Solution review Contributed content series is a collection of contributed articles written by thought leaders in the enterprise software category. Involta's Mark Cooley examines how resilience is key to 'leaving fear behind' in the world of cybersecurity.
When navigating the complex landscape of cybersecurity, there is always an element of fear and uncertainty, with the possibility of a cyberattack looming at any time. From recent thought-provoking films like “Leave the World Behind,” which depicts a nationwide cyberattack, to the rise of AI-generated deepfakes, to foreign governments using malware to damage civilian infrastructure. A new report positions cybersecurity as a growing and important issue. It is an important topic of discussion, especially for his CISOs and CIOs in corporate organizations. In our connected world, the threat of a data breach is not a matter of “if” but “when,” and this unpredictability begs the question: Is it all anxiety and uncertainty?
The answer lies in a multifaceted exploration of resilience and the importance of a renewed focus on protecting interconnected systems in the face of evolving threats.
Forget fear: What the cybersecurity world needs right now
A new focus on resilience
While the nation-wide attacks often depicted in movies may seem far-fetched, other types of sophisticated targeted attacks are on the rise, and it's important to be as prepared as possible. While the broader debate about corporate cyber defense and monitoring for potential threats continues to heat up, one key element missing from many companies' cybersecurity plans is the critical It’s a deeper level of system-wide resilience and preparedness.
Looking back 10 to 15 years ago, the biggest concern for IT teams was simply neutralizing viruses and preventing network disruption with minimal intrusion. Over time, the threat became more intense as ransomware emerged and malicious actors realized that they could make hefty profits by holding important data hostage. These cybercriminals are now getting smarter, not only stealing data but also attacking organizations' backup systems and their ability to quickly recover.
Cybercriminals actively seek to disrupt an organization's operational efficiency, and attacks can cost millions, if not billions, depending on how long it takes to counterattack. There is a possibility. As we become more dependent on technology, we also expect attacks to increasingly move into the physical world, including disabling servers, crashing self-driving cars, and disrupting operations within HVAC systems.
Key cybersecurity threats in a dynamic digital environment
Motivations for cyberattacks range from financial gain to ideological outrage. As we have seen over the past few years, beyond financial incentives, more and more attacks are politically motivated, exacerbated by rising tensions between nations on a global scale. Moreover, as we enter an election year, the potential for politically motivated threats only increases. On the other hand, some threat actors simply attack to advance their reputation as a force to be reckoned with and their ability to disrupt large organizations.
Just as motivations vary, so too do the techniques used by attackers. Malware (malicious software) continues to reign as the most common cyber attack, with 5.5 billion attacks detected worldwide in 2022. Ransomware, a type of malware, is also on the rise, with more than 493 million attacks reported worldwide. Notably, the United States is the most targeted country for ransomware. In fact, ransomware attacks are becoming more intense and double extortion tactics are also on the rise. In a dual extortion scheme, cybercriminals not only encrypt systems, but also seize sensitive data and threaten to publish or sell the data if the organization does not comply with their demands.
In addition to malware, artificial intelligence (AI) is also a growing concern for many CISOs and CIOs. Fraudsters are using deepfakes and synthetic media to manipulate and deceive unsuspecting individuals and organizations. These advanced technologies allow attackers to create convincingly false content or impersonate others to gain access to critical business data, infiltrate an organization's network, or provide false information. It will be possible to spread it. Similarly, social engineering schemes are on the rise, with malicious actors manipulating victims into handing over secure access to vulnerable systems and wreaking havoc on corporate operations.
While tactics, motivations, and threats continue to evolve, uncertainty is always a factor when it comes to cybersecurity. However, one thing is clear. Organizations can effectively deal with the changing cyber threat landscape by remaining prepared, proactive, vigilant, and above all, resilient.
The key to mastering resilience
The truth is, security breaches will happen. The important thing to remember is that preparation is paramount. Developing a resiliency plan can help minimize the impact of an attack.
The DIE model has emerged as a valuable checklist for scale-readiness as modern workloads continue to grow and more of the enterprise traffic moves over internal connections. Unlike other models, DIE focuses on infrastructure, making it easier to retire or replace affected assets.
- Distributed: Is the system distributed in a way that promotes scalability while reducing dependence on a single zone?
- unchanging: Will the infrastructure remain the same over time, or can it not be modified, such as by backing up and restoring the data, to prevent malicious parties from modifying or deleting data sets?
- Temporary: How long does it take to re-provision systems, and can assets be disposed of in the event of a breach?
Another valuable model to use in conjunction with DIE is the CIA Triad, which focuses on an organization's irreplaceable assets.
- keep a secret: Are appropriate procedures implemented to protect sensitive information and securely manage corporate data?
- Honesty: Is there a way to guarantee that data will not be altered or lost?
- availability: Is the information easily accessible at all times by individuals who need to use it?
Assessing your network through the lens of both the DIE and CIA models will help you quickly recover your business after a breach. Time is money, and when data is sensitive, businesses need to be prepared to react quickly. As of 2023, 60 percent of all enterprise data will be stored in the cloud. To ensure resiliency, make sure your data is distributed across different platforms, especially in the cloud, where it can be quickly accessed.
One of the most overlooked steps to ensuring resiliency is testing. A recovery plan is essential and businesses should thoroughly test it at least once a year. Many organizations have paper plans and read them from time to time. But when it comes time to fully implement it, you either never actually test the “restore” part of it, or you miscalculate the amount of time it takes to restore data access.
Often the limiting factor to getting up and running quickly is the Internet connection from point A to point B. Many organizations estimate that data recovery will take five to six hours, but in reality it can take days or even weeks. Furthermore, even if the data is intact, being able to use it operationally is another story. It is important to perform each step of your recovery plan and business continuity plan frequently. Be sure to perform a physical recovery of your system to ensure you have enough space to restore.
Additionally, new SEC reporting requirements apply to public companies, making resiliency important. A breach requires him to report within 4 days, so he is urged to share his recovery plan sooner. Bottom line: Transparency and preparedness go a long way in maintaining customer and investor confidence in the event of a breach.
The important role of constant vigilance
While being able to restore operations after a breach is important, threat prevention and vigilance must always be a top priority to avoid attacks in the first place. Organizations must secure all vulnerable access points throughout their networks, including IoT devices and other connected equipment that may be susceptible to unexpected attacks.
First, enlist the help of tools that identify, block, and isolate potential threats before they reach your network. If your employees are remote, make sure all devices are equipped with your company's security tools before allowing them to connect to your systems.
Additionally, it goes without saying that employee training is an important part of the cybersecurity puzzle. Implementing an ongoing training program is especially beneficial for keeping employee security at the forefront. Additionally, it's important to include training that not only educates employees on how to recognize threats and prevent attacks, but also what actions to take when a breach occurs.
A new dawn of resilience
Although the threat is always looming, the impact of a breach is decreasing as companies strengthen their recovery plans, making significant progress in lowering the current threat level. Further strengthening cybersecurity efforts, enabling governments to work together to enact impactful changes, and integrating AI to enhance cybersecurity strategies will change the way organizations recover from breaches. There are exciting developments on the horizon that promise to spark a revolution. Transforming from a perspective of “fear and uncertainty” to a more certain and confident outlook, especially when prioritizing awareness, education, and most importantly resilience, despite the ever-present unknowns A transition is underway.
