The world of IT is changing quickly. You might want to bolster cybersecurity teams' capabilities and reduce the risk of cyber attacks.

In today's digital age, cybersecurity threats have become increasingly sophisticated and frequent. Organizations, both big and small, are vulnerable to these threats and need to have strong defenses in place to safeguard their valuable assets. One of the most significant threats to a company's operations is malware. It is a type of malicious software that can harm an organization's computer systems, networks, and databases, leading to data breaches, system downtime, and reputational damage. In this blog post, we will discuss the dangers of malware in the operations of a company and the need for planning to continue business.

Recently, SonicWall published its bi-annual Cyber Threat Report, which detailed an increasingly diversified cyber-attack landscape amid shifting threat actor strategies. While global ransomware volume has decreased, there has been an 87 percent increase in Internet of Things (IoT) malware. Threat actors are likely to be probing soft targets to leverage as potential attack vectors into larger organizations, the report suggests. This shift towards slower and more stealthy approaches to achieve financially motivated cyber-attacks has made companies vulnerable to cyber threats.

The study conducted by Forrester Consulting, commissioned by Immersive Labs, reveals that despite high confidence in overall resilience, cyber security teams are insufficiently prepared for threats. About 82 percent of respondents agree they could have mitigated some to all of the damage of their most significant cyber incident in the last year if they were better prepared. More than 80 percent don't think, or are unsure whether, their teams have the capabilities to respond to future attacks.

The inconsistency in cyber security team confidence is also troubling. Respondents’ initial responses express confidence in overall team resilience, but when asked specifically about how prepared the team is for another attack or how effectively the team resolves incidents, confidence plummets. This lack of preparedness can lead to increased vulnerabilities, making organizations more vulnerable to cyber threats.

Moreover, the study revealed that only 17 percent of respondents consider their cyber security team to be fully staffed. Additionally, nearly half of the respondents admit they aren't able to measure cyber capabilities, further eroding confidence in the organization's preparedness. The lack of cyber-attack prevention and damage control can lead to an increased risk for companies.

To mitigate such risks, the study recommends a people-centric cyber security culture shift. Cyber security teams are facing growing pressure from senior leaders, with 84 percent of respondents agreeing that cyber security teams feel increasing pressure to be prepared for the next cyber-attack. While the threat landscape is becoming more challenging, fewer than 60 percent of senior leaders are sharing breach readiness and incident response results. In addition, over half (55 percent) agree that their cyber security team doesn’t have the data needed to demonstrate readiness to properly respond to cyber threats.

Less than one-third (32 percent) believe their organization has a formal strategy to ensure cyber resilience. Moreover, 83 percent of respondents think their cyber security team is understaffed, and 94 percent experienced at least one talent management challenge with the cyber security team. Traditional cyber security training methods are also insufficient to ensure cyber resilience. Leveraging effective people-centric approaches, such as live simulations, and progressive, career-path-aligned online training and upskilling can bolster cyber security teams’ capabilities and, in turn, their organization's cyber resilience.

In conclusion, cyber threats continue to pose a significant risk to organizations globally, with malware being a significant threat to operations. Companies must prioritize cybersecurity and implement robust measures to protect their systems, networks, and databases. A people-centric approach to cybersecurity, coupled with strategic planning and regular training, can help companies be better prepared for cyber threats and reduce the risk of cyberattacks. It is essential to develop a culture of cybersecurity within the organization to ensure that everyone takes responsibility for safeguarding the company's operations.