October 2019
G Suite Security: Top 5 Risks to Avoid

G Suite is a perfect collaboration tool. Admins agree with that. End users agree with that. We all agree with that. But when it comes to data threats, no one is untouchable. The risks are especially true for cloud services where everything is...

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In a nutshell, phishing is a technique used to steal your data such as credentials or credit card information. You receive an email, a text message, or even a phone call from someone you know or from some authoritative source you trust. In this email, you’ll find some call-to-action under the false pretenses. 
For example, you can get a message from Netflix, a bank, your boss, or even your mom, asking you to:
  • click the link below
  • send money
  • provide your credentials or some sensitive information
Ransomware is a type of malware that prevents you from accessing your files until you pay a ‘ransom’ to the hacker. Basically, it encrypts the files and scrambles data into an unreadable format. To unlock it you need a digital key, which you get only after you pay. And the prices can often be severe.
The ransomware is so widespread you actually  have more chances to be infected by it  than to catch the flu. Large multinational businesses, schools, hospitals, individuals – every 14 seconds someone suffers from ransomware.  Tens of thousands of dollars  are paid out regularly by organizations desperate to regain access to their data. 
The stakes are higher when it comes to the files on your G Suite cloud. If one superior account got hit by ransomware, it will encrypt all data that other coworkers rely on. 

Malicious Third-Party Apps and Google Add-ons
Third-party apps can be very useful but they also introduce new G Suite security concerns. If some app or extension is not developed by Google, it may present some threat to your data. 

Brute-force attacks
Hackers always need your data. They can benefit from them in many ways. For example, they can sell them to your competitors, infect them with malware and demand a ransom. There are dozens of scenarios.

The last but certainly not the least bullet point in our list is human error. There are lots of them that can be done within G Suite organization. 

Researches show that  60% of users  choose the same password for various accounts. If it is their personal account, so be it. But for G Suite account it can be fatal. 

Mandy Budny, RN, MSN, CPHQ
Mandy.Budny@directdifference.com

Direct Difference, Inc.
(520) 442-0016
www.DirectDifference.com