Politics have dominated the news in recent weeks. Between the daily buzz of a presidential election and now both political party’s conventions, it can feel like politics surround us. Just recently, however, the news took a turn to the techy side of things. In the past couple of weeks, some rather embarrassing hacks have been brought to light, first of the Democratic National Committee and then on Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Many believe that Russian hackers are to blame for the breach, which was leaked to the press through Wikileaks.

In a contentious political season, this is something that election officials and the FBI take very seriously. In a statement to ABC News the FBI released this statement:

“The FBI is investigating a cyber intrusion involving the DNC and are working to determine the nature and scope of the matter,” the FBI said in a statement today. “A compromise of this nature is something we take very seriously, and the FBI will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who pose a threat in cyberspace.”

Of course, hacking isn’t just a threat to the world of politics. Businesses of all sizes need to be vigilant against the threat of cyber-attacks. Here are some of the main lessons that every business should learn from these cyber scandals.

Lessons On Cyber-Attacks For The Business World

1. All Data Has Value To Someone: Many companies assume that because they don’t deal with credit cards or financial data online, then they don’t have to worry about cyber threats. You never know, however, what hackers may find valuable. From counterfeit spammy linking to personal data stored on customers, there is a market for everything. In some cases, even email accounts become targets as a resource for phishing schemes; using a legitimate website to try to skim illegitimate data from unsuspecting victims.
2. Hacks Come From Many Sources: Speaking of phishing schemes… Most people tend to think of cyber-attacks as a sophisticated bit of coding, done is dark rooms by people with advanced hacking skills. In truth, many hackers gain access to companies in some very mundane ways. Email phishing is still an easy way for hackers to get entry to your data, and all it takes is one employee to open the wrong email.
3. Don’t Assume You Are Safe: The first two bullet points should highlight the biggest lesson on the list. NEVER assume when it comes to cyber security. With your IT professional, go through every vulnerability point to see where improvements can be made.
4. Have A Plan: No matter how prepared a company may be, there is no way to prevent a cyber-attack entirely, if the adversary is determined enough. Hackers make their living staying one step ahead of the game; a tactic they exploit at the expense of honest businesses. A “hacker-preparedness” plan can be the difference between a major breach and a minor inconvenience. These include an emergency chain of contact so action can be taken swiftly, at any time. You also need back-ups for your site and a communications template to alert your customers if needed.

Does your business have a plan in place for cyber breaches? Has your company ever experienced a hack? We would love to hear your insights in the comments below.