Intruders in Disguise: Could Cybercriminals Be Infiltrating Your Workplace?
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, Europe faces a looming cyber threat estimated to cost a staggering €10 trillion by 2025 [1]. This alarming figure underscores the urgency for businesses and organisations to bolster their defences against potential cyber attacks.
One often overlooked area is physical security, which plays a crucial role in safeguarding against cyber threats. Smart devices, such as smart kettles, can be vulnerable to hacking, and cyber attacks can involve physical breaches, not just remote access [2].
Sentinel Intelligence, a leading cybersecurity firm, conducted tests to demonstrate potential security breaches. Their findings highlighted the importance of physical security, revealing that tailgating, lock picking, and social engineering could be used to gain unauthorised access [3].
To fortify their defences, companies can implement robust access control systems. This could involve badge entry, biometrics, and ID card access, ensuring that only authorised personnel gain entry [4]. Additionally, deploying surveillance and monitoring tools like cameras and security guards, enforcing visitor management policies, and securing critical hardware like servers, laptops, and mobile devices with physical locks and encryption can help prevent potential cyber attacks [5].
Round-the-clock surveillance, proper locks, and remote wipe capabilities on devices also help prevent unauthorised physical access that can lead to cyber breaches. It's important for companies to identify all possible ways they could be attacked, and many may underestimate the physical ways their defences can be breached [2].
While caution is necessary, it doesn't mean being unkind to strangers in the workplace out of fear. A person in a uniform may not be questioned, making it essential to have a visitor management system in place [6].
The consequences of a cyber attack can be severe. Direct costs could include physical damage to equipment, while indirect costs could include reputational damage and loss of contracts due to leaked intellectual property or confidential documents. If data is wiped and backups don't work, organisations could crumble without their systems [7].
Global cyber security spending is projected to reach $213 billion in 2025, reflecting the growing awareness and investment in cybersecurity [1]. However, only 4% of organisations globally are fully prepared for modern threats, according to Cisco's 2025 cybersecurity readiness index [8].
Companies can take proactive steps to improve their physical security measures and reduce the risk of cyber attacks. By adopting a multi-layered security approach that combines physical controls with cybersecurity protocols, businesses can create comprehensive defences [2].
Sources: [1] https://www.cybersecurityventures.com/cybersecurity-market/ [2] https://www.sentinelone.com/resources/blog/physical-security-is-a-critical-blindspot-in-defenses/ [3] https://www.sentinelone.com/resources/blog/sentinel-one-reveals-physical-security-vulnerabilities-in-smart-devices/ [4] https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/security/cybersecurity-readiness-index/white-paper-c11-7414994.html [5] https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/08/16/the-importance-of-physical-security-in-cybersecurity/?sh=75517f9d666f [6] https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/95721-the-importance-of-physical-security-in-cybersecurity [7] https://www.csoonline.com/article/3540873/physical-security-and-cybersecurity-go-hand-in-hand.html [8] https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/security/cybersecurity-readiness-index/white-paper-c11-7414994.html
In the realm of business, investing in a multi-layered approach that combines robust physical security measures with cybersecurity protocols can assist in reducing the risk of potential cyber attacks. Costly physical damage, reputation ruin, and loss of contracts due to leaked confidential information can all result from a cyber attack, making such preparedness crucial in the rapidly changing technological landscape, where projected global cybersecurity spending is anticipated to reach €213 billion by 2025.
