The growing threat of
cyber-attacks – currently
estimated to be a US$400
billion global industry – has
raised questions about the
adequacy of anti-spam and
anti-virus software.
Whether intentional
or accidental, external or
internal, cyber attacks
were a reality of modern
businesses and supply
chains, said IT specialist
Rory Young of T-Systems
South Africa.
“It’s a bigger industry
than drug trafficking,” he
told delegates at the recent
Special Interest Group
(SIG) Transport Forum
held in Johannesburg.
“Cyber-attackers exploit
users through wireless
fidelity (wi-fi) connections,
emails and the ‘cloud’ to
name a few.” Young noted
that 108.7 billion emails
had been sent per day last
year, a testament to
the integral part they
played in modern
business.
With cyberattackers
often
breaching antispam
and antivirus
software, he
emphasised the need
for a second layer of
defence that “protects
employees at the time
of clicking a link in an
email already in their
inbox, and detects
harmful attachments
before they can be
opened by employees.”
G4S security
company commercial
director Danie
Schoeman said that
a proactive approach
against cyber-attacks
would help businesses
to prevent supply chain
disruptions. “It is important
to look at the weaknesses,
put them into monetary
terms, evaluate the situation
and address shortfalls,” he
added.
INSERT & CAPTION
Cyber-attacks are a
bigger industry than
drug trafficking.
– Danie Schoeman
