Business Strategies To Survive Cyberwarfare

The result was damaging for not only those directly affected but also for smaller businesses, since they often rely on third-party providers to keep operational flow. Some consequences include stolen information and service interruption.

Cyberwarfare refers to large-scale cyberattacks conducted by nations or state-sponsored groups to infiltrate, disrupt, steal, and damage the assets of entities considered enemies of the state. These might include nations, governments, and organizations. The main purpose of cyberwarfare is to weaken an opponent during an economic, military, or political war.

In a campaign, the attacks involve a series of strategically coordinated and planned cyberattacks to reach specific goals. Some examples are undermining national security, stealing classified information, or disabling critical infrastructure.

The emergence of third-party services has enabled businesses to become more interconnected than ever, and while this is a positive development, it also poses a risk. If a major player is compromised, it can potentially jeopardize all connected businesses, regardless of their size – from small businesses to large enterprises.

With the ongoing nuclear threat attacks between major global players, cyberwarfare plays a crucial role in diplomatic and military objectives. There are plenty of recent examples of this, such as:

• Stuxnet: 2020’s U.S.-Israeli cyberstrike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
• U.S. and UK Cyberattacks on ISIS: Joint cyberattack on ISIS communications and propaganda platforms.
• China’s cyber espionage: Large-scale cyberattacks on worldwide governments and corporations.
• Russian cyberattacks on Ukraine: Cyberattacks on Ukraine’s power grid and infrastructure.

Cyberwarfare tactics can be sorted into different types:

No matter which cyberwarfare techniques are used, the potential damage they cause is far too great to overlook. Small businesses, in particular, may be at more risk than they anticipate, for different reasons:

• Weak systems: No cybersecurity efforts due to budget limitations. For similar reasons, many smaller companies also fail to update or replace their software and hardware regularly, making their infrastructure more vulnerable.
• No network segmentation: Small businesses rarely employ network segmentation, allowing bad actors to move laterally across the entire network just by exploiting one endpoint.
• Lack of monitoring: Insufficient monitoring capabilities and response protocols to successfully deal with unforeseen incidents.
• Weak passwords and authentication: Poor password management policies and ineffective authentication measures endanger a whole business’s infrastructure.

A notable example is the 2021 ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline, a U.S. enterprise responsible for 45% of the East Coast’s fuel supply. A suspected Russian hacker group named DarkSide infiltrated the company’s network through an exposed password for a VPN account.

After gaining access, they stole and encrypted over 100GBs of data, demanding a ransom for its release. This caused severe disruptions and shortages in pipeline distribution for an entire week, affecting all businesses dependent on fuel, particularly in sectors like logistics, retail, and transportation.

In the end, Colonial Pipeline was required to pay the hackers 75 bitcoins (approximately $4.4 million) to regain control of its systems. As a result, the Biden administration implemented an executive order aimed at strengthening cybersecurity, following the groundwork laid by the order signed by Trump in 2017.

Small business owners often have misconceptions about the importance of cybersecurity. Some believe they are too small to be targeted, while others think that having just an antivirus is sufficient. However, these beliefs can put them at risk in the future.

If we closely examine the ripple effects of a cyberwarfare campaign on small businesses, we can categorize them into two groups:

• Supply chain interruption: Delay and shortage in materials, products, and services.
• Operational downtime: Suspensions of business operations for an indefinite period of time.
• Financial loss: Monetary damage due to lost revenue, system recovery costs, or even loss of business.
• Stolen data: Theft of sensitive private business and customer information.

• Loss of trust: Erosion of customer and partner relationships, resulting in reputational damages, due to perceived vulnerability.
• Legal consequences: Lawsuits and fines for non-compliance with data protection regulatory requirements.

Businesses often underestimate cyberwarfare and its impact, but it’s essential to take it seriously, now more than ever. All businesses should employ regular cybersecurity training initiatives and encourage all employees to attend them, regardless of their role. This should include cybersecurity conferences, workshops, and webinars to learn about new threats and best practices.

Cyberattacks and related threats are constantly evolving, so it’s vital to continuously learn about them to stay ahead of potential attacks.

There’s no doubt that cyberwarfare poses a threat, with small businesses often caught in its crossfire. They often disregard these types of attacks and lack the resources to deal with them, making them more at risk than bigger corporations.

There are multiple examples of cyberwarfare in world politics showing how it can destroy businesses and disrupt societal functions. This could range from bankruptcy to serious supply chain disruptions, and the only way to minimize the chances of being attacked is by implementing specific preventive measures.

These may include employing ongoing cybersecurity education, using a cloud-based network segmentation software, or subscribing to a service like PC Matic VPN. We recommend taking a look at this solution for its stable connections, affordability, and excellent deals.

Start taking the right steps to strengthen your business’ security and remember that in the face of cyberwarfare, vigilance and preparedness are your best allies.