Computer security researcher Dan Farmer once said, “If security were all that mattered, computers would never be turned on, let alone hooked into a network with literally millions of potential intruders.” This is not reality because as individuals and businesses we rely on these devices.
The mindset must be changed about where cybersecurity falls on a business priority list. Cyber incidents most often occur because a cybersecurity plan was not set in place prior to an incident. Cybercriminals around the world are deploying ransomware in our cyber infrastructures. after hours or over the weekend so that by the time the effects of it are seen, the damage is done through a phishing attack email or another form of exploitation.
It is critical to be proactive when it comes to cybersecurity and already have defenses in place before bad actors reach your cyber infrastructure. Cybercrime has (unfortunately) cost companies trillions of dollars a year according to Cybersecurity Ventures.
$6 Trillion USD A YEAR
$500 Billion A MONTH
$115.4 Billion A WEEK
$16.4 Billion A DAY
$684.9 Million AN HOUR
$11.4 Million A MINUTE
Most recently, ransomware groups and criminal enterprises from Russia have been able to operate in their country with no chance of going to jail because it fits with the desires of the country’s leadership. If this leniency on cybercrime remains in countries like this, we cannot rest knowing our cyber infrastructures are not safe.
Small to medium businesses are at a high risk for ransomware attacks and often cannot fully recover afterwards. 71% of cyberattacks happen to businesses that have less than 500 employees.
Implementing Zero-Trust and having visibility into attacks and resiliency in order to mitigate the damage is critical in moving forward for any business. Frequent patching is another key operational strategy for defending against attacks-a prime example of insufficient patching would be the recent log4j incident. Without proper patching, organizations remain vulnerable to external entities.
Additionally, phishing is one of the top ways that cybercriminals enter IT infrastructures, and without proper training, employees and their organizations are vulnerable. Phishing accounts for 90% of data breaches. Through these phishing campaigns, bad actors can steal passwords, install malware to access/control the system, or ransomware to immediately shutdown the business. Weak or stolen passwords make up 81% of breaches according to the Data Breach Investigations Report. This is why it is important to create strong passwords and change them often along with implementing two-factor authentication.
Vice President and Global Chief Information Security Officer Stéphane Nappo of Groupe SEB said, “The five most efficient cyber defenders are: Anticipation, Education, Detection, Reaction and Resilience. Do remember: “Cybersecurity is much more than an IT topic.”
For more details on how to secure your cyber infrastructure watch our most recent webinar and schedule an assessment with us today.
