Just as it seemed we might be seeing clear skies ahead in terms of the pandemic; another dark cloud began to rise on the horizon. The Colonial Pipeline breach hit the news, and many people started to panic. We were all too familiar with the uncertainty of the future, and last year’s toilet paper rush was replaced with people filling gasoline in plastic containers of all sorts and sizes.
Thankfully, it wasn’t nearly the level of chaos that we saw in March of 2020, but it did bring many things to the surface especially, if you are in the cybersecurity industry. One detail that this specific attack brought awareness to was that this type of breach isn’t industry-specific. The humans of the world (in other words, all of us) must realize that a breach on a fuel pipeline doesn’t just mean that gasoline prices will soar. We are all interconnected and the trickle-down effect of such an attack affects all of us in ways that aren't initially visible.
How so?
We saw long lines at the fuel pump and an immediate fear of a gas shortage with the Colonial Pipeline ransomware incident. Thankfully, for the end consumer, the crisis was averted for the most part. What many don’t consider is, what if this specific crisis had trickled down to mean no gas for ambulances or stress on people that drove them to the hospital? Suddenly now a gasoline problem is a healthcare issue. What if you had a trip planned to see your family for the first time in a year and couldn’t get (or afford) gasoline, or your plane ticket suddenly tripled in price? We are all very connected.
Cybercrime is everyone’s problem, and if it doesn’t affect your office or your Facebook account, it will still affect you in one way or another. One person’s mistake could mean a breach of your bank account. We need to normalize cyber safety and intelligent practices concerning the technology that we use in the same way that we study traffic laws and rules when we get our driver’s license. It needs to become second nature, not a stop and panic reaction, because there isn’t a second chance once you’ve clicked on a dangerous link.
Is your business making cybersecurity a top priority in the workplace? Are you ensuring that your family and friends are doing the same? We must make a collective effort to maintain strength against criminals because we are collectively affected by the crime. Contact your Pendello Solutions team and let us help you develop a cybersecurity awareness plan.
