Could a cyber risks cause disruptions to critical business infrastructure

Cyber Risks

Cyber Risks to critical business infrastructure

When a scheduled flight of a wide-body airliner is cancelled it can cost the airline up to $43,000. So you can imagine what kind of day executives at LOT, the Polish national airline, were having last year when 20 flights were cancelled after computers that issue its flight plans were breached.

“The aviation industry’s growing reliance on data networks, and onboard computer and navigation networks, is rendering it increasingly vulnerable to cyber risks,” says Erlend Munthe-Kaas of Bloomberg Intelligence. “Airlines rely on computers for almost every aspect of operations. As a result, cyber incidents can have devastating consequences, including business interruption and loss of reputation.”

“There’s beginning to be a shift beginning to educate businesses to see the wider, deeper cyber risks picture that in many cases has gone unacknowledged.”

Think of it as cyber creep. The risks aren’t just about protecting your customer’s data, although that remains important. They are insinuating themselves into every nook of your business, creating the possibility of mass disruption to operations and critical infrastructure. As the world becomes more connected, and businesses rely more on machine-to-machine communication and automated manufacturing, the cyber risks pile up. One day, production might grind to a halt. Critical transactions might not take place. Shipments could be steered to incorrect destinations. Planes might not take off.

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