EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted organizations to reassess and restructure business operations with unprecedented speed and agility. Across two months, organizations experienced two years worth of digital transformation. Twenty percent of large organizations are investing in digital transformation initiatives right now.

In some ways, the pandemic isn’t just testing our resilience, it’s advancing us towards the next stage of the digital revolution. The technologies and best practices adopted during the pandemic will remain with us long after it’s over.

Within this rapidly changing world, cyber security must remain steadfast. Yet, the coronavirus pandemic shows that we are at great risk of digital disruption. Experts predict that a cyber pandemic will closely follow on the heels of the global biological pandemic.

A cyber attack with characteristics that mirror those of the coronavirus could spread faster and farther than any known biological virus. Researchers state that a zero-day attack could potentially infect over 1 billion devices around the globe in as few as five days.

Recovering from a cyber pandemic may prove even more of a challenge than coping with the cyber pandemic itself. “Replacing 5% of the world’s connected devices would require around 71 million new devices,” writes the World Economic Forum. Manufacturers would fall short of supplies, and bottlenecks in business endeavors would crop up. Patching and reinstallation of devices would take time. What if the next large cyber event targets critical infrastructures that are necessary for regaining normalcy beyond the coronavirus?

Stay safe and act now. Leaders can learn from the lessons presented by the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. As with biological viruses, cyber viruses should be anticipated, and organizations should prepare accordingly. Gain insights into how to effectively prepare your organization for a cyber pandemic.

Download the cyber security in the age of coronavirus whitepaper.