Abhishek Agarwal, President, Judge India & Global Delivery, The Judge Group

In an era dominated by advanced technology, cyberattacks have become an ever-present threat to companies and organizations worldwide. Over 82% of business executives in India foresee an increase in cybersecurity expenses this year, and Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that cybercrime will cost the world USD 8 trillion in 2023. Despite increased awareness and investments in cybersecurity, many entities still struggle to prevent and mitigate these attacks effectively. It is imperative to explore the reasons behind such struggles, shedding light on the complex nature of cyber threats. Furthermore, actionable steps and best practices will be presented that can be adopted to bolster cybersecurity measures and enhance protection against cyberattacks.

Evolving Cyber Threat Landscape:

One of the primary reasons companies and organizations struggle to stop cyberattacks is the constantly evolving threat landscape. Hackers and cybercriminals are incessantly developing new techniques and strategies to exploit vulnerabilities in digital systems. The rapid advancement of technology provides attackers with a multitude of entry points, making it challenging for defenders to keep up.

For example, in 2020, the Indian multinational conglomerate, Wipro, experienced a sophisticated phishing attack that compromised employee accounts and potentially exposed customer data. This incident highlighted the evolving tactics used by cybercriminals and the need for robust security measures to counter such threats. To combat this challenge, organizations must stay abreast of the latest threats, regularly update their security infrastructure, and implement robust incident response protocols.

Insufficient Cybersecurity Measures:

Another key factor contributing to the struggle against cyberattacks is the presence of insufficient cybersecurity measures within companies and organizations. Many entities fail to prioritize cybersecurity or allocate adequate resources for its implementation. This lack of investment often results in outdated systems, ineffective security controls, and inadequate training of employees. Weak passwords, unpatched software, and unencrypted data are common vulnerabilities that attackers exploit.

 In 2021, the Indian online grocery delivery platform, BigBasket, fell victim to a data breach where personal information of millions of customers was compromised. This incident highlighted the importance of implementing comprehensive cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive customer data. To address this issue, organizations must adopt a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, which includes regular security audits, risk assessments, employee education programs, and the deployment of advanced security tools and technologies.

Human Error and Insider Threats:

Despite technological advancements, human error remains a significant factor in cyberattacks. Employees, intentionally or unintentionally, can inadvertently expose sensitive information, fall victim to social engineering attacks, or fail to follow established security protocols. Moreover, insider threats pose a considerable risk, as disgruntled or compromised employees may abuse their privileged access to launch attacks from within.

 To tackle this challenge, organizations must prioritize cybersecurity awareness training for all employees, enforce strong access controls, implement strict data handling policies, and regularly monitor and audit user activity to detect any suspicious behavior.

Inadequate Incident Response Planning:

Even with the most robust preventive measures in place, organizations must acknowledge the possibility of a cyberattack. However, many companies struggle due to a lack of preparedness in incident response planning. Delayed or inadequate responses can exacerbate the impact of an attack and result in prolonged downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage. To enhance incident response capabilities, organizations should develop and regularly test incident response plans, establish communication channels, designate incident response teams, and cultivate relationships with external cybersecurity experts. The ability to detect, contain, eradicate, and recover from cyberattacks efficiently is crucial in mitigating their consequences.

The cost of prevention is always lower than the cost of recovery. As India traverses the path of digitization, businesses have become increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Preventing cyberattacks is an ongoing battle, given the ever-evolving threat landscape and the complexities involved. As James Scott rightly said, “There’s no silver bullet solution with cybersecurity, a layered defense is the only viable defense.” Organizations must remain vigilant, continually update their defense, and cultivate a strong cybersecurity culture to protect themselves from the persistent and evolving threat of cyberattacks.