Natural disasters can cause massive damage to businesses and many people’s lives. Unfortunately, some threat actors see this as a golden opportunity to invoke even more devastation. Here’s why cybercriminals target businesses during natural catastrophes, the attacks they use and how you can adequately protect your company.

Why Do Cybercriminals Target Businesses During Natural Disasters?

Natural catastrophes create chaos and uncertainty. People are not focusing on basic cybersecurity best practices or refreshing their network’s security controls but instead on recovering from the event. During these disasters, many lose friends and family members.

This means their minds are on other things and not entirely focused on work — which is understandable given the circumstances. However, this chaos and lack of focus provide ample opportunity for cybercriminals to strike. According to Randy Rose, a cyber threat intelligence director, there is almost always an uptick in cyber attack attempts after a major disaster event.

During and after these events, people can make mistakes they would not usually make. For example, because employees’ minds are on something else, they could accidentally open a malicious link. This can cause even more headaches for the organization.

Unfortunately, threat actors realize people are at their most vulnerable at these times. They use the chaos a natural disaster creates to exploit organizations’ turmoil for their own personal gain.

Cybercriminals do not only use their attacks on businesses but on other entities as well. For example, they could target a city’s water supply. While most people might assume the resulting problems are related to the catastrophe, in reality, it is the work of hackers. This can create even more panic and serve as a distraction for cybercriminals to exploit other organizations. It also momentarily stops officials’ ability to deal with the natural disaster effectively.

What Type of Cyberattacks Occur During a Natural Catastrophe?

Companies are more vulnerable to online attacks due to the chaos and uncertainty of natural disasters. Hackers can resort to various threats that endanger businesses.

Phishing scams are among the most common cyberattacks threat actors use during chaotic periods. They deliberately trick someone into performing an action that compromises the organization’s security. For example, hackers send a malicious email to an employee that, when clicked, downloads and installs malware on company systems.

Ransomware is another crippling attack cybercriminals rely on during natural disasters. This threat is particularly devastating if the company does not have the necessary precautions in place. Hackers take business data hostage and then demand a fee for unlocking it. The company must have the decryption key or install their stolen information from backup systems.

This threat can cause massive harm and result in the company spending valuable resources to rectify the situation. In the wake of a natural disaster, it can seriously damage an organization’s infrastructure, forcing it to rely on backups.

However, if the backup systems don’t possess adequate protection, they could become vulnerable to a data breach. According to an IBM 2023 report, the average cost of such an attack is more than $4.45 million.

These attacks, alongside the disaster event, can cause severe damage. However, companies can take steps to protect themselves effectively.

5 Ways Organizations Can Defend Themselves From Cyberattacks Following a Natural Disaster

Companies can adequately defend themselves against cyberattacks by taking preventive measures and implementing cybersecurity best practices. Here are five ways organizations can ensure they are well protected.

1.    Have a Business Continuity Plan in Place

One of the best things you can do to protect your business is to establish a business continuity plan. It should outline how the organization will operate during a natural disaster. It should also explain how employees can be more cautious during this time as the likelihood of cyberattacks is greater.

The plan should also have security solutions that can adequately defend against attacks. These include encrypting data systems, adding intrusion detection software and implementing prevention measures. An established business continuity plan can help the organization take the necessary actions to mitigate risks.

2.    Ensure Backup Systems Are Well Protected

Companies with damaged infrastructure may need to use their backup systems. While this is the right step, they must ensure everything is properly protected, encrypted and safe from threats.

In addition, consider implementing a robust backup procedure. Regularly test the systems so you can have peace of mind, knowing that when you need them, they are ready. Having such solutions in place can make it easier to recover information if the company experiences a data loss or ransomware attack.

3.    Update Antivirus Software

While this is a basic cybersecurity best practice, it is incredibly important. Online threats continuously evolve. For this reason, cyber professionals recommend updating your antivirus software as soon as new patches become available. Doing this regularly ensures you are protected against the latest threats.

In addition, companies should also consider replacing legacy software — especially emergency services whose effectiveness during a disaster often relies on their software. Outdated software can pose a significant security risk, because older applications were not developed with the current online threats in mind and can be easily exploited with today’s technology.

4.    Educate Employees on Cybersecurity Best Practices

Employees must undergo basic cybersecurity training. This will teach them what to look for in identifying threats such as phishing scams. They will also learn what actions to take if they encounter such attacks.

Staff should also know they should act even more cautiously if a natural disaster occurs. Utilizing cybersecurity best practices drastically reduces the chance of the organization facing a cyberattack.

5.    Invest in Cyber Insurance

Businesses should do everything possible to ensure they are well protected, but cyberattacks can still occur. For this reason, it is recommended to have cyber insurance.

It’s costly but can prove incredibly useful in equipping a company with the necessary resources to recover from an attack.

Insurance supplies companies with adequate resources and also speeds up recovery time. Considering all the damage a successful cyberthreat can cause, it is well worth the investment.

Protect Your Business Effectively Against Cyberattacks During Natural Disasters

While natural catastrophes are already devastating events, threat actors use this time to attack organizations when they are most vulnerable. Companies must know what threats they could experience and how to defend themselves against them. Taking proper precautions gives businesses peace of mind, knowing they are adequately protected.