rowing Threat of Destructive Attacks is One of the Top Cyber Risks Organizations Face

At a time of technological transformation and “cyber everywhere”, the attack surface for organizations is exponentially growing and cyber criminals are going after operational systems and backup capabilities simultaneously in highly sophisticated ways—leading to enterprise-wide destructive cyber attacks.

That’s one of the key findings of a report by consulting firm Deloitte released earlier this year, before the coronavirus pandemic and its related security threats had yet to make a significant impact on the world.

Recent cyber attacks just the tip of the iceberg for Australia

In a year already marred by natural and biological crises, cyber security failures remain a critical threat.

Government agencies and big Australian companies have fallen victim to cyber attacks with unprecedented visibility.

Industry and government need to understand why we are more exposed, what we can learn from recent national security events, and how to build a more cyber-resilient nation.

Cyber Security in Shipping during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 crisis has been testing the foundations of our lives, societies and economies posing huge challenges for the future. Organisations across industries are rightly focusing on their employees’ well-being, whilst making sure that their operations continue undisrupted and at the same time, adapting to the new ways of operating. Inevitably, secondary aspects of day-to-day operations such as cyber security may fall by the wayside, potentially increasing the risk of cyber security attacks. Cyber criminals are cognisant of the change in priorities, making the pandemic an attractive opportunity for them to make their way into corporate networks to steal data, money or cause disruption.

Cyber security is an important part of the military’s quick response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic

In response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. armed forces have set up hospitals almost overnight, conducted medical supply flights around the world, deployed hospital ships on both coasts, and activated reserve and retired medical personnel to support hard-hit communities.

At the same time, the military has continued critical missions across the globe. One of these missions is working to ensure that military networks have sufficient cyber security capacities, including the ability to protect essential communications systems and data networks that support virus response efforts.

After half-a-century of the Cold War and nearly 20 years of combating violent global extremism, it is little wonder that Americans are most familiar with their military's capabilities to fight. The ability of the Armed Forces to build infrastructure, move supplies, and provide medical support was always there, but in the background.