Climate Change & Cyber Security

Uploaded on 2023-05-10 in NEWS-Cybersecurity News, FREE TO VIEW

Although the topics of climate change and cyber security seem quite separate, they are interconnected and must be addressed quickly to prevent disruptions that can threaten lives.

The intersection of the two fields is a complex and rapidly evolving domain that demands attention from enterprises across industries and market verticals.

There are more connections between climate change and cyber security than many realise, and some experts believe that climate change could be one of the biggest security threats we’ve ever faced.

Climate & Cyber Security

The issues are multi-dimensional and can take on a kaleidoscope of patterns and shapes that can multiply and cascade in an endless number of ways. But, to give you a sense of a few common challenges at the intersection of climate change and cyber security.

Imagine that a major storm disrupts a critical infrastructure entity, damaging specialised equipment that hundreds of thousands of customers rely on.

In turn, the affected enterprise may need to rebuild technologies, offload service requests to adjacent locales, or engage in other emergency measures. An environmental event with this type of impact presents a security challenge unlike any other.

Infrastructure entities that are organised, that have resources, and that retain strong cyber capabilities may be able to navigate instability and sudden changes without introducing security vulnerabilities or temporary security gaps.
But many organisations would struggle to balance agility, a complex labyrinth of shifting systems, technologies and processes, and service provisioning. A simple blind spot could leave the door open to hackers.

In another commonly cited example of how climate change and cyber security intersect, an extreme weather event could disrupt a supply chain, stalling the transportation or distribution of a product.

When electric jolts of chaos are injected into an intricate and knotty supply chain, cyber criminals can easily swoop in and meddle with software, tamper with information, or steal proprietary data.

Cyber Attacks Have An Effect On Real-World Infrastructure

Just as climate change is affecting our way of life and threatening our livelihood, cybercrime is a threat that’s becoming increasingly prevalent in our everyday lives. Ransomware attacks on the US Colonial pipeline in 2021, causing a complete shutdown of its fuel distribution network and an attack on Viasat, a satellite communications company, which resulted in almost 6,000 wind turbines malfunctioning in Germany, causing disruptions to thousands of businesses in Europe, are just a couple of examples of attacks in recent years.

Cyber criminals are hitting businesses in this sector and are costing millions in financial losses, and affecting data security as cutting-edge technologies are being targeted.

Between school and work closures due to extreme weather and more people working remotely as a result of sustainability efforts, cyber security needs to be a priority, but so many businesses still neglect even the basics.
This increases the possibility for an attack and puts more people at risk of cybercrime. Economic stress also leads to an increase in criminal behaviour whether by scams, identity theft or ransomware attacks, from people who are politically and socially motivated on both sides of the climate change issue, through to those looking to benefit financially during times of financial difficulty or to make a political statement.

Becoming More Sustainable

To mitigate extreme climate-related cyber security issues, ensure that your organisation adheres to the following cyber security best practices:

Regularly conduct risk assessments: Risk assessments can provide organisations with visibility into potential climate-related threats ahead of an event. Once possible threats have been identified, organisations can create incident response and business continuity plans. These types of resources can smooth transitions amidst tremulous, unforeseen operational shifts.

Build a culture of cyber security: Cultivate a culture of cyber security by promoting awareness of climate-related cyber threats among employees and stakeholders. Accomplish this via training, awareness campaigns and regular communications.

Develop contingency plans: Organisations must have contingency plans to prepare for and respond to potential disruptions and disasters related to climate change and cyber security. Ensure that your organisation adheres to data backup best practices and that incident response plans exist in both paper and digital formats.

Invest in technology: Organisations should invest in cyber security solutions that can address climate risks while improving technology ecosystems. For instance, threat intelligence platforms can provide real-time information about weather-related risks across diverse regions, helping organisations prepare for potential disruptions.

Promote innovation: Explore the use of technologies that can automate cyber security processes and thereby reduce the risk of human error. This can improve your organisation’s overall cyber security posture.

Conclusion

The intersection of cyber security and climate change is varied and complex. By ensuring adherence to best practices, organisations can improve their performance and contribute to a more sustainable and more secure future, for themselves and for everyone else in the business ecosystem.

Companies around the world need to make smarter investment decisions that are sustainable and offer an opportunity to move away from fossil fuels such as oil, which not only offers a chance for long-term financial gain but also reduces the risk of an attack from environmental protestors.

Ultimately, advanced cyber security mitigations and measures can address climate change and create better prospects and outcomes for people and the planet at-large. While a proactive approach to cyber security won’t reverse the effects of the climate crisis, it may help to reduce the economic impact of environmental issues on businesses and society at large.

Rutherford Research: MalwerBytes: Fortinet: Renewal Energy Hub: ContextPR: UKTechNews: Dashlane:

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