Business needs to take care of its cybersecurity to avoid falling victim to cyber attacks

28/ 01/ 2022

Understanding the importance of data protection is the first step towards greater cybersecurity. This was emphasized during the EBA meeting with the Deputy Heads of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine – Viktor Zhora and Oleksandr Potii. Separately, we talk about a cyberattack that took place from 13 to 14 January 2022, which, according to the State Special Communications Service, was difficult to predict. This was the first attack, targeting only government websites. In total, about 90 sites were blocked, most of them shut down by order of the State Special Communications Service and the Security Service of Ukraine to prevent further spread of the attack. According to one version, this attack was possible because a commercial company gained access to these sites. Three possible vectors of attack are currently being considered. Also, during the investigation, a program of data destruction was identified on 2 sites. It is worth noting that the coordinated activities of hackers were hardly aimed at making a profit. Instead, their goal was to inflict maximum damage by using software that destroys infrastructure and attempts to steal databases. However, the investigation that is underway will show what really happened. In that situation, it was important for the State Special Communications Service to restore the damaged infrastructure as soon as possible. At the same time, colleagues called on businesses to be vigilant and to contact the State Special Communications Service in case of any anomalies, as the team works for the government, business, and citizens. These are specialists who take care of, among other things, the protection of state information resources and infrastructure. They can also help identify cyber incidents as well as address the consequences. Besides, the CERT-UA website and social networks regularly publish information on current cyber threats and ways to protect against them: https://cert.gov.ua/ Thus, the State Special Communications Service works in various directions to increase Ukraine’s cyber resilience: developing cyber security technological infrastructure, reforming professional education in cybersecurity, modernizing cybersecurity and cybersecurity legislation, and developing international partnerships. However, businesses must also pay close attention to their cybersecurity, data protection, and so on. What can be done in this regard? Here are the priority steps: identify all information assets that need to be protected (understand their value and importance, which assets to protect in the first place); implement the protection of these information systems; have a cyber threat response plan. In addition to the above measures, the State Special Communications Service has developed Guidelines for cyber protection of critical information infrastructure, which can be found here. Besides, recommendations are being prepared on how to react in the event of a cyberattack. Of course, businesses rarely turn to the State Special Communications Service because of distrust of government agencies and fear of facing pressure. However, according to the law, the State Special Communications Service acts as a regulatory body in the field of cybersecurity. So, this structure is not about pressure – but about counseling. On behalf of the Association, we truly thank the State Special Communications Service for the meeting and hope that we as a country will work together to protect the cybersecurity of both private businesses and the state from various attacks and manipulations. These are the results of a new survey of marketing and communications professionals conducted by the European Business Association among the members of its Committee. Thus, 66% of respondents consider the main challenges of 2022 in their work to be information overload and lack of time and human resources. Among other difficulties, experts cited limited budgets, patterned solutions, and a lack of professionals. View the presentation At the same time, marketers plan to focus on the development of digital channels (75% of respondents), brand awareness (69%), search for new activation platforms (47%). And communicators see enhancement of brand awareness and presence in the information field (73%), reputation building (47%), and development of internal communications (36%) as their main priorities. We learned from the companies about their plans for budgeting and the PR/marketing team for 2022. Thus, almost half of the companies, namely 49% will increase the budget for marketing and PR, another 22% said that it will remain unchanged or be distributed to other channels, and only 3% of companies will reduce the budget. One-third of the companies, namely 32%, will hire new people for their PR/marketing team, while 61% will continue to work in the same position, and the positive thing is that only 3% will be forced to reduce staff. The other 61% will involve agencies that provide PR/marketing services. Respondents ranked SMM, video, media, events, and SEO as the top 5 most popular tools this year. The main trends that will continue to affect the work of companies in 2022, experts name personalization, digitalization, omnichannel development, increased share of video content, focus on CSR, and more. One in five companies plans to use VR / AR technology and artificial intelligence in their communications. For reference: 135 specialists of EBA member companies took part in the survey, of which 52% were PR specialists, 44% were marketing specialists, and 4% were CSR specialists.

Separately, we talk about a cyberattack that took place from 13 to 14 January 2022, which, according to the State Special Communications Service, was difficult to predict. This was the first attack, targeting only government websites. In total, about 90 sites were blocked, most of them shut down by order of the State Special Communications Service and the Security Service of Ukraine to prevent further spread of the attack. According to one version, this attack was possible because a commercial company gained access to these sites. Three possible vectors of attack are currently being considered. Also, during the investigation, a program of data destruction was identified on 2 sites.

It is worth noting that the coordinated activities of hackers were hardly aimed at making a profit. Instead, their goal was to inflict maximum damage by using software that destroys infrastructure and attempts to steal databases. However, the investigation that is underway will show what really happened.

In that situation, it was important for the State Special Communications Service to restore the damaged infrastructure as soon as possible.

At the same time, colleagues called on businesses to be vigilant and to contact the State Special Communications Service in case of any anomalies, as the team works for the government, business, and citizens. These are specialists who take care of, among other things, the protection of state information resources and infrastructure. They can also help identify cyber incidents as well as address the consequences. Besides, the CERT-UA website and social networks regularly publish information on current cyber threats and ways to protect against them: https://cert.gov.ua/

Thus, the State Special Communications Service works in various directions to increase Ukraine’s cyber resilience: developing cyber security technological infrastructure, reforming professional education in cybersecurity, modernizing cybersecurity and cybersecurity legislation, and developing international partnerships. However, businesses must also pay close attention to their cybersecurity, data protection, and so on.

What can be done in this regard? Here are the priority steps:

identify all information assets that need to be protected (understand their value and importance, which assets to protect in the first place);
implement the protection of these information systems;
have a cyber threat response plan.

In addition to the above measures, the State Special Communications Service has developed Guidelines for cyber protection of critical information infrastructure, which can be found here. Besides, recommendations are being prepared on how to react in the event of a cyberattack.

Of course, businesses rarely turn to the State Special Communications Service because of distrust of government agencies and fear of facing pressure. However, according to the law, the State Special Communications Service acts as a regulatory body in the field of cybersecurity. So, this structure is not about pressure – but about counseling.

On behalf of the Association, we truly thank the State Special Communications Service for the meeting and hope that we as a country will work together to protect the cybersecurity of both private businesses and the state from various attacks and manipulations. These are the results of a new survey of marketing and communications professionals conducted by the European Business Association among the members of its Committee. Thus, 66% of respondents consider the main challenges of 2022 in their work to be information overload and lack of time and human resources. Among other difficulties, experts cited limited budgets, patterned solutions, and a lack of professionals.

View the presentation

At the same time, marketers plan to focus on the development of digital channels (75% of respondents), brand awareness (69%), search for new activation platforms (47%). And communicators see enhancement of brand awareness and presence in the information field (73%), reputation building (47%), and development of internal communications (36%) as their main priorities.

We learned from the companies about their plans for budgeting and the PR/marketing team for 2022. Thus, almost half of the companies, namely 49% will increase the budget for marketing and PR, another 22% said that it will remain unchanged or be distributed to other channels, and only 3% of companies will reduce the budget.

One-third of the companies, namely 32%, will hire new people for their PR/marketing team, while 61% will continue to work in the same position, and the positive thing is that only 3% will be forced to reduce staff. The other 61% will involve agencies that provide PR/marketing services.

Respondents ranked SMM, video, media, events, and SEO as the top 5 most popular tools this year. The main trends that will continue to affect the work of companies in 2022, experts name personalization, digitalization, omnichannel development, increased share of video content, focus on CSR, and more. One in five companies plans to use VR / AR technology and artificial intelligence in their communications.

For reference:

135 specialists of EBA member companies took part in the survey, of which 52% were PR specialists, 44% were marketing specialists, and 4% were CSR specialists.