Cybersecurity: The corporate sector’s hidden war

With 42.8 million cyber-attacks recorded in 2014, Cybercrime is becoming the key security issue facing companies. Initially, antiviruses were the main weapon of defense and hacking was unheard of. Businesses today are increasingly networked and vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Spire’s CEO Leon Perera delivered the keynote address to a cyber-security event co-organized by Juniper Networks and LGA Telecom to discuss cyber risks and how to mitigate them.

Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Spire Research and Consulting group, was privileged to deliver the keynote speech at the Executive Breakfast event organized by Juniper Networks and LGA Telecom Pte Ltd on 22 July 2015 in Singapore. In his presentation, he shared a brief overview on cybercrime and strategies businesses should adopt to mitigate risks.

Perera mentioned that, cyber-threats can cause financial and reputational damages as well as shake employee confidence for a company. Significant cyber risks include Data theft, Malware, Denial of Service (DoS) attacks as well as reputational attacks that arise from both external and internal sources.

The range of cyber-attacks has been expanding. Common culprits include hacking, phishing, Man in the middle attack (MITM), Malware, Botnets and Denial of Service attacks. The advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) – a technology that connects physical devices to the internet – presents a whole new risk landscape. Riddled with basic security flaws such as weak passwords, unencrypted network services and insecure interfaces, sustainable long-term security for the IoT is an uphill task.

Nonetheless, cyber-attacks aimed at businesses can be mitigated. This requires strong leadership from the senior management, ensuring silo-less cooperation, emergency preparedness and contingency planning for a robust risk mitigation strategy. At this point, it also becomes crucial for businesses to analyze the Return on Investment (ROI) for cybersecurity.

Perera’s presentation deck on “Cybersecurity: What’s at stake?” can be found here.

https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/events/cybersecurity-the-corporate-sectors-hidden-war/

Comments

Augmented Reality – Bridging the gap between the real and virtual consumer experience

Video games and movies have long been entertaining us with ever-more sophisticated and realistic computer-generated special effects. The latest trend in computer-generated experiences is Augmented Reality (AR), which is pulling graphics out of computer displays and television screens to integrate these into our real-world environment. With projected growth of 95 per cent a year from 2011, to reach revenues of USD5.2 billion in 2017, will AR succeed in blurring the line between the real and virtual user experience? What is AR? Simply put, Augmented Reality enables superimposition of computer generated data onto our direct experience of reality. It aims to enhance the user’s current awareness of reality by supplementing the real world with 3D virtual objects. The term – Augmented Reality – was originally coined in 1990 by former Boeing researcher Tom Caudell. The technology gradually spread to other platforms such as mobile applications in 2008. New AR mapping and social to...

China leads the way with eco-innovation

https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/china-leads-the-way-with-eco-innovation/ China is starting to take a leading position in eco-innovation. This has been driven by the country’s large-scale efforts to address pressing environmental challenges, such as in the areas of air pollution and flood control. Many companies are lending support to this cause. For instance, the Beijing subway introduced special vending machines in May last year which reward commuters with discounts on their travel pass when they recycle plastic bottles. In the same year, Nike opened a concept store in Shanghai which was entirely constructed out of trash. The no-glue construction ensured that all materials could be reused in future. Is China ready to remap the path of eco-innovation?

Pokémon Go – A game changer for marketers?

Have you caught your Pokémon yet? Pokémon Go – the mobile application-based game – is immensely popular. The game uniquely uses Augmented Reality technology. It has succeeded in growing its user base beyond just fans of the Pokémon comic. With the ability to drive foot traffic to stores, the app has created a new and potentially powerful platform for companies . Clocking in 7.5 million downloads since its debut in the U.S. on July 2016 , is the app a marketer’s boon – or is it destined to become just another “has-been” fad? What is Pokémon Go? Taking gamification to the next level, Pokémon Go is a gaming application based on the concept of augmented reality (AR) to deliver a real-life Pokémon experience. Released in July 2016, the game was developed by Niantic Labs and published by the “father” of Pokémon, Japanese company Nintendo. Using Augmented Reality technology similar to Google Maps, players need to find Pokémon characters at random physical locations and captur...

Egyptian-Israeli gas deal to boost bilateral trade

A USD15 billion deal has been announced between Israel and Egypt to export natural gas. Israel’s Delek Group has signed an agreement to supply 64 billion cubic meters of gas in a span of ten years to Egypt’s Dolphinus Holdings. The deal is considered a milestone ever since the 1979 peace accord, bringing Egypt a step closer to becoming a regional energy hub. However, the transportation of natural gas from Israel to Egypt is a challenge given the security risks. Will the Egypt-Israel gas export deal usher in a relationship of bonhomie and economic co-operation? Read more here: https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/egyptian-israeli-gas-deal-to-boost-bilateral-trade/

China leads e-commerce growth through smartphones

400 million Chinese consumers make online purchases and China’s e-commerce market is set to reach USD1.57 trillion by 2018, making it the world’s largest. As smartphone penetration continues to surge in Asia, online retail is evolving. Will mobile commerce become the dominant mode for online purchases in Asia? Japnit Singh, Senior Director at Spire Research and Consulting, shared his insights in China Daily – Asia Weekly. China’s e-commerce retail sales in 2015 increased by 42.1% to reach USD672 billion. This is equivalent to over 40% of global e-commerce retail sales. As the online retail experience continues to evolve, more purchases are made using smartphones. Growth factors responsible for this e-commerce boom include the rise in demand for imported products due to rising incomes, new online platforms and initiatives by the government. Cross-border consumer e-commerce added up to about USD40 billion (in 2015) – more than 6% of China’s consumer e-commerce in total. ...

The Knowledge to Decide

Search This Blog