What Cybersecurity Threats?
As we live in a modern digital world, our online data is always at risk. This is because the online world is filled with cyberattacks and cybercrimes. So here is what and how cybersecurity comes into action.
A study shows that over 1,200 cyberattacks were recorded in 2021, which accounted for 5,126,930,507 breached records.
Know that these cyberattacks are common in every industry, especially in the defense sector.
These attacks aim to compromise missions and reduce the ability of a military force to function effectively. It is wise to embrace cybersecurity solutions that act as a barrier against hackers and third-party companies that try to steal valuable data. Malware and phishing attacks that use vulnerabilities on computers cause data breaches.
Why Are Contractors Vulnerable to Cyber Threats?
Government hacking often depends on exploiting vulnerabilities in systems to enable a surveillance aim. Government hacking may also involve exploiting people to interfere with their computer systems. These techniques prey on user trust, losing which can damage the security of systems and the internet.
But why are contractors vulnerable to cyberattacks?
The defense sector has sensitive data that holds a greater significance for foreign governments. These contractors don’t embrace high-level cybersecurity solutions like the government.
How do attackers attack the defense sector?
- Undermining the key systems and communication links
- Using industrial control systems to cause physical damage
- Exfiltrating sensitive data.
Hackers view it as an opportunity to gain access to larger government systems and other valuable data.
How CMMC Helps The Defense Contractors To Protect Their Valuable Data?
To protect the sensitive data in the defense sector, the Department of Defence (DOD) developed the CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification), in 2019.
The CMMC is essential for contractors to approve their contracts. This certification ensures that the defense contractors have the best cybersecurity solutions in place to protect their sensitive information from leaks. This certification requires organizations working with the DoD to undergo cyber audits of their security systems.
There are several levels of certification, including:
A. CMMC level 1: Protect federal contract information.
B. CMMC level 2: Act as a growth step in cybersecurity maturity progression to protect controlled, unclassified information.
C. CMMC level 3: Protect CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information),
D. CMMC levels 4-5: Protect CUI and reduce the risk of advanced ongoing threats.
Each level comprises a set of methods, ranging from “basic cyber hygiene” at level 1 to advanced cybersecurity at level 5. The process starts from “performed” at level 1 and goes up to “optimizing” at level 5. Therefore, if you are a contractor to the DoD, having a CMMC certification is a must.
What Is The Future Of Cybersecurity In Defense?
Automation is the key to cyber attacks mitigation in the defense sector. By leveraging the power of modern technologies, online threats can easily identify and resolved. Thus, cyber protection teams can act faster to protect their sensitive information. Also, visual analytics can interact with complex intelligence more effectively and action it faster.
5 Common Attacks To Defense Sector
With the increase in the number of attacks in the defense sector, it becomes necessary for contractors and sub-contractors to have a CMMC certification. With that in mind, here are some of the common attacks faced by the defense sector:
1. Malware And Ransomware
Malware refers to installing “malicious software” on large computers. Hackers install this software to hack the system and steal sensitive data. They transmitted it through e-mail attachments, Instant Messages (IM), peer-to-peer downloads, phishing, and deceptive websites. For example, the Chinese hackers attacked several government agencies of the US and the UK by installing trojan horse software to gain access to the systems and steal sensitive data.
Read Similar: Botnet Attack
Ransomware is a new form of a cyberattack that blocks computer systems until a sum of money is paid. Recently, it has attacked the government agencies and defense sector. In March 2020, a ransomware attack hit Visser Precision. The hackers stole valuable information and posted it on the dark web.
2. Supply Chain Attacks
Another common attack faced by the defense sector is the supply chain attack. As said earlier, the defense sector doesn’t have a high level of security in its systems, and hackers view it as an opportunity to steal sensitive data. For example, supply chain attacks hit In 2019, Airbus – a European aerospace company through the company’s subcontractors.
3. Data Breaches
Data breaches are attacks where the data were stolen without the knowledge or consent of the system’s owner. These are common, especially in the defense sector. In 2019, the US government reported 5.6% of data breaches attacks. Unfortunately, it cost the government approx $13.7 billion.
For instance, in 2019, Perceptics LLC was attacked by a hackers group called Team Snatch. Later, the breach turned into a ransomware attack. However, when they denied paying the amount, the hackers stole the valuable data and uploaded it on the internet.
4. Insider Attacks
As the name suggests, insider attacks are threats to an organization from people, such as employees, former employees, contractors, or business associates. Employees with company access can cause serious damage to systems if they exploit their access credentials for nefarious purposes.
For instance, in 2017, an employee at Bupa accessed customer information, copied the information, deleted it from the database, and tried to sell it online. The breach affected 500,000 customers and in 2018, after an investigation by the ICO, it fined Bupa £175,000.
5. Phishing And Social Engineering
Social engineering is a form of phishing attack which can attack both public and private sectors. In this attack, they (Hackers) target the individuals within an organization with phishing or spear-phishing emails. Recently, hackers were targeting the defense sector involving missiles, drones, and stealth fighter jets.
Summing Up
Cybercrimes will continue to increase and show no signs of slowing down. For that reason, government contractors must embrace cyber security solutions to protect sensitive data from leaks. After all, it’s about getting the right protection at the right time!