In a recent survey of its members by the Institute of Directors (IoD), one in three company directors indicated that their organisation is now more vulnerable to cybercrime than before the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. The increase in risk is largely attributed to more personnel working from home, leaving the business systems more open to phishing and ransomware attacks.
With a previous poll showing that almost three-quarters of business leaders expect the increased home-working arrangements to remain in place after the pandemic ends, it seems that the increased threat of cybercrime will continue.
Joe Fitzsimons, Senior Policy Advisor at the IoD said:
“Many organisations have suffered cyber-attacks over the course of the pandemic, causing significant disruption, loss of revenue and in many cases data theft. The potential for reputational damage can result in long-lasting consequences.
“Increased home working has made navigating cyber security all the more challenging. The rise of home working will last long beyond the pandemic, with its various benefits for both employers and employees. Minimising the risk of cyber crime will continue to be a front of mind priority for business leaders.
“Directors will continue to need support in developing a better understanding of cyber crime and the steps that can be taken to secure their digital operations. Further support in the form of access to training and tailored guidance will be key as organisations seek to minimise their risk of cyber threat.”
STA International have responded to the increased threat levels by obtaining the government-backed Cyber Essentials certification. This gives us the peace of mind that the defences we have in place protect against the vast majority of common cyber attacks, and reassures our clients that we are working to secure our IT systems against cyber attacks.