Dark Web Monitoring: What Your Business Needs to Know

The dark web is a hidden part of the internet you cannot reach with a normal search engine or web browser. It is also a dangerous place, where criminals hack, steal, and sell sensitive information from innocent people and businesses. The hard truth is that your information may already be there.

// 01What Dark Web Monitoring Is

Dark web monitoring is a way to keep an eye on that hidden corner of the internet for any sign of your information. A report by Intelliagg has shown the most common types of crime that take place on the dark web, and the trade of stolen credentials is high on the list. Monitoring does not stop a third party from leaking your data, but it does let you shield your business from the consequences of someone else's security failure, and level up your own security in the process.

There is a competitive angle too. By watching the dark web, you stay ahead of emerging threats, and acting on them faster than the next business makes you more resilient than your competitors.

// 02What Ends Up for Sale

On the dark web you can find many kinds of employee and company information up for grabs. Each type opens a different door for an attacker.

// 03The Cost of Not Knowing

There can be serious consequences when you are unaware that your credentials have been leaked and are being sold. The clearest is a data breach: using stolen credentials, cybercriminals can infiltrate a company's network and access confidential information such as customer data, financial records, and intellectual property.

You might have thought your company's data was secure, but high-profile incidents like the ChatGPT data leak proved otherwise. It was a clear warning that the most surprising data breaches can and will happen, and that no organization should assume it is the exception.

// 04How We Handle It

Relying on the various organizations that hold your data to notify you, or even warn you, that they have been breached is a pipe dream. It takes them too long to investigate. The realistic option is to monitor the dark web for your information yourself, continuously, so you hear about an exposure in days rather than months.

Every client in our IT PROTECT solution is enrolled in dark web monitoring and is notified the moment their information is found for sale. That lets us act with them immediately, usually within days, not months. When something turns up, we work through our curated response checklist to quickly make the leaked information irrelevant before an attacker can use it.

Wondering whether your business accounts have already been exposed in a breach? If you are ready to take control and secure your business data, reach out for a chat. We will help you find out where you stand.

Cloud Matrix IT is a managed IT and technology consulting firm specializing in proactive IT management for small and medium-sized businesses. IT PROTECT is a comprehensive technology strategy and cybersecurity platform that helps your business save time, reduce costs, and stay protected with a fully managed 24/7/365 SOC+ platform led by cybersecurity professionals. Yes, even weekends and holidays.