Dark Web Protection: Dos and Don’ts for Your Business

Dark Web Protection: Dos and Don’ts for Your Business

Since 2020, cybercrime has grown by over 600%, driven by pandemic disruptions, remote work vulnerabilities, and increasingly sophisticated attacks (Source: Forbes, Cybercrime Trends 2023). Many of these threats operate silently on the dark web, where criminals buy and sell sensitive business data, deploy phishing kits, and exchange ransomware tools.

Here’s what your business should and shouldn’t do to protect itself:

DON’T — Wait Until After a Breach

The average time to detect a breach is 204 days, and it takes another 73 days to contain it, according to the IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023. That means attackers can access your data for nearly 9 months before you even respond.

This delay gives criminals ample time to upload your information to dark web marketplaces—doing real damage to your operations and reputation.

DO — Use Automated Threat Detection

As of 2024, a ransomware attack occurs every 7 seconds worldwide (Cybersecurity Ventures 2024). Businesses need more than antivirus—they need automated threat detection tools that flag suspicious activity and send real-time alerts before data is compromised.

Automation cuts response time drastically and helps teams act before a breach escalates.

DON’T — Assume Your Employees Are Prepared

Research from Tessian and Stanford University (2023) shows that 74% of data breaches involve human error. Whether it’s clicking a phishing link, falling for business email compromise, or misconfiguring access settings, people are often the weakest link.

Regular training and phishing simulations can significantly reduce risk and keep awareness high.

DO — Use a Password Manager

According to LastPass & IDC (2023), 51% of IT leaders say employees still store passwords on spreadsheets or sticky notes. Weak, reused, or shared passwords are easy targets for dark web credential stuffing attacks.

A password manager simplifies credential security, enforces complexity, and minimizes risk across all accounts.

DON’T — Skip Software Updates

Ponemon Institute and ServiceNow found that 57% of breaches in 2023 were linked to unpatched vulnerabilities that had known fixes. Failing to apply security updates quickly leaves your business exposed to preventable attacks.

Make patching part of your weekly checklist—or better, automate it.

DO — Partner with Cybersecurity Experts

Cyber threats evolve too quickly for most businesses to handle alone. Working with a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) gives you access to enterprise-grade tools, compliance expertise, and a dedicated team to monitor, respond, and advise.

A trusted partner turns cybersecurity from reactive to proactive.

Final Thought

Cybercrime isn’t just rising—it’s adapting. Businesses that don’t keep up risk more than downtime—they risk customer trust, compliance violations, and long-term damage.

Whether you're starting with dark web monitoring or ready for a full security overhaul, we’re here to help.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation