Cybersecurity More Important Than Ever for Businesses | IT Specialists of Kurtz Detective Agency Bielefeld

As revealed by the current Cyber Security Report 2015 by Deutsche Telekom – a report followed with great interest every year by the business investigators of Kurtz Detective Agency Bielefeld – decision-makers from politics and business, including 113 members of parliament and 532 executives, consider damage caused by computer viruses and data fraud on the internet to be the greatest danger among all societal threats. Other frequently mentioned risks also relate to the IT sector and reflect the widespread fear of data misuse through social networks (63 percent) and large corporations (52 percent), as well as the concern about surveillance by domestic or foreign intelligence services (49 percent). Furthermore, the respondents’ assessment of increasing risks underlines the seriousness of data misuse: 36 percent of entrepreneurs and politicians view it as the greatest threat for the future.

 

In 2015 alone, 46 percent of affected German companies had to deal with cyberattacks from the World Wide Web on a regular basis – several times a month, weekly, or even daily. This confirms that widespread concerns are by no means unfounded. While many of these attacks can ultimately be resolved, most are not detected immediately but only after several months – by which time they have often caused significant losses. The German economy suffers annual damages amounting to 51 billion euros from industrial espionage alone – a figure that could have been considerably reduced through early detection and timely intervention, for instance with the help of our business investigators and IT specialists from Bielefeld.

Virtual Attack – Real Damage

There is at least one positive development: 82 percent of large German corporations now employ in-house IT staff, and 64 percent of all companies have IT security concepts in place or at least in planning. However, only 21 percent of small companies (10–50 employees) have their own IT specialists. This low figure is surprising, since the Cyber Security Report shows that, regardless of company size, 90 percent of respondents assign high or very high importance to IT security. Nearly half of the surveyed executives report difficulties filling IT positions, which brings the work of Kurtz Detective Agency Bielefeld increasingly into focus. Our IT specialists, private and corporate detectives are in demand not only in Bielefeld and East Westphalia, but throughout Germany, whenever companies require assistance with planning, developing, or implementing a cybersecurity system.

 

A paradox within the report lies in the discrepancy between the widespread fear of cyber risks – and the majority’s own experience of cybercrime damage – versus the relatively low assessment of severe harm, rated as “likely” by only 60 percent. The business investigators of Kurtz Detective Agency Bielefeld frequently observe that clients underestimate hacker-related damages, treating them as trivial incidents rather than serious threats to their innovations. This underlines the need for awareness regarding both the financial and strategic consequences of cyberattacks.

Better Safe Than Sorry – IT Specialists in Bielefeld and East Westphalia

The misjudgment or overconfidence of many executives is reflected in the high percentage (60 percent) who believe they are adequately prepared for possible attacks and consider their IT systems relatively resilient. Sixteen percent of companies rely solely on their own IT departments for security monitoring, while a mere three percent engage external specialists such as those at Kurtz Detective Agency Bielefeld. There is clear room for improvement, particularly since in nearly 80 percent of businesses, responsibility for information and communication security lies with top management or senior department heads – individuals who rarely possess the technical expertise required for truly secure systems.

 

Another noteworthy finding in the Cyber Security Report 2015 is the increased demand among politicians and executives for stronger governmental support in combating IT threats. Only 16 percent of surveyed companies participate in cross-company security systems or government-organized digital security initiatives. Compared to 2013, the number of those who feel sufficiently supported by the state fell by 10 percent to only 29 percent, while calls for more public funding rose by 12 percent – now voiced by over half of respondents. This support could, for example, take the form of financial assistance for developing security concepts or tax incentives for engaging external service providers such as Kurtz Detective Agency Bielefeld, whose IT specialists and corporate investigators would gladly take on such assignments more frequently.

Security Has Its Price

The rising IT expenses faced by 85 percent of surveyed companies in light of ongoing digitalization are, in fact, investments well spent – even if they may seem painful initially. Our business detectives in Bielefeld frequently observe that the protection of proprietary innovations, information, data, and communications far outweighs the costs of security measures. Such preventive investments are by no means a necessary evil but an essential safeguard. Since 31 percent of executives and politicians admit to uncertainty about the scale of necessary IT investments amid the rapid pace of technological development, this uncertainty can be effectively addressed through consultation or engagement of the IT specialists and corporate detectives at Kurtz Detective Agency Bielefeld: +49 521 2567 0055.

 

In the age of Industry 4.0 and the accompanying rise in networking and automation, 87 percent of respondents fear hacker attacks on internal IT systems. This threat can only be countered through comprehensive, multi-layered protection. Whatever your company’s focus may be, a consistent and robust cybersecurity system is indispensable for smooth operations, safeguarding corporate innovations, and maintaining competitiveness in the marketplace. The IT department of Kurtz Business Detective Agency Bielefeld stands ready to assist: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-bielefeld.de.

Author: Dr. Maya Grünschloß

 

Kurtz Detective Agency Bielefeld | Germany

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