Recently, it seems there has been a larger presence of cyber-criminal activity floating around businesses and political agencies alike. From the large scale attack on the Australian Government only a few weeks ago to the “BlueLeaks” scandal, which has seen hundreds of thousands of potentially sensitive files from US police departments publically leaked shortly after. It seems that cybercriminals have become increasingly aggressive.
So how does our own backyard stack up against such a malicious threat? Surely there is bigger fish to fry than little old New Zealand, right?
Wrong.
According to NordVPNs latest cyber Risk Index, New Zealand has been revealed as one of the top 10 countries cybercriminals find attractive as a potential target.
Known as one of the many go-to destinations that foreigners seek out when planning the holiday, it seems that it to attracts more than just your average backpacker looking to surround themselves in nature.
NordVPN says that although developed countries are better prepared to tackle cybersecurity challenges and have better IT education, they are still more attractive due to having a higher average income and more time spent online.
simply put, the more time you spend online, the more services you use and the more money you spend. Therefore, the more likely you are to run into cybercriminals.
This is particularly relevant for New Zealand because we are so far away from all the action, many of us are forced to use online services when it comes to the likes of shopping or information gathering.
A study conducted by Aura Information Security revealed that a stunning one-third of New Zealand Businesses have fallen victim to some form of cyberattack in the past 12 months, with 42 percent expecting their company to fall victim to another attack in the next year.
The fear alone emphasises just how susceptible our country is to cyber-criminal activity.
What is perhaps more stunning is the amounts that businesses would be willing to pay to get their crucial data back.
20 percent of those asked, said that they would be willing to pay anything from $10,000 - $20,000 dollars to retrieve their stolen data. Furthermore, almost one in 10 said they would be willing to pay more than $50,000.
However, the fact that businesses are fearing the increase of attacks, does give some light into how organisations are beginning to understand the growing threat.
A crucial step in prevention from a cyber-attack is that of penetration testing. This allows for a controlled environment where businesses can patch holes in weak areas and help prevent hackers from gaining access.
Managing and maintaining security procedures is also essential, it’s all well and good doing a penetration test once a year but cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods, what may have protected you once may not necessarily protect against potential future attacks.
Need help figuring out the best security practices for your business? ACS can provide you with sustainable and exceptional solutions to help protect you and your businesses data. Chat to one of the friendly team today.