Today’s cyber risks are broad and deep
Achieving cyber resilience is challenging in part because the cyber threats faced by companies are so incredibly broad and deep. It easy to glean a sense of just how extensive cybersecurity challenges really are by referring to three contemporary examples of cyber risks:
- Formjacking attacks. Companies and their customers rely on internet-based forms to exchange information – completing a purchase, for example. It involves the exchange of valuable, sensitive information and hackers often aim to intercept these exchanges: effectively hijacking a form. The result is that sensitive user data is compromised. It is commonplace too, over 5,000 websites can be formjacked in a single month.
- Attacking the software supply chain. Businesses large and small rely on complex, integrated software that supplies essential business functions. Hackers target third parties supplying software in order to compromise their final target of choice. According to Symantec, 2018 saw a 78% increase in this type of attack.
- Compromised IoT devices. The Internet of Things (IoT) and the IoT devices that drive it deliver huge benefits but unfortunately also act as a noted entry point for malicious actors. Companies do not always know which IoT devices operate on their networks while the risks posed by IoT devices are also broadly documented.
There’s little doubt therefore that hackers attack companies from all fronts, presenting cybersecurity risks front, left and centre.
- Identify and assess risk. Companies need to map out their weak points and potential attack vectors and this process must include vendors too. An understanding of the threat landscape from an external viewpoint is also important.
- Retain maximum protection. Effectively protecting against cyber threats involve a trade-off in terms of cost, and in terms of practical aspects – such as inconvenience to customers. Nonetheless, resilience requires installing as much protection as is viable to guard technology assets.
- Detection and response. The faster attacks are detected the quicker companies can mount a response, so the ability to detect an attack at the earliest signs is key. However, a response plan is essential too – delayed responses can leave hackers time to cause more damage than they otherwise would.
- Recovering from an incident. An attack can prove damaging in itself but ongoing system downtime can lead to further losses as companies are unable to service customers and meet their obligations. Organisations need to put in place everything from working backups thorough to redundant data centres, if necessary.
These points are just a brief outline yet serve to indicate that cyber resilience requires a comprehensive, tough and tested approach to minimise the risk of successful attacks while mitigating the fallout when an attacker does succeed.
Involve security expertise
Even the largest enterprises will struggle to build the type of in-house cybersecurity know-how that can deliver a truly comprehensive cyber resilience framework. Here at ELEKS, we have expansive security expertise built through years of assisting companies in preventing attacks and in recovering from successful hacking attempts.
Get in touch with us and our Security team will help your company build an actionable cyber resilience plan.
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