The word “cyberattack” has become increasingly common here in Brazil, increasing during periods such as Black Friday. This is because our country is the biggest target of cyberattacks in Latin America. Compared to 2022, this year we saw a 19% increase in the number of attacks, even higher than the global average (13%), as pointed out in the “ Global DDoS Threat Intelligence ” report by Netscout.
In June of this year alone, more than 185,000 cases of cyberattacks have already been recorded and the trend is that, by the end of 2023, this number will grow even more, especially on Black Friday and during seasonal sales periods.
This is because, during periods of high volume for online commerce, many companies and individuals are more susceptible to falling for online scams, as calls with discounts and tempting offers can attract the unsuspecting.
Therefore, this article will provide some tips for those interested in ensuring protection for their company and branches, especially during important periods, such as Black Friday.
Be sure to continue reading and check out more!
Content
The importance of cybersecurity during peak sales times
Black Friday and cybersecurity: how to balance protecting your company during this period
#1 Assess your cybersecurity infrastructure
#2 Traffic and anomaly monitoring
#3 Web Application Security
#4 Patch and software update
#5 Authentication and access control
#6 Log monitoring
#7 Data Backup and Recovery
#8 Team training
#9 Incident Response Plan
#10 Communication with customers
#11 Infrastructure scalability
How Algar Telecom's SD-WAN can help you
The importance of cybersecurity during peak sales times
Cybersecurity plays a critical role for businesses, especially cpa email lists those with online businesses, during peak sales seasons such as Black Friday. In this scenario, where transaction volumes and website traffic increase substantially, the risks associated with cyberattacks also increase considerably .
Threats such as phishing, malware, ransomware and denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are becoming increasingly frequent and sophisticated. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the excitement of sales to launch targeted attacks on e-commerce sites, aiming to steal customers’ financial data, such as credit card information and personal details.
Furthermore, vulnerability to DDoS attacks increases, which can cause server and website unavailability . This downtime resulting from an attack can lead to immediate loss of sales and lasting damage to the brand's reputation, driving customers away even after the event.
The increase in online transactions during seasonal periods also brings with it a significant risk of identity theft , as customers’ personal information is exposed. Hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in the security infrastructure and gain access to sensitive information, leading to serious consequences such as fraud and data compromise.
Investing in cybersecurity during Black Friday and other high-volume sales events is therefore a fundamental action. In addition to preserving customer data, this approach protects the company's reputation, consumer trust and avoids significant costs associated with security breaches.
Black Friday and cybersecurity: how to balance protecting your company during this period
Protecting your business during Black Friday and other major discount events is extremely important, as these periods can attract a lot of online traffic and increase the risk of cyberattacks.
Below are some tips for balancing the protection of your company during these periods:
#1 Assess your cybersecurity infrastructure
Before the Black Friday season, review your cybersecurity infrastructure . This includes firewalls, intrusion detection systems, antivirus, denial-of-service (DDoS) attack prevention systems, and more. Make sure they’re up to date and properly configured.
And don't leave it too close to the date. By postponing these good practices in advance, you leave your company more susceptible.
#2 Traffic and anomaly monitoring
Use traffic monitoring tools to identify unusual patterns or spikes in traffic . This will help detect potential DDoS attacks or other suspicious activity.
Consider using DDoS mitigation services, which can help filter out malicious traffic and keep your site online even under volumetric attacks.
#3 Web Application Security
Ensure your web applications are protected against common vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF). Perform security testing on your application before the event.
#4 Patch and software update
Keep all your systems, servers, and applications up to date with the latest security patches . Many attacks exploit known vulnerabilities that could be prevented with proper updates.
#5 Authentication and access control
Strengthen authentication and access control mechanisms . Use two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible, especially for administrative accounts.
#6 Log monitoring
Configure event log monitoring and analysis to identify suspicious activity . This can help identify hacking attempts and other malicious activity.