Anna Forrester
ICF International has addressed what it sees common myths and misconceptions about the threat environment and examines the current state of U.S. cybersecurity and preparedness for possible attacks in an infographic published Monday.
“Myths and misconceptions abound about the reality of these threats, the organizations that are affected, and the level of preparedness appropriate to these entities,” said Samuel Visner, a senior vice president at ICF.
“The consequences can be serious for U.S. critical infrastructure, companies that possess valuable intellectual property, and enterprises that store and process sensitive personal and private information.”
According to ICF, no one is safe or immune from cyber attacks.
Small enterprises can be used as proxies for future larger targets and used to test cyber weapons or reconnaissance practices, the infographic stated.
Heavy cybersecurity investors as well as companies with industrial control systems can also be vulnerable as threats become more sophisticated and complex networks, particularly in the Internet of Things, could present more threat opportunities.
The infographic also indicates that regular monitoring may also not be enough to ensure data integrity, while the IT department is no longer solely responsible for cybersecurity.
ICF said monitoring must be continuous and business leadership must be involved the management of cybersecurity preparation and response.
