26 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • JULY 2021
TECH INSIGHTS
COULD A CYBER SECURITY CYBERATTACK DISRUPT YOUR BUSINESS?
The Colonial Pipeline ransomware
attack garnered national headlines
after hackers caused widespread
gasoline shortages in the South
and East Coast. North Carolina saw
nearly two-thirds of local pumps
closed, and more than 80 percent
of fueling stations in the nation’s
capital ran dry.
Long gas lines and the fact that
$4.4 million in ransom was paid to
the criminal organization known
as DarkSide highlight the fact that
cybersecurity has never been more
essential to corporate survival. The
question business leaders may want
to consider right now is whether
sophisticated cybercriminals could
penetrate your defenses and disrupt
operations.
Kyriakos Kaimis, a technology
expert on Long Island, with more
than 25 years of experience working
with business professionals on
corporate technology solutions,
takes a closer look at the impacts of
ransomware’s threats to companies.
How devastating are ransomware
attacks on businesses? The internet
provides digital thieves with a
global reach, and penetrating
outfits such as Colonial Pipeline
represents just the tip of the spear.
DarkSide reportedly forced 47
business decision makers to hand
upwards of $90 million in Bitcoin
payments on the dark web alone. If
that figure raises concern that your
organization could be hit in the near
future, cybercrime statistics offer
no solace.
A recorded 304 million ransomware
attacks were orchestrated in 2020,
representing a 62 percent increase
from the previous year. The average
ransomware demand topped
$233,000, with hackers routinely
negotiating higher payoffs from
more lucrative corporations. About
1 out of every 5 small businesses
are the focus of an attack and 80
percent of mid-sized outfits are
targeted by cybercriminals in this
fashion. While hacks that create
widespread disruption such as
the Colonial Pipeline attack make
national news, companies often
close for two weeks even if they pay
the ransom. It’s also not unusual for
digital business hijackers to take
the cryptocurrency money and
not provide the decryption code
necessary to restore operations.
What non-cybersecurity experts
may not be aware of is that
DarkSide does not typically lead
to ransomware attacks. Its group
of online miscreants operates
what technology experts call
“ransomware as a service.”
That means they craft malicious
software for others inclined to
target an organization. If your
business has international rivals
or appears like low-hanging fruit
to anyone online, they could task
DarkSide or another digital mafia
outfit with creating a ransomware
file to upend your company.
How can companies protect
themselves from cyberattacks?
Ransomware attacks, like other
incursions, typically stem from
some type of human error. In many
cases, cybercriminals target widereaching
organizations by sending
out thousands of emails laced with
malware. Sophisticated hackers may
employ social engineering to gain
the trust of someone with access to
the network. Once an employee falls
for the trickery, they may divulge
network access information and
a hack ensues. The critical point
is that people too often make
innocent mistakes and that’s why
the following measures remain
mission-critical.
• Require employees to use strong
passwords.
• Mandate password updates on a
regular basis.
• Have a cybersecurity firm
integrate multifactor
authentication technology.
• Ensure that all devices possess
commercial-grade firewalls and
antivirus software.
• Implement “zero trust” network
policies that limit employee
access.
• Deploy virtual private networks
for remote workers.
• Provide ongoing
cybersecurity
awareness training to
all personnel.
• Create a system of
cyberthreat alerts for
imminent dangers.
• Back up all digital
assets to the cloud
and redundant hard
drives out of hackers’ reach.
• Conduct cybersecurity audits
that include penetration testing.
Despite the splashy Colonial Pipeline
headlines, many industry leaders
continue to lag in cybersecurity
vigilance. According to research,
only 57 percent of decision makers
Getty Images
had a cybersecurity risk assessment
conducted in 2020. That may be why
nearly 80 percent reportedly lack
confidence their operation could
withstand a cyber assault.
Business leaders have a rare
opportunity to learn from the
Colonial Pipeline hack and avoid
disruption. By enlisting the support
of an experienced cybersecurity
firm, the necessary defenses and
employee awareness training can be
implemented promptly.
In a world in which a
hacker can attack any
company on the planet,
hardened cybersecurity
defenses are job one.
Kyriakos Kaimis is vice
president and general
manager of Custom
Computer Specialists
Kyriakos Kaimis
Custom Computer Specialists is
proud to sponsor Tech Insights. Since
1979, Custom has been dedicated to
providing Long Island’s schools, local
government agencies, healthcare
facilities and businesses with
advanced technology solutions and
support.
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