The internet is brilliant. It enables us to communicate in real time with friends on the other side of the world, find the answer to pretty much any question and work more efficiently than ever before.
But all that convenience and opportunity comes at a cost.
The speed and anonymity provided by the online world has made it easy for a new wave of criminals to steal our money and data with surprisingly little skill or effort. Hackers stole more than £130 billion in 2017, of which £4.6 billion came from British victims, according to a recent report.
Cyber-crime is now the number one threat to businesses everywhere. But that doesn’t mean a devastating attack is inevitable.
There are plenty of ways to stay one step ahead of the internet baddies and stop your business becoming yet another statistic.
When it comes to staying safe online, complacency is the real killer. So never underestimate the importance of internet security or assume that hacking is something that only happens to other people.
The brutal truth is that it can – and does – happen to anyone who takes their eye off the ball.
Modern businesses are finding themselves in a virtual war zone, battling a new wave of criminals who will stop at nothing to steal valuable data and cause long-lasting damage.
Like any war, strong leadership and a great strategy will significantly reduce casualties and improve your chances of victory.
Although it was written way back in the 5th Century BC, Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is still influencing business leaders around the world – and it applies to perfectly to the war against cybercriminals.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles”
Staying one step ahead of the enemy means having a deep understanding of your own organisational flaws and weaknesses, as well as an acute awareness of your opponent’s dirty tricks.
When you know what you’re up against you’ll be much better equipped to fight back. Sure, they can still attack you, but they can only cause real damage if you’re not properly prepared.
