity threats. Unfortunately, many businesses and individuals are sitting ducks for hackers to attack because they are not educated on preventing cybersecurity breaches. However, recent breaches should be a wake-up call for any company that may not be practicing effective security methods. Just like you would hire a security guard to protect your building, you should stay informed on currently proven cybersecurity improvement methods.
What to do in the Case of a Cyber Attack
It is everyone’s hope that a cybersecurity attack does not happen to them. However, it is increasingly common for random attacks to occur. As such, there are steps you can take when an attack occurs to reduce the damage. First, as soon as you notice a cyber-attack has occurred, disconnect your computers or system from the internet. This will immediately stop all data transfer and hopefully keep some data safe. Do not turn your computers off, as there may be data that investigators can use to catch the criminals. Also, be sure to disconnect any backup devices you have.
After this, assess the damage, contact the right individuals, and try to figure out how this attack happened, whether it was a link from a phishing email or some other type of attack. To assess the damage, try to figure out which data was accessed, and which may still be safe. Contact your local cybersecurity experts if you’re unsure about this process. Additionally, contacting the appropriate agency for your area is important to report this fraud. Once you address the attack, now you must fix the problem that caused it in the first place by doing research and working with an experienced cybersecurity technician to bolster your defenses. Additionally, if any client data was accessed, alerting them immediately to the breach and the possible data accessed will be helpful so they can avoid being victims of identity theft, tax fraud, or other similar crimes.
Final Thoughts
Cybersecurity attacks can cause catastrophic damage for those in the bail bond industry, and recent breaches should be a wake-up call to businesses who are not actively practicing cybersecurity methods. The goal of ethical bail bond agencies like Mercy Bail Bonds is to provide their clients with world-class and compassionate service with complete trust. Maintaining the security of their clients’ sensitive data is of the utmost importance, as it should be for every bail bonding agency!
