How Disasters Create Cyber Risks

How Disasters Create Cyber Risks

You probably know that running a business today comes with its fair share of challenges. But when an unexpected disaster hits, it can take your business to the edge. Unfortunately, this chaos can be like an open door for cybercriminals ready to strike with devastating attacks.

That’s why being ready for disasters should be high on your priority list. It’s not just about keeping your physical assets safe but also about toughening up your online security. By getting a grip on how disasters can spark cyberattacks, you can take smart steps to keep your business safe from these deceptive threats.

Five ways disasters fuel cyber attacks

Let’s check out five ways disasters amplify cyber threats and some tips on how you can boost your cybersecurity game when things get tough.

🔔 Capitalizing on Distraction 🔔

When a disaster happens, everyone immediately focuses on safety and recovery. But this often means that attention and resources get pulled away from keeping your IT systems and networks in check.

With less focus on cybersecurity, you might miss important updates and monitoring, which leaves your networks open to attacks. Cybercriminals jump at the chance to break into your systems, steal sensitive info, and mess with your operations.

To deal with this, set up a dedicated team to keep an eye on cybersecurity, even when things get tough. Use automated security systems to look for weaknesses and keep applying the needed updates. By ensuring cybersecurity is still a top priority during hard times, you can cut down the risk of cyberattacks.

📢 Exploiting fear, urgency, chaos and uncertainty 📢

Disasters can shake things up, creating a vibe of fear, urgency, chaos, and uncertainty — which is like a playground for cybercriminals. They start sending out sneaky emails and setting up fake websites, taking advantage of people looking for quick fixes. By tricking people into handing over their sensitive info, these criminals can slip into critical systems without a hitch.

To fight back, make sure your team knows how these phishing scams and social engineering tricks work. Help them spot the red flags, like sketchy emails or shady requests for private info. It’s all about building a culture where everyone double-checks requests to make sure they’re legit before sharing any confidential information.

By nurturing a smart and watchful team, you can seriously boost your defenses against those cybercriminals who want to exploit panic and confusion.

⚠️ Damage to key infrastructure ⚠️

Disasters can mess up your important systems, putting a serious dent in your cybersecurity. When servers, routers, or firewalls get wrecked, it opens the door for cybercriminals to sneak in and take advantage of the weak spots.

So, what can you do about it? Make sure you’ve got backups and a disaster recovery plan sorted out. Regularly back up your data, stash it safely off-site or in the cloud, and test how well you can restore it so everything runs smoothly. Don’t forget to have solid disaster recovery and business continuity plans that cover cybersecurity too.

By keeping your systems sturdy and frequently checking that your backups and recovery steps work, you can mitigate the impact of infrastructure damage on your cybersecurity.

🚨 Impersonation and Deception 🚨

After a disaster, cybercriminals will likely take advantage of trust associated with relief organizations and government agencies. They impersonate these reliable sources to fool victims through phishing emails, messages, or calls, tricking them into divulging sensitive information or falling for scams.

To keep yourself safe from these scams:

💡Encourage your team to double-check any communication they get during a disaster.

💡Remind them to reach out to the organization or agency directly through known, trusted channels to verify any requests.

💡Set up solid security awareness training that shows employees the usual impersonation tricks and how to report them.

By fostering a vibe of caution and verification, you can help protect against the impersonation and deception tactics that cybercriminals use.

❗Remote Work Risks❗

Disasters often force employees to work remotely, increasing reliance on less-secure networks and personal devices, creating more entry points for attackers.

To strengthen defenses, require the use of:

📌 Virtual private network (VPN)

This establishes a digital connection between your employee’s computer and a remote server owned by a VPN provider, creating a point-to-point tunnel that encrypts your internet connection, hiding your IP address and securing data from hackers, ISPs, and surveillance. It creates a private secure tunnel that lets you sidestep website blocks and firewalls on the internet.

📌 Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

This adds extra security by requiring 2 or more ways to verify your employee’s identify when logging in. This could be a password plus a code sent to his phone or fingerprint. It makes it harder for hackers to access his accounts.

📌 Endpoint security solutions

This protects devices like laptops, phones, and tablets from cyber threats. It includes antivirus, firewalls, and encryption to keep remote workers safe from hackers.

It’s time to protect your business! 🆘

We’ve seen how cybercriminals can go after your business when things go south, so it’s important to be prepared for disasters and put those mentioned steps into action to keep up with the fast-changing tech world. 

If you’re looking for some expert advice, we’ve got your back to boost your disaster preparedness and cybersecurity efforts. Let’s team up to make sure your business stays strong and secure. Hit us up today and let’s protect everything you’ve worked so hard for!