What if your business is hacked? That’s the question many people ask themselves, when they consider industrial control systems (ICS) and their implementation. Many large corporations, especially those in the defense industry, are quite fond of investing in this technology, largely due to the fact that it enables them to seamlessly monitor all aspects of their production. When someone hacks into one of these systems, it can be extremely dangerous; especially when it comes to those working at the receiving end of such remotely controlled systems.
One of the major benefits of remotely controlled ICS is that, unlike traditional manufacturing automation methods, it allows for the same type of control to be achieved in a completely virtual manner. For this reason, reaching out to a suitable control system manufacturer seems to be the most viable option that companies are seeking out these days. However, this is not to say that a hacker would be easily able to hack into these industrial control systems, or that even most businesses would be able to do so. Still, the reality is that you may be dealing with a company or organization that has found great success in controlling industrial automation through the use of remote-controlled systems, and they may be compromised by a cyber attack.
When contemplating the potential repercussions of a hack, various scenarios may impact how a system is compromised. One such scenario involves an internal organizational employee mistakenly accessing the wrong setting on the system. While this may not necessarily jeopardize the industrial control system itself, it poses a threat to any other information stored on the network.
In the event of such an occurrence, not only would the employee’s data be vulnerable, but any information stored on the network could also be at risk. This breach has the potential for catastrophic consequences, particularly if a virus corrupts the files. Consequently, it is strongly recommended for businesses to collaborate with a reputable cyber security company Edmonton (or their respective locations) to formulate a robust cybersecurity strategy, mitigating the risk of malicious attacks on their systems.
Another scenario would be a cyber attack originating from a foreign country. For some, such an attack would simply compromise a specific piece of software. For others, the attack might go further and attempt to penetrate the industrial control systems of the company itself. Either way, when considering what if you are hacked, it is important to know whether your business depends upon such highly confidential information.
As a businessman, chances are that you have experienced these cyber attacks before. This does not necessarily mean that the attack was malicious (there are many cases where hackers are not looking to harm anyone). However, a cyber attack can compromise a company’s network and potentially cause chaos and damage to the entire network. In many cases, such attacks have resulted in a company’s system going down for days or weeks – which can completely take over a company’s production and sales offline. So the question of what if your system is hacked has become even more pressing because cyber attacks can happen to any company at any time.
With the threat of cyberattacks so prevalent, it is crucial for you to properly educate your employees on cybersecurity best practices. Some effective ways to accomplish this include hosting workshops, seminars, and leveraging online training platforms.
Workshops conducted by either internal IT staff or external cybersecurity experts allow for more hands-on learning. Your employees can walk through real-world examples of phishing emails, unsafe browsing habits, and other common threats. The interactive nature reinforces concepts more effectively than passive learning. Similarly, seminars provide opportunities for your staff to learn from industry leaders who provide insights on the latest cyber trends and best practices. Attending reputable cybersecurity conferences will allow your employees to gain broader expertise that applies across sectors.
Another thing you can do is employ an Online Cyber Security Awareness Training platform to educate your employees on best practices and protocols for maintaining a secure digital environment. Here you can customize your content as per your organization’s specific needs and risks. Employees can learn at their own pace through engaging content like videos, quizzes, and simulations. Administrators of your organization can track completion rates to ensure all personnel complete the training.
An effective training program utilizes a multifaceted approach across mediums. However, it is especially vital to leverage online awareness training platforms that can be tailored to address an organization’s unique threats. With customized training, employees gain relevant knowledge to make security-conscious decisions that mitigate growing cyber risks.
As a businessman, you can understand how important data is. Therefore, you should be very careful about what if you are hacked because an attack can compromise not just one part of your network but the entire system. Also, because cyber attacks can often be hard to detect, they can affect and/or halt your company’s access to the Internet. While such attacks might seem like a joke, they are very real and should be taken seriously.