Experts predict that cyber attacks will start to cause physical harm
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According to experts at Gartner, ‘By 2025, threat actors will have weaponized operational technology environments successfully enough to cause human casualties.’ How exactly could this happen? There are many different ways.
Most industrial buildings rely on control systems that are connected to the internet. These systems are incredibly efficient, however they are vulnerable to cyber attacks. If an attacker can hack into a control system, they could manipulate the electrical equipment, putting employees at risk of physical harm.
In 2020 a hospital in Duesseldorf experienced a ransomware attack. Eventually the police were able to retrieve the encrypted data, but due to the delay the hospital was unable to provide emergency treatment to a patient, who later died, (Mullen Law).
In another incident, hackers broke into a water treatment plan system, they then adjusted the lye levels, so that the water was dangerous to drink. Fortunately, the water levels were changed back before anyone was harmed, had the water reached people’s homes, it would have been a different story.
As you can see, cyber attacks do have the potential to cause physical harm, and the threat is rising all of the time. Businesses need robust cyber security protection, to reduce the risk of cyber attacks. There are plenty of ways that businesses can protect themselves.
What can businesses do?
1.Train your employees
According to Varonis, ‘95% of cybersecurity breaches are caused by human error.’
To protect your company from a cyber attack it’s important that you train your employees. You’ll need to keep your staff up to date on the latest cyber security best practices. Consider providing your employees with regular cyber security training. When you take the time to train your staff you’ll greatly reduce your risk of experiencing a cyber attack.
2. Malware software
All businesses need the latest malware and antivirus software, there are plenty of different brands to choose from. It’s also important to ensure that you keep your software up to date. It can be helpful to have a cyber security audit, during the process an IT expert performs an analysis of your system, and provides suggestions for improvement. Whether you need advice about Sharepoint Migration or cyber security, IT professionals can help businesses in many different ways.
3. MFA
MFA refers to multi factor authentication, it’s a system that’s used to verify user identity. MFA is a two or three step process, it usually involves entering a password, receiving an SMS code, or testing biometric traits. When you use MFA systems you can ensure that only authorized people are accessing your network.
4. Cyber security insurance
A cyber insurance policy can help businesses to recover from a cyber attack. Experiencing a cyber security breach can be costly, and a cybersecurity insurance policy can help businesses to cover these costs. There are many different types of cyber insurance policies, all different various levels of cover.
Experts believe that cyber attacks are likely to cause more physical harm in the future, with this mind it’s incredibly important that businesses are insured. As hackers develop more sophisticated attacks, businesses must respond by improving their protection.
