How the Russian invasion of Ukraine impacts the cybersecurity of St. Louis businesses

This month the world began to see and feel the impact of war in Ukraine. We see the violence and are impacted emotionally. We see gas prices and feel the economic impact. We are exposed to disinformation and feel suspicion where trust is needed. But when it comes to the cyberwar, we don’t feel the impact because we can’t see it – until it’s too late.

Before the invasion, we were already in a cybersecurity crisis. But a Russian war may present the most serious cyber risk businesses have faced. Early in the conflict, CISA, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned of Russian cyberattacks affecting American networks. That came after a year of CISA warnings about risks to our  critical infrastructure, like the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline last summer.

Attacks on critical infrastructure are how most people envision a cyberwar. But the truth is that most cyberattacks are executed discreetly without the awareness of the target. Cybercrime remains out of sight and out of mind for many business and community leaders. This is precisely what cybercriminals want. Unaware and unconcerned is how they like you.