Cyberattacks: Are you prepared to face them?

Introduction

Based on my experience advising companies of various sizes and sectors in their management of cyber risks, I believe that cybersecurity should not be understood solely from a technical aspect, but as a strategic part of business continuity.Many companies tell me that it is unlikely they will be the target of a cyberattack or that their data “is not of interest” to anyone. However, the reality is very different: no organization is truly safe.

Nowadays, cybercriminals have perfected their techniques thanks to Generative Artificial Intelligence, which allows them to create highly realistic phishing emails, automate attacks, and adapt their methods to different languages and audiences. And once again, reiterate that attacks are not always directed at large companies: automated systems scan thousands of targets to find vulnerabilities, no matter how small.

What is a cyberattack and why should it concern you?

A cyberattack is a malicious attempt to access, damage, or steal digital information or disrupt an organization's systems. The most common types include:

• Ransomware (hijacks data or systems in exchange for a ransom).

• Phishing (deceptions to steal, among other things, credentials or sensitive information).

• Denial of service attacks (blocking systems for extortion or reputational damage).

• Data exfiltration (silent theft of confidential information).

We have helped both large and very small companies that have suffered from one of these cyberattacks.

Real consequences of a cyberattack

When our clients say, “I don’t think I will be attacked” or “I already have antivirus,” we explain some of the consequences of an attack:

• Interruption of activity: blocked systems, halted bookings, loss of revenue.

• Theft of personal data from clients and employees, with sanctions for non-compliance with GDPR or NIS2.

• Claims from third parties for service breaches or leaks.

• Reputational damage that is difficult to repair: the trust of clients and partners can take years to recover.

• How to manage cyber risks integrally

The first thing we explain is that cybersecurity is not just technology: it is a continuous process. It is not enough to install some security measures and forget about them. In my experience, companies usually fall into three categories:

• Those that have almost nothing: they need to start with the basics and define an action plan.

• Those that feel too small to be a target: they need to be made aware that size does not matter to an attacker.

• Those that think they are fully prepared and let their guard down: they need to continuously review their defenses.

A comprehensive approach should include:

• Technical measures such as firewalls, encryption, verified backups, updated systems, etc.

• Organizational: clear security policies, incident response protocols.

• Training: the weakest link is often the employee. Empower the team to recognize fraud and threats.

• Security testing: pentests, attack simulations, audits.

• Crisis planning: knowing whom to notify and how to act reduces the impact.

The importance of cyber insurance

In risk management, I always recommend having a specialized cyber insurance. It does not replace prevention, but it provides financial and operational backup when everything fails. A cyber policy can cover:

• Immediate response and forensic costs.

• Restoration of systems.

• Notification to those affected.

• Legal defense and administrative sanctions.

• Indemnities for liability to third parties.

• Loss of income due to business interruption.

It is the difference between a costly incident and a business crisis.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity is nowadays an essential requirement for business continuity. It’s not a question of if you will be attacked, but when and with what impact. Preparing is not just about protecting data or systems, but protecting reputation, the trust of your clients, and the viability of your company.proteger la reputación, la confianza de tus clientes y la viabilidad de tu empresa.