Cybersecurity 101: Why Attack Computers and Networks? October 17, 2023 – Posted in: Cyber Security – Tags: Cyber Security, ITServices, ITSupport, ManagedITServices
Cybersecurity is a hot-button issue. As we become more connected, the opportunities to steal data or damage a company’s reputation are growing. For most small to medium businesses it is a constant balancing act – to stay compliant with the relevant laws, to protect yourself and your customers, to allow your employees to do their jobs, and to keep your budgets realistic. In our Cybersecurity 101 articles we are going to be covering some of the key points that will help you stay safe and on budget, but before we delve in to who to watch out for and how to protect your business, we look into why someone might attack you in the first place.
The essential motivators for cybercrime are the same as any crime:
- Profit
- Revenge
- Espionage
- Sabotage
The most common motivator by far being profit – Verizon’s Data Breach Investigations report from 20221 showed that 96% of breaches were for financial or personal gain. The two main ways to profit from cybercrime is by directly stealing money or luring people into sending it to you, or stealing something you can sell on – like data.
Every piece of information you hold, the names and email addresses of your customers and prospects, proprietary details or even your turnover has a value and could be sold.
Will you be targeted?
Yes. You probably already have been. There is no such thing as being too small a target to be at risk.
It might sound melodramatic, but between the number of people sending phishing emails to millions of business and personal email addresses, the risk of being in the downstream catchment of a larger target, and the risk every business carries of an insider threat – anyone could get caught by cybercrime.
Many malicious actors will (metaphorically) cheerfully throw a seed-bomb of highly invasive knotweed into the garden of the person whose marrows they want to beat at the village fete, without considering neighbouring gardens just growing flowers, the local woodland area, or the prevailing wind direction. Sometimes they may even seem to forget the location of their own garden!
Cybersecurity is something every business should consider. If you’d like to get some support in working out a strategy for your business and budget call us on 01245 265 100 to have a chat with one of our techs.