Cybersecurity and Cyber resilience: Securing your business against growing digital threats

In 2024, Australia experienced a surge in cyber security breaches, with 47 million data breaches reported, averaging one every second, making it the 11th most affected country globally. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) reported 527 data breaches from January to June 2024, including a major breach affecting 12.9 million Australians.

Introduction:

When was the last time you suspected a virus in an email you received from an unfamiliar address?

Did the email originate from both a personal and a business address?

In today’s interconnected world, businesses aren’t just fighting off cybercriminals; they’re also battling to stay operational in the face of constant threats.

Cyber threats are not merely an inconvenience; they’re a reality that every business must prepare for.

Experts often define cybersecurity as the defence against hackers trying to infiltrate a company’s systems, while cyber resilience is about recovery after a cyber-attack.

However, this straightforward division does not convey the entire narrative.

That being sad today interconnected world, cybersecurity is not merely a defence.

It’s the first step of a much bigger plan called “cyber resilience,” which equips companies to deal with and recover from cyberattacks.

What is cybersecurity?

Fundamentally, cybersecurity is the framework that businesses use to defend themselves against online attacks.

It consists of various tools, procedures, guidelines, and practices that guard against illegal access, usage, or interference with a company’s data and network.

Installing firewalls and antivirus software is only one aspect of it. Another is taking a proactive approach to thwarting any threats that could jeopardize confidential data.

Some essential cybersecurity measures include:

• Regular software updates and patches to fix vulnerabilities.
• Antivirus and firewall installations to prevent unauthorized access.
• Data encryption to secure sensitive information.
• Employee training and awareness on cybersecurity best practices.
• Physical security for devices and infrastructure.

When properly implemented, these safeguards build a strong perimeter that helps keep hackers out of your system.

What is cyber resilience?

Many people mistakenly believe that cyber resilience only refers to recovery following an attack, but it encompasses much more.

It’s about anticipating threats, preparing for them, and having the ability to continue operations even when security is compromised.

Cyber resilience is anticipating the worst, learning from previous attacks, and building systems that can quickly recover from interruptions.

It ensures that a corporation can continue to perform its fundamental functions in the face of hardship.

Key aspects of cyber resilience include:

• Offline backup solutions to ensure data can be recovered if systems are compromised.
• Regular simulations and training to prepare employees for real-world cyber incidents.
• Business continuity plans that help restore operations after an attack.
• Crisis management protocols to protect a company’s reputation and manage public relations following a breach.

Cyber resilience recognizes that attacks are unavoidable, but with proper planning and preparation, a business can recover and limit harm to both its reputation and operations.

Cybersecurity vs. Cyber Resilience

Despite the common presentation of cybersecurity and cyber resilience as two distinct domains, they have a close relationship.

Cybersecurity forms the first line of defence, but cyber resilience is the backup plan.

While cybersecurity protects against external threats, cyber resilience ensures that you can still function, even if your defences are breached. Imagine building a wall and ensuring you have the necessary tools to rebuild it in the event of a breach.

However, while cybersecurity focuses on preventing external threats (like ransomware or data breaches), cyber resilience goes further by mitigating internal issues, such as human error or the accidental loss of critical data.

Together, these concepts form a powerful defence against the ever-growing risks businesses face.

Integrating cybersecurity and cyber resilience

Many small businesses believe that cybersecurity is a luxury reserved for large corporations, but this is a critical misconception.

Believe me, small businesses are often more vulnerable to cyberattacks due to limited resources, making it even more important to adopt an approach to both cybersecurity and cyber resilience.

Here are key practices that will help ensure your business is protected:

Regularly simulate cyber-attacks -create Pre Mortem Modus Operandi

Just as military forces train for battle scenarios, businesses must simulate cyberattacks to prepare for real-world situations.

These ‘red team’ exercises can expose weaknesses and improve your response strategies, helping your team react swiftly and efficiently.

This preventive strategy can greatly shorten recuperation time and avoid panic during a catastrophe.

Regular data backups

Data is essential to your business, and its loss could spell doom.

It’s crucial to regularly back up data to separate, secure locations. This practice enables you to bounce back fast from a cyberattack and prevent extended downtime.

Consider it a safety net: having this backup guarantees that your business can continue operating normally without suffering significant setbacks.

Educate your team

Employee training is a vital component of both cybersecurity and cyber resilience.

Your employees must know not just how to safeguard the company’s data but also how to respond efficiently in the event of an attack.

The symbiosis of military strategy and cybersecurity

Interestingly, military defence strategies can offer valuable lessons in building robust cybersecurity and resilience frameworks.

I can tell you from experience that we can learn a lot about building robust cybersecurity and resilience frameworks from military defensive strategies.

Like how the military fortifies its borders to ward off invasions, businesses must implement multi-layered defences, including firewalls, encryption, and real-time monitoring systems, to detect and stop cyberattacks.

Additionally, companies can foresee such threats by using investigative techniques, such as intelligence collection, that are employed in military intelligence.

Threat intelligence tools can assist small firms in staying proactive by monitoring suspicious activity and implementing defences before an attack occurs.

Securing the future, one step at a time

As cyber threats evolve, we and our businesses must be agile, proactive, and prepared for anything.

Both cybersecurity and cyber resilience are essential to navigating the digital risks of 2025 and beyond.

Cybersecurity offers the defensive tactics to fend off attacks, while cyber resilience ensures that businesses can recover quickly when things go wrong.

For small businesses, the key is integration.

It is crucial to integrate cybersecurity into your resilience strategy and ensure that both systems operate harmoniously.

By educating employees, conducting simulations, and backing up data, small businesses can protect themselves from cybercriminals and ensure that they remain operational, even when the worst happens.

As threats become more sophisticated, businesses that invest in both cybersecurity and cyber resilience will be better positioned to thrive in the face of adversity.

After all, in a world where cyber risks are ever-present, preparation is power.

By securing your business today, you can ensure its resilience for tomorrow.

This post was written by Mario Bekes