In May, President Biden issued his executive order on improving the nation’s cybersecurity. However, this is not the first time that a president has tried to address this critical issue. Every president since Bill Clinton has issued a similar executive order to no avail.
While cybersecurity is an ever-growing complex topic, there is hope that the latest executive order is taking the step to get ahead of the next multimillion-dollar cyber-attack.
Why is Cybersecurity Important?
Hackers working for profit and espionage have long threatened American information systems. But in the last six months, they’ve targeted companies running operational networks like Colonial Pipeline with more persistence.
A cyber-attack can become a costly expense. Not only does the network have to be repaired and protected, but hackers may also demand money to get back data, access, or personal information. The average ransomware requested from a small business is around $4,300, but the average cost of downtime after a ransomware attack is $46,800. Meaning that even though a ransom request may appear small, it can cost your business more as time goes on.
70% of businesses are ill-prepared for a cyberattack. In other words, hundreds of thousands of industries have holes in their cybersecurity or have no cybersecurity at all. It is vital to educate employees on the importance of cybersecurity. Implementing cybersecurity training is a start to keeping your company safe from cyberattacks.
How Will the Government Help?
The U.S. government began taking small steps to defend cybersecurity in 1998 when the Clinton administration identified 14 private sectors as critical infrastructure, including chemicals, defense, energy, and financial services. Other industries were slower to protect their computers, including the oil and gas sector.
By modernizing our government’s approach to cybersecurity, the uniformity of standards across all agencies will make it easier for companies to get a clearer picture of the expectations.
The executive order lays out clear directions on where the U.S. needs to improve and how outside companies can help it get there. This should encourage greater buy-in and assure that this order is the one that finally makes a difference.
Executive Order Key Points
- Remove Barriers to Threat Information Sharing Between Government and the Private Sector
- Modernize and Implement Stronger Cybersecurity Standards in the Federal Government
- Improve Software Supply Chain Security
- Establish a Cyber Safety Review Board
- Create a Standard Playbook for Responding to Cyber Incidents
- Improve Investigative and Remediation Capabilities
In the wake of million-dollar cyber-attacks such as JBS and the Colonial Pipeline, it is imperative to take extra steps to mitigate the risk of a cyber-attack. At CREG Systems, we take pride in our cybersecurity knowledge and put a lot of time into educating our customers on its importance.
CREG Systems helps keep the data you share and store secure and protected, which pledges efficient operation and credibility to your organization. Our certified staff will assess your network’s strengths and potential weaknesses and design a solution that fits your needs today and prepares you and your business for the future.
Our staff are trained and certified as Certified Information Security System Professionals (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hackers, and Certified Wireless Network Administrators and hold CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, Windows Server, and Microsoft Exchange certificates. In conclusion, our staff is the best equipped to deliver you the best and most comprehensive cybersecurity in the North Country.
