Four Ways Disasters Fuel Cyberattacks
Your business, in all likelihood, already faces numerous challenges in today’s tech-driven world.
However, the aftermath of an unexpected disaster can push your organization to breaking point. This
unintentionally creates opportunities for cybercriminals to launch devastating attacks, amplifying
the chaos caused by such events.
Disaster preparedness should be a top priority for your business — not only for physical resilience
but also for fortifying your digital defenses. By understanding how disasters fuel cyberattacks,
you can proactively safeguard your business against these deceptive threats.
Understanding How Disasters Amplify Cyberthreats
Let’s look at four major ways disasters amplify cyberthreats and what strategies you can utilize to
bolster your cybersecurity posture in the face of adversity.
Leveraging diverted attention and resources
When a disaster strikes, the immediate focus shifts toward safety and recovery. Unfortunately, this
diverts attention and resources away from maintaining and protecting your IT systems and networks.
With a reduced emphasis on cybersecurity measures, essential updates and monitoring may be
overlooked, leaving your networks vulnerable to intrusion. Cybercriminals seize this opportunity to
infiltrate your systems, compromise sensitive data, and disrupt your operations.
To tackle this situation, establish a dedicated team responsible for monitoring and maintaining
cybersecurity, even during times of crisis. Implement automated security systems to scan for
vulnerabilities and apply necessary patches continuously. By ensuring cybersecurity remains a
priority, even in challenging times, you can minimize the risk of cyberattacks.
Exploiting fear, urgency, chaos and uncertainty
Disasters create an environment of fear, urgency, chaos and uncertainty — prime conditions for
cybercriminals to thrive in. They launch targeted attacks, such as deceptive emails or fraudulent
websites, capitalizing on the sense of urgency and the need for quick solutions. By manipulating
individuals into disclosing sensitive information, cybercriminals gain unauthorized access to
critical systems.
To combat this, educate your employees about the tactics used in phishing attacks and social
engineering scams. Train them to recognize warning signs, such as suspicious emails or requests for
sensitive information. Encourage a culture of skepticism and verification, where employees
double-check the authenticity of requests before sharing confidential data.
By fostering a vigilant and informed workforce, you can fortify your defense against cybercriminals
seeking to exploit fear and uncertainty.
Damaging critical infrastructure
Disasters can cause severe damage to your critical infrastructure, compromising components integral
to your cybersecurity measures. Destruction of servers, routers, or firewalls can weaken your
defense mechanisms, allowing cybercriminals to exploit security gaps.
To address this challenge, ensure your critical infrastructure has backup and disaster recovery in
place. Regularly back up your data, store it securely off-site or in the cloud, and test the
restoration process to ensure it functions smoothly.
Implement robust disaster recovery and business continuity plans, including provisions for
cybersecurity.
By maintaining resilient infrastructure and regularly testing your backup and recovery processes,
you can mitigate the impact of infrastructure damage on your cybersecurity.
Impersonation and deception
In the wake of a disaster, cybercriminals often exploit the trust associated with relief
organizations and government agencies. By impersonating these trusted sources, they deceive victims
through phishing emails, messages or calls, tricking them into divulging sensitive information or
engaging in fraudulent transactions.
To protect yourself from such scams:
- Encourage your employees to verify the authenticity of any communication received during a
disaster. - Advise them to independently contact the organization or agency through known, trusted channels
to confirm the legitimacy of any requests. - Establish robust security awareness training programs that educate employees about common
impersonation tactics and teach them how to report them effectively.
By promoting a culture of caution and verification, you can defend against impersonation and
deception tactics used by cybercriminals.
Act Now to Safeguard Your Business
Now that you know how cybercriminals can target your business during a disaster, prioritizing
disaster preparedness and implementing the above-highlighted measures are important to navigate
today’s ever-evolving technology landscape.
If you need expert guidance, we’re here to help fortify your disaster preparedness and
cybersecurity efforts. Together, let’s ensure a resilient and secure future for your business.
Contact us today to proactively safeguard what you’ve worked so hard to build.
