On Christmas Eve, the car retailer Arnold Clark was hit by a cyber attack that left its staff unable to access systems. This incident is just one example of how vulnerable businesses can be to cyber crime, particularly during the holidays when many companies are not as vigilant about security measures as they would normally be. Understanding why this happened and what you can do to protect your business from a similar attack is essential.
Christmas Eve is usually a day where one might expect joy, cheer and gifts being exchanged, not computer systems going down due to cyber-attack. Unfortunately for arnold clark’s car retailer staff however, this was the case after their systems were hit by a cyber-attack. This incident is an exemplar of how vulnerable businesses can be to cyber attacks in general, particularly during holiday season when most companies are less cautious about their security measures than usual. It is necessary to grasp why these occurrences happen in order to tackle them adeptly by recognizing the possible ways your business could be targeted and what steps you need to take to protect it from similar situations of attack occurring in the future.
Why It Happened
Arnold Clark’s main website and customer data remain secure. However, their internal systems were affected by this attack, leaving staff unable to access email or other systems. The cause of the attack is still unknown, but it could have been caused by one of several factors. One possibility is that an employee inadvertently clicked a malicious link or attachment in an email, which allowed hackers to gain access to the company’s systems. Another possibility is that the attack was launched via a “zero-day” exploit; these are previously undiscovered vulnerabilities in software that hackers use to gain access to networks without anyone knowing until it’s too late
The Importance of Cybersecurity
It’s clear from this incident that cybercrime is something every business should take seriously, regardless of size or sector. While larger companies may have more resources available to them for cybersecurity, smaller businesses should also make sure they have adequate security measures in place such as multi-factor authentication and regular system updates. Additionally, all employees should receive some form of training on basic cybersecurity measures such as avoiding clicking links from unknown senders and keeping passwords safe and secured (e.g., change them regularly)
Cyber attacks like the one experienced by Arnold Clark can happen at any time and can cause serious damage if not prevented properly through good cybersecurity practices. Businesses must make sure they have adequate security measures in place, such as multi-factor authentication and regular system updates, as well as training their staff on basic cybersecurity principles like avoiding clicking links from unknown senders and keeping passwords safe and secure. Doing so will help ensure your business stays protected against cybercrime throughout the year – not just during the holidays.
