If you’re keeping up with prior TOP 7 Cyber Truths posts, this critical truth, EVERYONE is at Risk, should be pretty obvious by now. If that’s not clear or you missed prior posts, I highly recommend you rewind and review those here.
When we say everyone is at risk, we literally mean everyone – not just your business, NPO, church, enterprise, or government entity – but literally each and every one of you. That includes your spouse, children, family, and even seniors like your grandparents. The horrors that are targeting seniors, robbing them of a lifetime of earnings and the descendants of their inheritance, are beyond evil and sadly ever present in malicious phone calls, emails, texts, and social media.
- Did you know that bad actors are hijacking (copying) very legitimate marketing brochures, billboards, TV, and social ads and replacing QR codes with devastatingly malicious links?
- Have you ever stumbled onto a random USB lying on the floor at Starbucks or the airport? DO NOT plug in random USBs you find in public places! These devices are too frequently intentionally placed with devastating viruses, key loggers, or ransomware.
- Have you ever accessed personal email on a work device? This is a terrible idea. Personal email accounts are often targeted with legitimate-looking attachments or links that can lead to serious security breaches. This scenario can result in compromised data and malicious code being instantly transferred onto your company device, potentially spreading throughout the organization!
REMINDER: This is critical WISDOM (not fear tactics) meant to empower you to right-size your decision-making, to comprehensively protect your interests and future against a very real, sizable, and advancing threat. This is the exact intent of our entire TOP 7 Cyber Truths series, to equip you with comprehensive truth to make wiser decisions on:
- What are [your] actual risks?
- What should you do about those risks?
- In what order?
- At what cost?
- All are grounded in universal cyber truth.
Let’s take a closer look at 10 alarming facts that highlight how everyone, every industry, everywhere is at risk from cyberattacks:
- INCREASE OF ATTACKS: Cybercrime is projected to cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. This massive increase shows that cybercriminals are targeting more individuals and businesses, across all industries, at an unprecedented rate.
- GROWING ATTACK SURFACE: As we all embrace digital transformation, we create more points of vulnerability. Everything from cloud storage and IoT devices to mobile apps exposes businesses to cyber threats.
- RANSOMWARE EXPANSION: Ransomware attacks surged 150% in 2020. Small and medium-sized businesses are particularly vulnerable as they often lack the resources to implement robust cybersecurity measures.
- SUPPLY CHAINS AT RISK: Cyberattacks on supply chains are on the rise, affecting businesses that may not have direct exposure to cybercriminals. A breach in a supplier’s system can lead to widespread disruption for others downstream.
- WE STILL MAKE MISTAKES(!): Over 90% of cyberattacks are linked to human error, such as weak passwords, unpatched software, or falling for phishing scams. Every employee is a potential vulnerability.
- HEALTHCARE ATTACKS ARE GROWING: The healthcare industry is increasingly targeted, with over 70% of healthcare organizations reporting at least one breach. Cybercriminals see healthcare data as incredibly valuable for fraud, identity theft, and ransom.
- CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER ATTACK: Critical infrastructure sectors, like energy, water, and transportation, are prime targets for cyberattacks. In 2020, a cyberattack on a US pipeline resulted in major fuel shortages, demonstrating the far-reaching impact on everyday life.
- STATE-SPONSORED ATTACKS: Nation-state actors are increasingly involved in cyberattacks, targeting everything from corporate espionage to national security. These sophisticated attacks are harder to detect and defend against.
- COST OF BREACHES GROWING: The average cost of a data breach was $4.45 million in 2023, with some industries like financial services and healthcare facing even higher costs. The financial repercussions can be devastating for businesses, especially SMEs.
- WE’RE NOT PREPARED: A staggering 60% of small businesses close within six months of experiencing a cyberattack, often due to the high costs and reputational damage. A majority of businesses, especially smaller ones, are unprepared and underfunded when it comes to cybersecurity.
This short list of facts demonstrates that no one is immune to cyber threats, and the stakes are higher than ever for large enterprises, small organizations, and individuals alike.
What’s Next?
So how do you protect your interests BEFORE you are a victim?
Now that you better comprehend the depth [COMPLEXITY] and breadth [EVERYONE – EVERYWHERE] you should continue your cybersecurity truth journey by grasping Truth #3 “There are NO Silver Bullets” for the problem. Then in Truth #4 “Assess. Assess. Assess!”, we’ll discuss steps you can take NOW to understand: What is my exposure? (What we call your “current cyber risk posture.”)
There’s no reason to wait for the next episode. You can claim your free 15-minute self-guided TOPCYBER21™ Cyber Risk Assessment now, or schedule time for a guided walk-through with one of our cyber experts! Visit topcyber21.help to learn more and start your journey to secure, reliable, trusted technology.
About the Author:
Matt Tankersley is a US Navy veteran and the Founder & CEO of TechOnPurpose. Matt is recognized as an innovator with over 35 years of experience in Information Technology specifically in the areas of collaboration, cloud, security, and managed services. Recognizing the complexity, risk and blindsides that business owners face led Matt to create the TOPCYBER21™ Framework, which simplifies how organizations operationalize cybersecurity.
Matt’s dedication to customer experience and unwavering belief that “Technology is at the Heart of Business today,” cast the foundation for our culture and simple operating philosophy: “We love what we do, who we do it with, and who we do it for.”
About TechOnPurpose:
Based in Austin, Texas, TechOnPurpose (“TOP”) delivers comprehensive managed IT and cybersecurity solutions to select clients globally. TOP’s approach to managed IT and cybersecurity continues to deliver simplified conversations and comprehensive, affordable solutions for our global customer family of Small & Medium Businesses and Non-Profits.
