An increasing number of security incidents

In recent years, it has been a hot topic: cyberattacks, hacks, and ransoms being asked from companies. From time to time, the damage can exceed millions of euros. A week ago, Danish supermarket concern 7 Eleven had to close down 169 stores due to a ransomware attack. CEO Jesper Ostergaard told the DR (Danish Broadcasting Corporation) that the cyberattack resulted in the cashier system not functioning, obstructing customers from paying. Luckily, with the usage of back-ups, the company was able to reinstall the systems on its own.

Not only globally cybersecurity has been a hot topic lately, but also in the Netherlands. For example, Dutch Dentist chain ‘Colosseum’ paid 2 million euros last year to retrieve their clients’ data that had been taken hostage.

Regulations around cyber security

The damage of cyber attacks in 2021 has totalled up to 7 billion euros in Europe alone, according to a report brought out by the FBI last March. This is leading to a drastic change in the EU law concerning the guarantee of safekeeping of data. With the introduction of new European cyber security guidelines, called NIS2, the European Union wants to force companies to put their cyber security in order. The goal: to prevent cyber attacks from disrupting all or parts of society in the future. 

To be able to comply with the NIS2, the National Cybersecurity Advisory board (CSR) recommends a total investment of €833 million up until 2024. 

The overlooked cyber security measure

Even though there is a very high focus on the cybersecurity side, more focus could be put on the hardware aspect of the storage of data. In order to make sure that hacking and cyber attacks can be prevented, the physical security of the hardware and data storage locations should be tightened. Using biometrics to fully secure an environment is a much safer possibility. In this way, only people registered to the system can enter the secured spaces. With facial recognition, using someone else’s cards, keys, tags, or codes poses less of a threat, since they cannot be used anymore.  

A very good solution to this overlooked measure

Also, multi-factor authentication is recommended to be used together with higher security protocols for log-ins. Logical access management plays a large role in making sure login details can’t be misused, as only the person linked to those details can enter the online environment. Therefore, people can only enter their personal environment. This makes sure that hacking cannot be done with password cracking, theft of hardware like phones or laptops, and illegally selling sensitive (login) data. 

20face

20face’s facial recognition software offers a perfect-fit solution for the safe-keeping of physical- and digital locations. The (Dutch) cloud-based facial recognition technology is fully privacy proof and compliant with Dutch GDPR law. This is in order to keep the data of its users safe whilst permitting the users complete control over their data. Do you want to do something about the achilles heel in your cyber security program? Schedule a meeting with one of our experts to see how your physical security in relation to cyber security could be improved.