As Russia and Ukraine enter a state of physical warfare that many have feared for months — even years — now, what many fail to realize is that the two have been engaged in cyberattacks long before things escalated to real blows. As countries like America and the United Kingdom prepare to launch global cyberattacks of their own at a moment’s notice to protect their ally Ukraine against Russia’s continued cybersecurity threats, there’s a real worry that the world’s cybersecurity is at risk. This begs a couple of questions: How legitimate are these threats and what should organizations be prepared for?
As noted by the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), there are no specific or credible cyber threats to the U.S. homeland at this time. However, Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine — which has involved cyber-attacks on the Ukrainian government and critical infrastructure organizations — may impact organizations both within and beyond the region (particularly in the wake of costs imposed by the United States and our allies).
The Increased Risk of Cybersecurity Attacks
The increased risk of cybersecurity attacks — not just in Russia and Ukraine, but the world over — means that your organization needs to be ready for anything and everything that could come next. This could include everything from malware to distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks to phishing campaigns and all sorts of other cybersecurity risks in between.
To gauge the current threat level and know what exactly it is that you need to prepare for, it’s worth looking to the experts. Take the DHS cybersecurity strategy, for example. This five-year plan of sorts gives you a good idea of how the government plans to handle any serious threats. The DHS’s Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency is another useful place to look. You can also continue to look to vTECH io. We have the know-how and the expertise to help you protect yourself from the threats of ransomware, the dark web or other forms of cyberattacks that might be looming ahead. Read on to know precisely what you need to prepare for.
What You Need to Prepare For
While Ukraine and Russia have been engaged in cyberattacks for years now, there’s a very real fear that these attacks will spread outside of the parameters of these two countries and go global. Your incident response plan is going to be integral in keeping you safe from whatever may come. But how do you know what you need to prepare for? After all, not everyone had the foresight to attend cybersecurity conferences 2022 or read up on the best cybersecurity strategies before Russia and Ukraine went to war. Well, preparing for today’s heightened cybersecurity risks starts by taking the following steps to create a cybersecurity strategy and reduce your likelihood of being targeted.
Steps To Take to Reduce the Likelihood of Being Targeted
To reduce your likelihood of being targeted in the heightened security risks between Russia and Ukraine, consider following the steps we’ve outlined below to create your cybersecurity strategy.
Follow SEC Guidance on Cybersecurity
Many government institutions specialize in making cybersecurity recommendations for organizations. These include the SEC, the CISA and the NYDFS cybersecurity regulation. Take inspiration from these institutions when forming your organization’s cybersecurity preparedness plan.
Get Cyberinsurance
Another important step your organization can take is obtaining cyberinsurance. This kind of policy will protect your organization from liability in any sort of data breach that concerns your customers’ sensitive information.
Invest in Zero-Trust Network Architecture
Zero-trust network architecture is a cybersecurity strategy that assumes every user on your network holds the potential to be a threat, requiring everyone to verify themselves every time they log in. Like blockchain cybersecurity, which uses the blockchain to reduce the risk of fraudulent activity, zero-trust network architecture is a great way to bring maximum security to your preparedness plan.
Hire a Certified Ethical Hacker
Today, you can hire employees who have pursued cybersecurity certificate programs or studied to become cybersecurity majors. These individuals — sometimes referred to as certified ethical hackers — have gotten the cybersecurity certification to keep your organization safe. These educated men and women in cybersecurity know exactly what steps to take to reduce your likelihood of being targeted.
Conduct Cybersecurity Risk Assessment
Last but not least, conducting computer security risk assessment and incident management can be an excellent and foolproof way to mitigate your organization’s risk. By consulting experts in the cybersecurity industry — such as vTECH io — you can get a customized and specialized approach that suits your organization’s unique cybersecurity needs.
The Bottom Line: How vTECH io Can Help
If you’re still feeling uncertain about the current Russia-Ukraine conflict and are unsure of how the increased risk of cybersecurity attacks and incidents might affect your organization, look no further than vTECH io. We have the insight you need on the escalated cyber risk and can help you determine the steps you should take to reduce your likelihood of becoming a target and the severity of the potential damage.
At vTECH io, we stress the importance of the multilayered security approach and the necessity of ensuring that there are no gaps. Our cybersecurity defense framework addresses each of these layers with the utmost care and precision, helping you to detect, prevent, and respond to all cybersecurity incidents that may come your way.
For more information, contact vTECH io today or visit our website, where you will find a library of downloadable resources on the different areas we can assist in your cybersecurity preparedness plan. Click here to learn more.
