Cybersecurity attacks continue to cripple both government agencies and companies: Cybercrime is projected to cost the world $10.5 trillion dollars annually by 2025. In the United States, an average cost of a data breach is $9.44M with healthcare being hit the hardest.¬π
2021 was a record-breaking year for data breaches. In 2021 over 22 billion people were affected by cyber-attacks: In June 2021 personal data for 700 million LinkedIn users, nearly 93% of the company’s members, was been put up for sale online. In April 2021 533 million Facebook users’ phone numbers and personal data were leaked online.
This mounting cybersecurity threat, with barriers to entry for hackers becoming ever lower, confirms the forecast: cyber winter is coming. With cold winds blowing in and heavy clouds on the horizon, it is more important than ever to have the basic precautions in place. As a company headquartered in Chicago, recently in the grip of a polar vortex, we can offer some helpful tips on weathering the storm:
- Wear a Hat: This might sound basic, but so are the causes of most data breaches. If you don’t at least cover up – with an accurate understanding of your threat surface, updated controls, and technology basics such as a firewall – then much of the body heat will be lost. It will be too late to take other precautions.
- Watch the Weather Forecast: That way, you will know where conditions will be worst and can put in place extra heating and windbreaks. In the cyber winter, actionable threat intelligence can help an organization protect itself. A Liberty Advisor Group company, Cybeta, has a predictive, preemptive, and powerful barometer of cyber threats. We use machine learning algorithms to derive Threat Beta ™ which compares a company’s cybersecurity threat likelihood, technology vulnerabilities, and third-party exposure with those of other firms worldwide.
- Keep Extremities Covered and Use Common Sense: Avoid hypothermia by taking commonsense precautions – keep moving, wear dry boots and gloves, and stay out of the wind. Good habits can also help with cybersecurity, with most breaches originating from human behaviors and decisions. Awareness of email phishing tactics is a vital area for employee training. A 360o view will help identify unexpected threats, which might include vendors, suppliers, and operational technology (OT) networks.
These precautions – which form the basis of effective business threat intelligence – can go a long way towards keeping the worst chills of a cyber winter at bay.
Liberty Advisor Group and Cybeta provide you with a predictive edge that keeps your business, data, and IP safe from cybersecurity attacks and ahead of the competition: With decades of US intelligence training, we have the experience to protect your business and mitigate cyber threats prior to impact. To discuss customized cybersecurity solutions for your business you can contact us here, or reach out to info@libertyadvisorgroup.com.
ABOUT LIBERTY ADVISOR GROUP
Liberty Advisor Group is a goal-oriented, client-focused, and results-driven consulting firm. We are a lean, handpicked team of strategists, technologists, and entrepreneurs – battle-tested experts with a steadfast, start-up attitude. We collaborate, integrate, and ideate in real-time with our clients to deliver situation-specific solutions that work. Liberty Advisor Group has the experience to realize our clients’ highest ambitions. Liberty has been named as Great Place to Work, to the Best Places to Work in Chicago,and to FORTUNE’s list of Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services.
