Expert lighting
“Each company should develop an emergency plan against cyber attacks”
Specialist in crime prevention, Chris Eckert explains how to prepare to better counter the threat of ransomics.
For Chris Eckert, an expert in economic crime: “Support for hacked SMEs varies a lot from one region to another.”
- Support for hacked businesses varies according to the region of Switzerland. It depends on the financial and specialized means allocated by the cantons.
- Police focus on the survey rather than the resumption of activities of paralyzed companies.
- An emergency plan and the constitution of a crisis unit are essential to protect yourself from cyber attacks.
- Psychological support for leaders is important in moments of crisis.
In the field of corporate security and crime prevention, Chris Eckert is a voice that counts. Independent consultant since 2009, he created and directs the company Swiss Business Protectionin Zug. Previously, he was chief investigator at the Cantonal Police in Zurich, then responsible for the unit against organized crime in Fedpol. He also teaches in several high schools specialized in Switzerland and Germany.
The leaders of SMEs who testify after the attack at the Akira ransomiciet of which they were victims are surprised by the lack of support from the police in their region. Does this surprise you?
It is a fundamental problem. In general, there are large differences in Switzerland. Support varies considerably depending on the size of the canton, allocated financial means, specialized resources and the public prosecutor. This is probably the reason why many companies do not immediately file a complaint. When a company is affected and it calls the police, it happens that they are disappointed not to obtain the desired help. But it should be remembered that the mission of the police is not the backing up as soon as possible of a company. Its primary role is to investigate and, if the means exist, to offer some advice for negotiations.
Does this mean that companies are helpless?
No, they can find help with private specialists. But the best is that they act preventively. Each company should develop an emergency plan, train certain procedures, or even constitute a small crisis unit where everyone’s roles are defined, in order to be prepared for such attacks. If they cannot do it internally, it is worth using a specialized company. This accompanies the preparation, then offers, for example, a subscription to benefit from supporting twenty-four hours a week and seven days a week. It is important to react fair and quickly, because such attacks, between ransom, reputation damage and the production stops sometimes for several days or weeks, can lead to the worst of bankruptcy scenarios.
The leaders describe a very violent assault. They also talk about a need for psychological support. Does a company like yours offer this kind of service?
Yes of course! When you are alone too long in these situations, psychological pressure, even distress, is extreme. We no longer know what to do! The bosses, especially SMEs, have often invested all their personal money in their society and they then see only the precipice. It is essential that they do not stay alone. In these moments, we are like mountain guides. When a person wants to climb the Matterhorn and he does not know the mountain, he must be accompanied by experienced specialists.
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