Page 102 - Cyber Defense eMagazine January 2024

Digital Technologies Power Global

Operations but Present Growing Risks

By Charlie Regan, CEO, Nerds on Site

As more and more industries and businesses turn to digital technologies in order to power their
operations, cyber-attacks present a larger and more widespread threat for organizations and enterprises
all over the world. The frequency and severity of these attacks have grown exponentially in recent years,
causing major disruptions in services and costing companies enormous sums of money and time. This
growing risk affects every level of industry, from critical services and infrastructure down to small-to-
medium enterprises. In fact, for every high-profile attack, there are hundreds that affect smaller
companies and networks, such as small businesses, city and town municipalities, local medical facilities,
legal offices, and non-profit organizations. Cyber security is not just a concern for critical infrastructure
and major corporations, but for any organization that means safeguarding the networks and systems vital
to maintaining their operations.

The rise in cyber attacks has coincided with the number of companies and services that are now hosted
on digital networks. While these technologies have made countless processes easier to execute, they
also come with inherent vulnerabilities. This growing pool of potential targets has attracted more and
more hackers and ransomware gangs that endlessly seek to exploit weaknesses in any system.
Advancements in these digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, may have improved operational
efficiency and allowed companies to become more streamlined and sustainable, but they have also

Cyber Defense eMagazine – January 2024 Edition 102
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