Cyberwarfare has been a prominent discussion in recent months, and there are many predictions floating around as to how future attacks could happen.

I believe that now more than ever, enterprises need to monitor their cyber activity and IT parameters closely and take proactive measures to evaluate the threat level for their companies.

Cyberwarfare, by definition, is the use of computer technology to digitally attack and disrupt an organization or state by targeting information systems for military or other purposes. It’s important to recognize the difference between the terms cyberwarfare and cyberwar. Cyberwarfare involves actions that may be part of a cyberwar, and are usually more quid-pro-quo, isolated instances. A full-on, large-scale cyberwar over a long period of time has yet to occur at this point in history, but it’s not impossible.

On the extreme end, and likely a prominent concern for many, is the threat of cyberwarfare compromising electrical grids and disrupting national systems. However, most cyber warfare tactics that impact enterprise businesses include much of what we are seeing today: spyware, ransomware, phishing, propaganda and other means of hacking to retrieve data from institutions and governments.

What’s at risk for enterprises during this period of heightened threat?
The simple answer? Everything. That is if you are not taking the utmost buttoned-up security measures to protect your enterprise ecosystem.

Depending on the organization and the strength of its security systems, once an attacker gains access to sensitive information, it can be extremely disruptive. If successful in their efforts, hackers can retrieve anything from confidential company documents, sensitive employee information, financial records, communications and more. Because of the potential damage, these threats must be acknowledged.

Specifically, banks and hospitals have attractive assets to cybercriminals. Quite a lot of vulnerability already exists for companies within the healthcare and financial industries, as many have yet to transform their legacy systems and adopt a more secure digitized structure. The releasing of private health and medical records, as well as financial information, is extremely damaging to not only the company but the client and patient base.

What actions can enterprises take to protect their employees and company data from hackers?

Enterprises can do several things to protect their employees and valuable company information. You want to make sure to tighten up your IT infrastructure and security measures to minimize any vulnerabilities. Shoring up defenses on company communication channels where sensitive information may be exchanged is an excellent way to start. Anywhere files are shared, and sensitive data is exchanged, especially pertaining to clients and private company IP, should be safeguarded with the highest level of protection. End-to-end encryption is the gold standard of communication protection, allowing only the recipient and sender to decrypt and view messages on their device. This removes any risk of hackers accessing messages at weak points like the cloud.

While things like end-to-end encryption are important, your employees are ultimately your weakest link. Almost all data breaches are a result of human error and can be avoided with the investment of time and resources into the cybersecurity education of your company. Phishing scams are growing more sophisticated and are going beyond traditional means to gain access, including “smishing” or SMS phishing.

Users must also keep security software up-to-date and be aware of password strength. As the era of bring your own device (BYOD) grows, these extra measures of education and protection are crucial. Most employees and other company network users are accessing company information like email and instant messaging channels on personal devices, which is particularly alarming because personal devices are not protected with the same level of sophistication as company devices.

It is also vital for companies to deploy cybersecurity measures with complete IT control. It is also worth considering a company VPN to add another layer of protection on top of existing measures. Leaders can also discuss adopting a zero-trust model of enterprise security, which installs specific rules to further protect access points and limit network activity. Zero trust is a model that specifically addresses company concerns that exist in today’s world, like ransomware threats and decentralization of the workplace due to remote and hybrid models. It requires users to be constantly authorized to access certain data or applications.

With zero-trust, the network will immediately deny any user who cannot be verified and will reject access through touchpoints that are disputed. Zero-trust networks also institute a least-privilege principle, meaning that users are only enabled the bottom-line functions needed for a requested task.
The threat of cyberwarfare is a very real threat that is going to remain at the forefront for years to come. The future and existing health of the enterprise and its security falls on its leaders, who must take appropriate measures to protect every aspect and employee.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/07/15/cyberwarfare-whats-at-stake-in-the-era-of-digitization/?sh=1290304630f3