The BBC have reported on the threat that cyber attacks pose to UK organisations, due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with growing fears that existing cyber attacks could spread to other nations.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued the warning in new guidance which says it is imperative that businesses bolster their defences to stay ahead of any potential threats.
At this stage, there is no information about specific threats to UK companies. However, following a series of attacks on Ukraine which are allegedly thought to have come from Russia, there are concerns that further cyber attacks could threaten the security of other nations.
The BBC article, published today, gives an example of cyber attacks in 2015 which affected Ukrainian power stations, where workers realised they had been hacked due to their computers being controlled remotely. This caused thousands of power outages across the country and shows the devastating impact that cyber attacks can have, not just on individual organisations but the wider community.
Another example from 2017, was when hackers managed to access files relating to tax returns in Ukraine, where ransomware was employed to demand cash in order to unlock computers that had been remotely locked.
These issues are of grave concern and companies should ensure that measures are in place to prevent these cyber threats, even if the military conflict stays within Ukraine borders.
If your business or organisation does not already have a cyber security protocol and defence system in place, it is highly recommended that you should plan and implement a strategy to protect your secure data and IT systems as quickly as possible. For those that already have a level of protection, now is the time to review these systems and ensure that there are no gaps in your cyber protection, to give your organisation the best chance at preventing a disaster.
“While we are unaware of any specific cyber threats to UK organisations in relation to events in Ukraine, we are monitoring the situation closely and it is vital that organisations follow the guidance to ensure they are resilient,” Paul Chichester, the NCSC director of operations said in a statement accompanying the latest guidance issued on Friday.
It is said that energy supply, water supply, transportation, health and telecommunications are the most likely to be affected. However, all businesses which use IT and telecoms systems and hold secure data such as customer and financial information, should be using the relevant level of protection against potential cyber-attacks, hackers and ransomware to prevent theft, fraud and disruption to services which could be costly.
At Hive Communications, we specialise in bolstering digital safety. We are a Cyber Security Certified company and work with a multitude of clients to help put best practices, preventative and monitoring measures in place to ensure that your data is secured and to protect your business, staff and customers.
We urge you to get in touch to discuss your current cyber security situation, so that we may help you strengthen your defences, plan your disaster recovery strategy and avoid costly attacks in the future. Call us on 01722 777999 or email us at office@hivecommunications.co.uk or use our online contact form. We look forward to hearing from you and hope that your organisation stays safe.
You can read more about the latest NCSC review in our recent blog article here.
You can also read the original BBC article here.