The cost of turning a blind eye to cyberattacks
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the world of work , how people interact and go about their daily lives . It has also meant that cybercriminals have quickly adjusted to this new reality , with individuals and businesses having to be on their toes to ensure that they do not become victims in the expanded digital space .
Cyberattacks have become so serious , that the top 10 most in-demand tech jobs for 2021 , including in South Africa , are for security professionals .
According to Security Magazine , there are more than 2 200 attacks every day , which amounts to nearly one attack every 39 seconds .
South Africa ’ s Institute for Security Studies says one of the biggest problems for companies and small businesses is the speed at which cyber threats are evolving .
“ Many South African businesses have experienced denialof-service and ransomware attacks where databases are encrypted by criminals who demand payment to release a ‘ key ’ to restore access .”
Mimecast , a UK-headquartered company specialising in cloudbased e-mail management for Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Office 365 , including services to protect business mail , says employee naiveté on e-mail security is a major concern .
“ In the UK , the Netherlands , South Africa and the United Arab Emirates , half or more of the survey respondents ( 51 %, 50 %, 52 % and 50 % respectively ) view the lack of cyber sophistication among employees as a major threat to their companies ’ security , compared with 43 % globally ,” it says in its report titled :
11