According to IBM, the average time it takes to identify that a breach has occurred is 287 days, with the average time to contain a breach clocking in at 80 days. And with 81% of businesses experiencing a cyberattack during COVID, it is essential that individuals are familiar with the anatomy of a data breach so that they can keep their data, as well as their colleague’s and customers’ data, safe.

With that in mind, here is some helpful background on what data breaches are and why they are so problematic.[/cz_title]

What is a data breach? 

While it may seem like a complex concept, once the jargon is removed, a data breach is straightforward to explain. According to Trend Micro, a data breach is “an incident where information is stolen or taken from a system without the knowledge or authorization of the system’s owner.” And while data breaches can be the result of a system or human error, a vast majority of data breaches are the result of cyber-attacks, where a cybercriminal gains unlawful access to sensitive system data. In fact, 92% of the data breaches in Q1 2022 were the result of cyberattacks.

What kind of data can be breached?

Unfortunately, cybercriminals look to get their hands on any information that they possibly can ranging from more obvious sensitive information such as social security numbers and credit card information to more obscure data like past purchase history.

What are some of the tactics used to execute data breaches?

Cybercrime is getting more sophisticated each day. However, cyberattack tactics do not have to be cutting-edge or advanced to be very effective. Here are a few examples of popular tactics used by cybercriminals:[/cz_title]

How to spot a possible breach?

 The best way to stop a data breach is to stop it before it even starts. This includes taking steps from making sure passwords are long and complex to reporting suspicious emails. If you do suspect that you have been the victim of a breach, immediately contact your IT department or device provider to notify them and follow subsequent protocols to help them scan, detect, and remediate any issues that exist.[/cz_title]

How can you tell if your talking to a toner pirate?

1. Typically they will make their first call to your office to ask for the model numbers of your copy and print equipment. Later, they will call back, appearing to have a knowledge of your company’s office equipment and supply needs. In many cases, they will pretend to be with the company you bought your office equipment from, making them seem trustworthy.
2. A toner pirate will try to sound as official as possible, but if you question them or ask for more details, they can become impatient, pushy and rude.
3. They will often tell you that you need to lock in your pricing today and try to pressure you into acting fast or committing to buy from them on the spot.
4. Generally, they will try to sell toners for $400, $500 and sometimes even $600 each!

Important to Know: If used, toner supplied by a toner pirate may damage your equipment and void its warranty. Sometimes these scam artists will send you toners whether you ordered them or not and try to pressure you into paying for them.

How can I protect my company?

1. Don’t get tricked. If you think you might be on the phone with a scammer, simply tell them that you will call them right back. Don’t call them back on a number they give you, instead call your equipment provider directly on their main line.
2. Know your rights. If you receive supplies or bills for products you didn’t order, don’t pay, and don’t return the unordered merchandise. It is illegal for a seller to send you bills for unordered merchandise.
3. Train your staff. It’s a good idea to train new and existing employees and volunteers on how to respond to telemarketers. Advise employees who are not authorized to order supplies and service to say, “I’m not authorized to place orders.” And have them avoid giving out the model numbers of your printing equipment over the phone.
4. Only purchase from providers you know and trust. Authorized purchasers should be skeptical of “cold” or unsolicited calls and should not give out information on office equipment. They should feel comfortable saying “no” to high pressure sales tactics. Legitimate companies will probably not pressure you into making a snap decision.

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