Procuring new software, applications, or devices for your business is always exciting. You and your team will be rearing to take advantage of all those features. Still, you have to know that they’re secure.
Is there a chance your new installation contains a hidden flaw no one knows about, not even the people who built it? One glitch could allow hackers to easily breach your security defenses. That’s the reality of zero-day vulnerabilities, and they’re more common than you might expect.
A business owner needs to know what these vulnerabilities are so that you know what to do to close them. It could make all the difference between a secure company environment and a data breach catastrophe!
What Are Zero-Day Vulnerabilities?
A zero-day vulnerability, also called a zero-day exploit, is a security flaw that the vendor didn’t know about before they released a product. The term “zero-day” means that developers haven’t had any time to address the issue or release a security patch. It’s an undisclosed vulnerability because it is completely unknown to the product creator.
Surprisingly, these vulnerabilities can remain undetected for a while. Occasionally, security researchers (or hackers) stumble across them by accident. At other times, cybercriminals actively look for them.
Unfortunately, if hackers get there first, they’ll use zero-day vulnerabilities to:
- Steal data
- Install malware
- Hijack systems or networks
- Bypass existing security tools
If this happens, no patch or update can stop the fallout because no one even knows the vulnerability exists yet, let alone how to fix it.
Why Zero-Day Exploits Should Be on Every Business Owner’s Radar
Regardless of the size of your company or industry, zero-day vulnerabilities are a threat if you use digital tools. Even seemingly “safe” gear, including routers, point-of-sale systems, smartphones, and office software, can harbor hidden flaws. Your business must outsmart them, or you’ll end up with a mess on your hands, from system downtime to data breaches.
How To Protect Your Business From Zero-Day Threats
You can’t stop a zero-day vulnerability because you don’t know it’s there. However, you can make such vulnerabilities much harder to exploit by doing the following:
- Stay updated: Software patching addresses known vulnerabilities in hardware and software. Stay alert to update notices and immediately install them.
- Use layered security: Firewalls, antivirus tools, and advanced threat detection provide extra protection against hackers and prevent unauthorized access.
- Train your team: Many cyberattacks begin with human error, like clicking a malicious link. Training your people to detect phishing and other security-based concerns supports zero-day mitigation.
- Restrict access: Only provide employees with the access and privileges required for their specific duties. Fewer entry points mean fewer opportunities for hackers.
You could also partner with professionals. For example, managed IT and cybersecurity providers use threat intelligence to watch for suspicious activity and respond quickly.
Stay Ahead of the Unknown
Zero-day vulnerabilities can lurk in the tools your business uses every day. While you can't see them coming, you can build stout defenses.
Make it harder for attackers to succeed.
