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Why Might Someone Want to Steal Your Salesforce Data?

Many of us have been told about the necessity of strong passwords and safe internet habits from the moment we began using the internet. The threat of cyberattacks are seemingly so apparent that the importance of maintaining these security measures is often unspoken.

But many of us don’t actually understand why these safe practices are so essential. What are the potential consequences of a data breach within your Salesforce system?

These types of attacks are a lot more common than many might think. Cyberattacks are projected to occur every three seconds in 2021—and that’s just within the US.  Globally, cybercrime is expected to cost companies $6 trillion.

Typing on a computer_AutoRABITThis is particularly threatening to businesses. Not only do they generally have a lot more information for hackers to steal or corrupt, but the negative consequences also go beyond the damage sustained in an attack.

59% of buyers said they would avoid a company that experienced a cyberattack within the past year.

The ramifications of a cyberattack depend on the type of attack and the type of business. But what do the cybercriminals actually do with your information when an attack is successful?

Understanding the end goal of potential attacks will help you better prepare to fend them off, while also helping you understand how to proceed after the fact.

Here’s what you need to know about cyberattacks:

Uses for Your Information

Ransom

Cybercriminals can encrypt or move your system’s essential data after gaining access to it. From there, they’ll ask for an amount of money to return access to your own data and information.

This is a money-making scheme that is unfortunately gaining popularity with cybercriminals.

Identity Theft

Personal information is extremely valuable to hackers.

This is why data relating to customer information is so highly regulated, particularly for the healthcare and banking industries.

Sensitive information can be sold to other cybercriminals. They can then use your credit card for purchases, open new lines of credit in your name, sign up for services, or a number of other potential acts that create negative consequences for the customer whose information was stolen.

Typing on a computer_AutoRABITA Challenge

Monetary motivations are a popular reason for cybercriminals to break into your system, but they aren’t the only reasons to do so. Some hackers see high-profile companies with strong data security measures as a challenge.

These cybercriminals will work to access a system simply for a thrill and can create major problems along the way.

Types of Attacks

Phishing

This is perhaps one of the most well-known cyberattack tactics, yet it remains one of the most successful. About 75% of organizations around the world experienced a phishing attack of some form last year.

This most often comes in the form of illegitimate emails. Trusted email sources are spoofed with the hopes of getting the recipient to disclose personal information.

Spear phishing is an even more targeted version of this tactic. The cybercriminal will take some time to research their target with the hopes of making the phishing message even more believable.

Malware

Malicious software is used to essentially infect your system. It is installed in the target’s network without their permission or knowledge.

Malware can attach itself to legitimate code and spread throughout your system.

There are numerous types of malware that can perform a range of destructive behaviors:

  • Corrupt files and operations
  • Steal data
  • Spy on your system
  • Steal passwords
  • And more

Malware might not be immediately apparent, meaning it runs in the background without the user’s knowledge.

man looking at a computer_AutoRABIT

DoS

Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks are intended to cripple your platform without actually breaking into your system. This is done by flooding your system’s resources, leaving it unable to respond to service requests.

If you think of your website as a door, a DoS attack clogs it up so nobody can walk through.

And while this might not directly impact your system’s data, it is often used to bring the system down and leave it prone to other types of attacks.

MitM

Customer-facing businesses will often provide options for online communications. This could come in the form of ordering, account management, and so on—anything that involves a transfer of information between your servers and the customer.

Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks aim to insert the attacker between these communications.

It works like this:

  1. A customer connects with your system
  2. A cybercriminal gains control of the customer’s network
  3. The cybercriminal replaces the customer’s IP address with their own

From there, the cybercriminal can interact with the system while the server still believes it to be the customer.

Data Protection Tips

Frequent Backups and a Dedicated Recovery Service

Ransom attacks rely on separating you from your system’s information.

You can take the power out of the hands of the cybercriminal by maintaining a reliable backup repository of your system’s information.

This includes both data and metadata. Data will keep your metrics and software updated, and metadata can maintain system functionality.

The ability to quickly and efficiently restore your Salesforce data in the event of an outage is just as important as a reliable backup. Resuming operations as soon as possible is essential.

Stress the Importance of Best Practices to Teammates

A knowledgeable and attentive team is an essential tool in the battle against cybercrime. Companies need to communicate the importance of safe practices when working with company systems and networks.

About 90% of cyberattacks result from human error.

A compromised system can open the door to cybercriminals. Help team members avoid leaving this door open by educating them on essential best practices for guarding against potential attacks.

Run Frequent System Audits

Our digital platforms are always changing. New updates, new integrations, and new functions can create unseen openings for cybercriminals to exploit.

Awareness is the first step to address these potential vulnerabilities.

Run frequent, systematic audits to find these vulnerabilities so you can work to seal them up before a cybercriminal uses them to gain access to your system.

There are a wide variety of tactics for a hacker to gain access to your Salesforce system. And once they’re there, it can be difficult to get rid of them. Your system contains many different elements that are potentially lucrative in the wrong hands. Being aware of all aspects of their motivations helps put together an actionable plan to guard against cyberattacks.

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