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Cybersecurity Awareness Must Extend Beyond The ‘Month’ – Forbes

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Cybersecurity Awareness Must Extend Beyond The ‘Month’ – Forbes

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is now over, but the state of cybersecurity is as volatile as ever and … [+] the mission can never stop growing and evolving.

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Each October, IT professionals throughout the industry observe Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Loyal readers find thought leadership and inspiration in various media, covering just about every possible angle on cybersecurity. For all of that is created and consumed during this period, it is disappointing to see how each year after all the thoughts have been shared, major security incidents continue to emerge. With Cybersecurity Awareness Month now over, we need to begin to take stock of all the advice given during that month and put it to immediate practice. 

The very nature of cybersecurity is a never-ending mission. The journey is multi-faceted and continually faces menacing, brooding threats. Thus, the lessons of Cybersecurity Awareness Month are many, perhaps too many for most to incorporate into immediate, tangible actions at once. The most important information you do need to know is that the state of cybersecurity is as volatile as ever and the mission can never stop growing and evolving. We must hold the line of vigilance and we need to continue to build the virtual fort in ever more intelligent, flexible ways.

Let Us Always Remember the Looming Threats 

Every indication shows that the threats are becoming manifest and getting worse as time goes on. Cybercriminals have continued to take advantage of pandemic conditions, exploiting the increase in remote work by using social and technical vulnerabilities while Internet of Things (IoT) devices continue to be a major threat vector. It has been reported that ransomware attacks are up as much as 148% due to the increase in remote work (source:mass.gov). Organizations around the world are held hostage by this plague, with an average paid ransom figure that doubled from 2019 to 2020, and highest paid ransom figures of $10 million (source: CSOonline). That isn’t to say the industry isn’t trying to deal with these issues. According to Gartner insights, business cybersecurity expenditures are projected to grow to $170.4 billion by 2022. The cost of cybersecurity across the industry approach $3 million every minute of every day. Globally, estimates of the impact of cyber fraud were at $1 trillion in 2020 – a figure that is destined to explode for this past year. When the dust settles on 2021, we will once again be in the position of reflecting on the digital financial carnage of cyberattacks. 

Despite these growing threats and incidents, the general state of cybersecurity continues to lack. Poor practices and insufficient awareness bear key culpability. 

Let Us Commit to Doing Cybersecurity Right

Threat narratives and cybersecurity perspectives are essential in these challenging times, and so I offer …….

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilsayegh/2021/11/02/cybersecurity-awareness-must-extend-beyond-the-month/