See Yourself in Cyber

Cyber attacks are on the rise. According to a 2022 Mimecast report, three out of four organizations have been victims of a ransomware attack. Although 64% paid the ransom, nearly 40% failed to recover their data.??

In spite of these widespread attacks, less than half of large businesses are investing in cybersecurity. 83% of large businesses reported cybersecurity as a significant threat , but only 43% considered it enough of a threat to prioritize it as part of their top three priorities within their technology budget. Without resilient cybersecurity in place, breaches and attacks will continue to cost governments, corporations and people around the globe – with some experts predicting cyber crime could cost the world $10.5 trillion each year by the year 2025.??

?At the center of these attacks are highly motivated, well-funded nation-states and criminal organizations. By targeting our nation’s defense and critical infrastructure sectors, cyber attacks not only drain our data and bank accounts, but also threaten to disrupt the way we live.?

People across our country are surveying the damage of cyber crime and wondering what can be done. Throughout the month of October, organizations and governmental agencies come together to recognize Cybersecurity Awareness Month and educate Americans about threats to their companies, personal security and way of life. This year’s theme, See Yourself in Cyber, focuses on people and the collaboration that is essential to solving the cyber threats attacking our nation.??

?“Cybersecurity is not about technology; it’s about people. That’s why this year’s theme is ‘See Yourself in Cyber’ because it takes all of us—from network defenders to anyone with an internet connection—to make this country more cyber resilient,” said Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly. “Throughout the month, CISA will be engaged with partners across the country to focus on promoting cyber hygiene, building a more diverse cyber workforce, and strengthening the technology ecosystem underpinning the critical infrastructure Americans rely on every day. Together, we will collaborate and innovate to make better cybersecurity a reality.”?

?In addition to urging individuals and families to take action to stay safe online and addressing the need to build a cybersecurity workforce that is skilled, diverse and robust, CISA challenges the cybersecurity industry to be part of the solution – collaborating to share information in real time to protect America’s critical infrastructure.????

At Conquest Cyber we, too, believe that building a mission focused team through collaboration and sharing of information can proactively identify and overcome threats before they cause disruption.??

?Proactive Collaboration?

In recent years, the generally accepted approach to cybersecurity had been to react to the current threat of the moment, which undoubtably means that our adversaries are always at least one step ahead.??

?When something truly nefarious goes down—such as the massive FireEye and SolarWinds hacks in 2020—you cannot expect to assemble the best minds in a matter of weeks and figure out a broad-spectrum solution to resolve it. Put another way, you cannot mass-produce a capability after an emergency. By then you are behind the power curve.???

?We must find—and prepare—the right people to address this threat head-on, harnessing the collective strengths of the best and the brightest in cybersecurity to achieve mission success in the Fifth Domain. Our new initiative, the Thin Digital Line, brings together cybersecurity, technology, risk, compliance and national security experts — the private and public sector professionals, vendors and customers to share information and determine solutions to help protect Americans for cyber attacks.??

?We take great pride in building this community, and believe this collaboration is essential for mobilizing resources to prevent disasters rather than simply reacting.??

?Prioritize Action??

Taking time during the month of October to discuss the importance of cyber security is not enough to protect our nation. These conversations should take place in the highest levels of organizations and governments as part of ongoing operational strategy.??

Highlighting the devastating effects of cyber crime in October can help raise awareness about the need for more diligent security, but we know that these threats from malicious cyber actors can happen at any time to any person or organization, regardless of size or industry. In order to win the cyber war, we must come together to solve the problem and make cyber resiliency a priority across organizations.?