Cybersecurity consolidation 2022 guide from AccessHeat? The world is now more reliant on technology than ever before. The emergence and growth of technology has had a positive impact on human life, but the convenience has, however, come with the risk of cyber attacks. If you use a tech device for whatever reason, then you’re highly likely to be exposed to a cyber attack. You’ll need to be protected, and that’s where cyber security comes in. Cyber security is the protection of electronic data and information. It’s the defense of electronic systems on devices, like computers, cell phones, servers, and networks, from malicious attacks. Regardless of who you are, it’s important to keep your data safe from unauthorized access.
Today, cybersecurity should be the number one IT priority for businesses no matter how big or small. In an ever-changing digital world, technological threats are constantly advancing and proliferating. Cyber security is notoriously misunderstood and unfortunately, no business is immune to breaches in security. Ransomware is just as unfavourable as it sounds. It’s malware is designed to threaten and access your data, or perpetually block access to it, unless a ransom is paid. This can put your business in a stressful and financially difficult predicament; leaving you out of control and at the instruction of cybercriminals. Breaches of privacy within a company can cause a lot of problems and cybercriminals know this, hence why they often get their asking price. A fundamental, legal requirement that every company must adhere to is the most recent GDPR regulations. Disregarding reputable cybersecurity not only makes you an easy target but could make you non-compliant. Even before a cyber-attack, this places you at risk of losing staff and clients but incurring substantial fines from the ICO. There is a lot at stake, so specialist help is essential to reduce complexity and ensure optimum results.
Although most common in the form of emails, phishing can take place outside of this field. Hackers are now using punycode, a lookalike method which sees remarkably similar domain names linking to a fraudulent, malware-infested site, gaining access to your private information in seconds. It’s important to be vigilant and if something looks suspicious, it probably is. Having standard anti-virus software within your business could certainly help you maintain security short term, but with consistent new threats ready to strike at any time, it’s no longer enough to keep your systems secure. Most commonly, it is in fact user error that allows malware threats to find their way into a business. A staggering 95% of cybersecurity attacks are a result of some kind of human error. We all make mistakes, and the likelihood is more so if the threat is presenting itself in disguise. It could be a simple click on a deceiving link, or not updating your systems as soon as required. Surprisingly, standard protocols like passwords are still not being implemented in companies. This offers cybercriminals an all access route into your business’ systems. A simple security measure is to make sure all company passwords are strong and cannot be easily guessed.
Mergers and acquisitions require a mix of strategic and tactical work – cybersecurity is usually an item on the tactical list. Many organizations are drawing up plans for mergers and acquisitions right now, as leaders look for growth after the pandemic slowdown, and as new business models emerge. However, weakened cybersecurity hygiene throughout the last year means that these M&A transactions elevate the risk of cybersecurity incidents. “M&A can be a breeding ground for cyberattacks and data breaches,” said Mordecai Gal, operations director at AccessHeat Inc. “Stringent due diligence that includes a focus on cybersecurity will help reduce regrets later in the deal lifecycle.” Today’s M&A plans need to include cybersecurity at several strategic and tactical points, to address growing scrutiny from regulators and other evolving cybersecurity risks.
M&A activity was consistent from the first half of 2019 into the second, and the strong trend continued into the first quarter of 2020. By mid-April of last year, the industry had seen several acquisitions, with many in the billion-dollar range, as organizations expanded their portfolios and filled in gaps. Not surprisingly, mergers significantly slowed down during the COVID-19 pandemic as organizations focused on market changes and adjusting their teams and expenses, to survive the drastic enterprise changes and shift to remote work environments. Some deals made headlines during the pandemic, but overall, the industry’s M&A was quieter than usual. But mergers and acquisitions have again started to pick up following the 2020 decline.
Recent cybersecurity M&A news: Covail announced today that it has agreed to be acquired by cybersecurity and managed detection and response (MDR) services provider GoSecure. The transaction is estimated to close in December 2021. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. “Since our founding six years ago as the Columbus Collaboratory, our goal has been to find ways to leverage collaboration to deliver successful AI, cybersecurity and cloud-based software solutions to our Fortune 500 clients,” said Covail CEO Matt Wald. “With this acquisition by GoSecure, our clients will now have access to an even broader set of capabilities and expertise thanks to our ability to leverage GoSecure’s class-leading capabilities and solutions. This will also help to further accelerate market penetration for our leading-edge security products and AI capabilities.
Crossword Cybersecurity PLC said Tuesday it has agreed to acquire an undisclosed cyber-threat company for 1.5 million pounds ($2 million). The U.K. cybersecurity technology commercialization company said that it will pay for the transaction in a mixture of cash and shares, and that some of the payment will be deferred. The company said the deal would bring its portfolio to five cybersecurity offerings alongside its cybersecurity consulting business. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to acquire this fast growth company, and to complete our objective of having five cybersecurity software as a service products in our portfolio almost a year ahead of schedule,” Chief Executive Tom Ilube said.
Strategic mergers can fill gaps in existing platforms and fortify the electronic barrier from outside threats. While increased strength is a plus, some other attractive gains from a consolidation include the merging of data feeds, security orchestration, automation, and response. This all contributes to a whole suite of protections that have the ability to communicate with one another such as cloud threat protection, two-factor authentication, and recovery services. Access-Heat.com is in the market to acquire cybersecurity firms and leverage their varied technologies to achieve combinational and transformational synergies. If a profitable exit strategy is one of your future goals, our investors will work directly with you to transition your company into our investment firm.