We live in a digital world, and as a result, a data-driven world. Organizations and their data centers require a high level of security to defend against the myriad cyber threats that are out there and threaten their operations. Robust security measures and those empowered by AI-driven security solutions are proving highly reliable in detecting and mitigating cyber threats, but their benefits are exponentially improved when employees receive the training, they need to most effectively leverage them.
Cyber-attacks are the dread of every data center. Educated, well-trained employees are far less likely to be victimized by them, saving organizations from dangerous data breaches and the steep costs that come along with them.
A security-conscious staff that is continually educated on security capabilities and technologies translates into a much more proactive approach to threat management. Training helps employees recognize risks and identify potential threats, contributing to a safer data center environment.
Real world security breaches have taught us a lot. Just one single breach can cause significant data loss, financial damage, operational disruption, and loss of customer trust which can impact organization’s reputation for a long time to come. Just a few cases in point include: The 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline clearly demonstrated the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyber threats. By exploiting a legacy VPN system, attackers shut down the pipeline, leading to fuel shortages and price spikes across the southeastern United States. And, in 2019, two datasets from Facebook apps had been exposed to the public internet. The information related to more than 530 million Facebook users and included phone numbers, account names, and Facebook IDs. In April 2021, the data was posted for free, indicating new and real criminal intent surrounding the data. And, in 2021, LinkedIn saw data associated with 700 million of its users posted on a dark web forum. These are just a very, very small sampling of data breaches that continue to negatively impact organizations and private citizens.
Yes, the fallout from data security breaches can be merciless and span financial losses from compensation to payoff affected customers to legal fees that can be daunting. That’s not even to mention the financial repercussions from a damaged reputation and lost consumer trust.
All the potential consequences of not having adequate security in a data center illuminate the importance of having an effective incident response plan in place. A well thought out plan would empower organizations to prepare for cyber threats and quickly identify and contain incidents to stop their spread and minimize damage. A solid response plan can also swiftly restore operations, remedy vulnerabilities, and strengthen security measures to prevent future incidents.
NextGen is at the ready to help data centers further harden their security and defend against the repercussions of cyber security breaches. Put our experience and expertise to work for you.