Is the problem really “between the chair and the keyboard”? This overused phrase, while catchy, is actually quite insulting. After all, we all spend so much time between the chair and the keyboard that anyone can make a mistake at some point.

That said, some users seem to challenge all logic and understanding.

Let me introduce you to the repeat clickers.

What is a Repeat Clicker?

A repeat clicker—also called a “top clicker” or “serial clicker”—is a user whose behavior defies logic. This is the person who loves receiving messages. The one who feels an absolute duty to open and interact with every email, SMS, or QR code they encounter.

Repeat clickers know they shouldn’t click. But they click anyway.*

Is Being a Repeat Clicker a Problem?

Being curious, energetic, and polite isn’t inherently bad—it’s even admirable in some areas of life. But when faced with a pile of emails, SMS, or QR codes, it becomes risky. Repeat clickers are the yes-men and women of the digital world.

Fearless, they click.

Can You Be Diagnosed as a Repeat Clicker?

Email security solutions can identify repeat clickers. Using algorithms similar to those employed in online retail to detect compulsive buyers, these tools can pinpoint users who fall into phishing traps with nearly 100% accuracy.

Repeat clickers are easy to spot. They know it too, but… they still click.

Can You Overcome Repeat Clicking Addiction?

Until recently, there was no known solution to help repeat clickers. From electrifying the “Enter” key to blaring alarms, summoning the CISO for a scolding, or even placing users under the supervision of AI—nothing worked.

That was until Cyber Investigation created a personalized training path that helps users visualize the consequences of each and every click.

Want to learn more? Don’t click, just contact us.

The post Solutions for Repeat Clickers as Seen by Erium’s President appeared first on Erium.

It’s not uncommon to find a client’s site using a vulnerable WordPress installation, which could serve as an entry point and compromise an entire application environment.

The purpose of this article is to reshare some cybersecurity rules applicable to WordPress for a more secure web environment and to highlight a few tools for maintaining it.

Choosing the WordPress Theme

There are websites that offer cracked themes for WordPress. A cracked theme is most often a pirated version of a premium theme.

Apart from being illegal, these themes are also dangerous for your site. They often contain hidden malicious code that can destroy your website and database, or record your administrator credentials and those of your users with the intent of exfiltrating them.

By purchasing an official premium theme, you may spend a few euros on a secure platform, but you avoid taking risks. This also ensures access to responsive support and updates for the selected theme.

The most well-known and secure platform to date is ThemeForest.

WordPress Administration: A Secure Connection to the Backoffice

The well-known URL for accessing the WordPress backoffice is /wp-admin, and it’s likely the first test that a malicious person will attempt. The good news is that this access path can be easily modified, making it a routine operation to perform.

Using strong passwords, combined with two-factor authentication, provides advanced security for backoffice connections. Additionally, monitoring the IP addresses of users who connect enables the blocking of malicious IPs as needed.

Avoid using simple passwords like “12345” or “password”. If the password is easy to remember, it poses a risk.

As a reminder, a good practice is to use a long password, randomly generated, containing special characters, uppercase and lowercase letters, and numbers. This password should be unique and can be stored in a password manager like Keepass.

Finally, by default, WordPress allows users to make as many password attempts as they wish. This capability exposes a site to brute force attacks. Limiting the number of login attempts reduces the risk of brute force attacks, as the attacker is blocked before they can complete their attack. Simple but effective!

In summary:

• Change the WordPress backoffice URL: Use WPS Hide Login.
• Choose strong passwords.
• Enable two-factor authentication, at least for users with high privileges (WordPress updates, content publishing, etc.).
• Limit the number of login attempts: Implement “Log-in attempts” feature.

Security Plugin: An Essential Tool for Website Monitoring

A comprehensive surveillance and monitoring tool, it enables staying informed about risks and necessary actions to maintain website security.

In summary, a security plugin manages WordPress security, searches for malware, and monitors around the clock, 24/7, to regularly oversee activities on the site.

Wordfence is one of the most reliable and recognized plugins in the current market.

Keeping WordPress Updated

Updating the WordPress ecosystem is an essential practice for ensuring website security. With each update, developers introduce changes, often including security enhancements.

Updating a WordPress ecosystem involves updating:

• The CMS itself
• The plugins you have installed
• The theme you are using

Be aware, a plugin or theme that is not regularly updated poses security risks to the entire environment.

Keep them updated or consider changing them rather than taking risks.

Backups

It’s important to remember to perform backups on an external environment regularly. Ideally, it’s advised to keep multiple versions of these backups. In the event of a hacking incident, regular backups could help recover at least a portion of the lost data and restore a clean version of the site.

Secure Browsing with HTTPS

Consider deploying a certificate signed by a recognized authority to ensure an HTTPS connection that aligns with best practices. If you’re unable to obtain a certificate signed by an internal authority within your organization, you can purchase one from third-party providers online or acquire one for free from the Let’s Encrypt authority.

Testing WorpPress Security

The WPScan tool can be used to conduct an initial rapid diagnostic:

• Known vulnerabilities based on the versions of WordPress, plugins, or themes used
• Accounts and weak passwords
• Overly explicit error messages

The Global Ecosystem

It’s also important to consider the security of the foundation upon which your CMS is built. A compromise in this foundation can jeopardize the security of your site. This security includes configuring the various software layers and regularly deploying updates or new versions of each component to address security vulnerabilities.

This aspect particularly depends on how your CMS is deployed (managed by a hosting service or installed on a server). However, it is crucial to ensure the security of:

• The operating system
• PHP
• The database

The post WordPress: Reminder of Best Practices appeared first on Erium.

How Ransomware Operates

Regardless of the nature of the attack, the scenario is always akin to a game of battleship. With one notable difference: here, a financial way out is offered:

To avoid sinking, many companies have paid the ransom. So much so that the issue has become a national concern, and representatives from the Judiciary, the Ministry of the Interior, and the French National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI) sounded the alarm to the Senators in April 2021.

Following in the footsteps of the decision made by the U.S. Treasury in October 2020, the message from French authorities is clear: Do not pay the ransom. It is forbidden and illegal to pay.

From a purely economic standpoint, paying the ransom is nevertheless tempting. The amount is significantly lower than the sum of the loss of business and the cost of reconstruction. Not to mention the reputational impact, potential penalties, and so on. Additionally, the necessary investments in operational security, which become apparent post-crisis, add to the cost.

Thus, payment is a tempting option: it’s simple, faster, and “less” expensive than reconstruction.

Why Not Pay?

Why Prohibit? Let’s set aside ethical considerations and look at things from a strategic and global perspective.

There are two major reasons for this prohibition:

• The more companies pay, the more they will be targeted

Attackers are in a business mindset; they consider their operations as work. This is often how they present their invoice: “Hello, the cost of work to decode your data will be xx €.”

To do their work they spend time and money: identifying their target, searching for vulnerabilities, exploiting flaws, penetrating the system, understanding the organization’s operations, etc.

Their goal behind the ransomware is profitability.

If the ransomware is not effective, the attacker faces a financial loss. At a certain level, the sum of the losses incurred becomes a deterrent and the interest in carrying out this type of operation is null. Conversely, if ransoms are paid, the phenomenon intensifies and accelerates.

• Paying significantly increases the overall threat level

It is important to understand the economic model of cyber attacks. Let’s take the case of ransomware and summarize it with a diagram:

• You do not solve the problem. It does not protect against a new attack. The method used to attack is resold to other criminal groups who will take a keen interest in you.
• You increase the global cyber risk. You contribute to a malicious ecosystem that will use these funds to strengthen its techniques, tools, and attack surface.
• Speculation on cryptocurrency markets intensifies. The transactions create spikes that increase the volatility and instability of cryptocurrencies.
• You are funding criminality. These funds circulate within criminal environments and can be used for the development of all types of activities.

The post Ransomware: To Pay or Not to Pay? appeared first on Erium.

The CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of the global cyber insurance market is expected to be 35.92% from 2022 to 2027. Quite impressive!

Negotiating a cyber insurance policy has become complex

The uncertainty does not benefit either the insured or the insurer.

• The insured faces a surge in insurance premiums. This surge increases the risk of having to deal with litigation in the event of a claim. There is no worse situation for a business leader than delaying the coverage of a loss that occurred today and has immediate financial consequences. Business interruption, penalties, and the need to rebuild production capabilities: the consequences of a cyberattack are abrupt and require immediate resources.

• For the insurer, the situation is not ideal either. There remains a significant level of uncertainty regarding the actual effectiveness of the insured’s cybersecurity and resilience measures. This is particularly true for medium-sized companies. The cost of verifying the effectiveness of cyber insurance capabilities quickly becomes prohibitive compared to the expected insurance premiums.

The increasing adversarial nature of the cyber environment, with random or highly targeted attacks, does not help clarify the situation. Traditional means of assessing protection measures do not provide insurers with a comprehensive view:

• Declarative control solutions inherently rely on self-reporting, making it impossible to verify the effectiveness of the stated measures.

• Functional or technical audit solutions (pentests, code audits, bug bounty programs, etc.) only target specific areas and come with high implementation costs.

• Vulnerability scanners provide a limited view of security and the effectiveness of SecOps capabilities.

Next-generation attack simulation solutions can significantly change the landscape

With cyber defense capability scoring, such as BlackNoise, it is possible:

• To continuously assess the ability to detect and respond to attacks as early as possible.
  
• To confirm that all technical solutions in use are effective and properly implemented and configured.
  
• To ensure the absence of regressions or blind spots over time.

This does not involve decommissioning the usual solutions for auditing and compliance control of security policies. Nor does it mean turning away from risk management models and ISMS (Information Security Management Systems). However, for a healthier cyber insurance market for all stakeholders, it seems essential to transition to continuous scoring of the effectiveness of cyber defenses.

The post Score, cyber insure, breathe! appeared first on Erium.

Introduction

In the age of the digital revolution, cybersecurity has become a central concern for organizations of all sizes, both in the public and private sectors. In fact, it’s the top risk for businesses in 2023 according to the Allianz Risk Barometer.

The risks and threats associated with cyberattacks, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated, can lead to significant damages, whether they are financial, legal, or related to reputation. Although the technological aspect is sometimes involved in the success of cyberattacks, in 90% of cases, the security breach primarily results from human error, a phenomenon known as “brain hacking.”

For this reason, cybersecurity awareness, targeting employees for a genuine understanding of best cybersecurity practices, has become essential in protecting organizations from online threats.

Why is Cybersecurity Awareness Training Important?

Many companies underestimate the importance of basic cybersecurity knowledge. The significant consequences and financial impacts make it essential to raise employee awareness about cybersecurity. Erium offers an effective, engaging, and online Serious Game to prevent common errors that can be costly to your business. We explain it below.

The Consequences of Computer Security Breaches

A successful cyberattack can have disastrous repercussions for an organization. Among these consequences is the leakage of confidential data concerning customers or partners. These losses can lead to legal disputes, financial losses, and a deterioration of the company’s image (loss of trust, a decline in reputation).

Ransomware attacks, which use malicious software to encrypt access to computer systems in exchange for a ransom payment, disrupt daily operations and result in business downtime, revenue losses, and decreased productivity.

But cyberattacks are not limited to data breaches and ransomware; they come in various forms, and cyber attackers continually strive to harm organizations and make a profit. Among the most common attacks are identity theft to gain access to confidential data and to exploit employees’ trust for fraudulent activities. These attacks also cause financial and reputational damage to companies.

The Financial Impacts of Cyber Attacks

Cyberattacks have significant financial costs for businesses, including both direct costs (such as productivity loss or downtime) and indirect costs (remediation, recovery, reputation damage, and the implementation of new security measures). In US, in 2021, the global cost of cyberattacks was estimated at 6 trillion USD, with more than 50% of companies facing attempted cyberattacks.

Is providing training sufficient for raising employee awareness?

Considering all of this data, it is clear that cybersecurity awareness is essential for protecting organizations against cyber risks.

In the age of the digital revolution and evolving norms, traditional awareness efforts may seem outdated. Moreover, capturing and sustaining employees’ attention and good cybersecurity practices over time is a challenging endeavor. Conventional training, which tends to be overly theoretical, is often perceived as boring, with limited impact on employees’ behavior, as demonstrated in the white paper “Cybersecurity Awareness: Dream or Reality?” produced by Erium in collaboration with the Forum des Compétences.

Interactive, Engaging, and Effective Awareness Training

Shifting from the theoretical approach of traditional awareness training to an interactive and immersive one can make a significant difference. A platform like Cyber Investigation enables employees to change their perspective by stepping into the shoes of a hacker, thus helping them internalize best practices differently. A playful and interactive approach engages participants more effectively, allowing them to learn while having fun.

What should a cybersecurity awareness program include?

In light of the limitations of awareness, even if it is effective, a program to go beyond is essential.

The Cyber Investigation platform offers realistic scenarios simulating real-life situations (phishing, CEO fraud, social engineering). Employees face challenges with investigations to solve, putting them in the shoes of a hacker.

These challenges are complemented by videos, reflex sheets, and quizzes, allowing IT security managers to assess the organization’s level of maturity in cybersecurity practices and subsequently steer security measures to be implemented.

By targeting scenarios based on risks, employees learn to recognize the signs of a cyberattack attempt and take measures to protect themselves. Best practices such as using a secure password manager, reporting suspicious content to a cyber correspondent, following security procedures, and using two-factor authentication are then integrated.

It’s simple: raising cybersecurity awareness is essential, but the real goal is to take action and engage in these cybersecurity reflexes!

How to engage employees in developing sustainable cybersecurity habits?

To derive concrete benefits from cybersecurity awareness and transition from awareness to cyber acculturation, it is crucial to capture and maintain the organization’s employees’ attention.

To maximize employee retention, the learning pyramid teaches us that reading a theoretical course allows for the retention of up to 5% of information, while practical training can help retain nearly 75%.

This observation drives the creation of an immersive game rather than a simple theoretical training delivered by a cybersecurity consultant.

To engage employees in their cybersecurity awareness, Erium, in its collaboration with the Forum des Compétences, has also highlighted key points for achieving content with optimal engagement. The content should be:

• Humorous and playful
• Short
• Concrete
• Useful, both professionally and personally
• Realistic, with practical scenarios
• Multimedia
• Recurrent

Steps to Start Training Your Employees

For a successful cyber acculturation and awareness, it is important to follow some key steps.

First, the organization needs to assess its cybersecurity needs and identify its risks. The Cyber Investigation platform allows managers to target user journeys based on the risks they are most likely to be exposed to.

Next, the organization should define personas (internal and external) and differentiate them based on their exposure, behaviors, and common cybersecurity concerns.

Thirdly, the company should set objectives with actions tailored to the user’s maturity level (e.g., raising awareness of cyber risks by targeting them specifically and reinforcing associated reflexes).

Finally, the organization should plan the implementation of training. Mandatory training yields better results than optional training, and it should be monitored according to the results obtained.

Monitoring progress, measuring the cybersecurity maturity level of employees, listening to feedback, and guiding new cyber awareness initiatives are steps to be taken for genuine cyber acculturation within organizations.

Cyber Investigation – The Serious Game for Cybersecurity Awareness and a Path to Genuine Training

As the first cyber acculturation platform, Cyber Investigation is an interactive and immersive platform designed to raise employee awareness about cybersecurity best practices.

Its gamified approach allows for four times more cyber retention compared to traditional training because employees take action and practice their cybersecurity reflexes on the internet, putting themselves in the shoes of a hacker (for example, they must retrieve usernames and passwords using information available online).

Available in 8 languages, Cyber Investigation is suitable for all levels of cybersecurity maturity, and its program can be tailored to various cybersecurity objectives and risks, with customization options for businesses.

It measures 8 major risks (phishing, access compromise, CEO fraud, data leakage, ransomware, etc.), and KPIs help enhance long-term cybersecurity maturity.

The combined benefits of this cybersecurity awareness and acculturation platform are manifold:

• A platform that fosters collective energy, promoting positive competition and team rankings.
• A platform that enhances the retention of cybersecurity reflexes through immersion and practical learning.
• Security awareness tailored to different profiles and their roles within the organization.
• Precise measurement of maturity level and the persistence of cybersecurity reflexes over time (after 1 month, 6 months, 2 years) through defined KPIs.
• A customizable experience with 100% customizable communication kits.

Examples of best practices that are adhered to after awareness training

Employee education and training on security best practices

Following an extended cybersecurity awareness campaign supplemented by a comprehensive training program, employees should have grasped and appreciated the importance of understanding and maintaining good cyber habits over time.

They should be sensitized to social engineering techniques like phishing or CEO fraud to detect cyberattack attempts. Moreover, they should have internalized security procedures to follow in the event of a cyber attack attempt (react, inform their cyber contact, avoid clicking).

Lastly, they should be trained in daily cybersecurity practices that strengthen online security, including using a password manager, enabling two-factor authentication, connecting to secure internet networks, and separating professional and personal storage spaces, among other things.

Establishing a cybersecurity culture within organizations

Transitioning from cybersecurity awareness to cyber acculturation involves creating a strong cyber culture capable of preventing incidents and proactively responding to emerging threats.

Florent Skrabacz – President of the Erium Group

Creating a cyber culture extends beyond implementing cybersecurity awareness training. It also involves promoting a reporting culture, where security incidents and suspicious behaviors can be reported without fear of repercussions, facilitating a swift response. Additionally, it means establishing regular internal communication about the implemented security policies and their updates, engaging the leadership in promoting cybersecurity as a strategic priority, and creating high-impact events, such as during Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Useful Questions and Answers

What is the price of a combined cybersecurity awareness and training program?

For a cyber acculturation training with the Cyber Investigation platform, various subscription packages are available, ranging from 60 to 20 euros per user per year.

How long does a cybersecurity awareness training last?

Subscriptions are designed to last for one year, but there is no specific time limit in cybersecurity awareness. The crucial point is that with each new individual engaged, continuous training is established to counter new emerging threats and evolving modes of attack.

What are the benefits of cybersecurity awareness for teams?

The benefits of cybersecurity training are numerous for an organization’s teams.

• With a better understanding of cybersecurity threats and risks, teams enhance their ability to protect sensitive information and data, both professionally and personally
• Moreover, each team member feels involved in the company’s cyber culture and contributes to its security, thereby increasing their overall engagement in the organization
• Cyber Investigation, which promotes positive inter-team competition, strengthens bonds and fosters a greater appetite for challenges within the company
• Finally, cyber acculturation builds trust among clients and partners towards the teams, demonstrating their commitment to safeguarding the company and its data

Who organizes and monitors the training?

The training is led directly by the CISOs (Chief Information Security Officers) from the platform, where they have access to team progress based on risks and can oversee teams according to results. They can also implement new cybersecurity measures from this platform.

The post Cybersecurity Awareness Program: Enhancing Protection Through an Acculturation Strategy appeared first on Erium.

Almost all relational and transactional activities of organizations are conducted on the Internet, and this presence entails a risk. This risk is considered the primary threat in the age of the digital revolution: cyberattacks. Indeed, for nearly a decade, the number of cyberattacks has been on the rise. Cyber attackers continually devise new methods to profit from their attacks. This threat continues to grow, with no fewer than 385,000 successful cyberattacks reported against organizations, both public and private, in France in 2022.

Businesses and organizations are constantly facing the challenge of protecting their data from cyber threats such as data breaches and ransomware attacks. Any such incident can cause significant harm to them. In such cases, organizations have to deal with dual risks – legal consequences due to sensitive data breaches and financial losses resulting from business disruptions. To mitigate such risks, businesses can opt for cyber insurance. This type of insurance provides coverage for both the financial and legal repercussions of cyberattacks. For companies, obtaining cyber insurance to receive compensation for losses resulting from cybercrime has become a necessary and prudent measure to ensure their online presence securely.

Why choose cybersecurity insurance ?

Benefits and cost associated with cyber incidents

Many businesses obtain cyber insurance to cover the expenses resulting from cyber-attacks. Astères estimates that the total cost of successful cyber-attacks in France in 2022 was 2 billion euros. The costs related to data breaches fall under direct costs such as lost productivity, ransom payments, and lost work hours. According to a study by the Ponemon Institute, businesses in France are estimated to face a cost of 4.34 million dollars for a data breach in 2022. The study also reveals that 83% of the 550 companies surveyed reported experiencing data theft. Organizations must consider subscribing to cyber insurance to ensure their sustainability in the event of a cyberattack. Cyber insurance can help reduce the financial losses and liability caused by a data breach. However, due to the increasing number of cyberattacks, the amount of compensation paid out has tripled within a year. As a result, insurance premiums are higher, and obtaining cyber insurance requires fulfilling certain prerequisites

The prerequisites for subscribing to cyber insurance

With the increasing insurance premiums, the prerequisites for subscribing to cyber insurance are becoming more numerous and evolving over time. Insurers now require organizations to have effective cybersecurity policies with defined risk management procedures and optimized protection systems.

A clear cybersecurity policy

So, it is essential to have all these prerequisites and stay informed about their evolution through insurance brokers. Before subscribing to a cyber insurance policy, it is important to have a solid cybersecurity policy in place. This policy must be effectively communicated to all stakeholders, including suppliers, partners, and IT service providers. Additionally, employee awareness and training programs should be implemented to ensure that everyone in the organization is aware of the policy and best practices for maintaining cybersecurity.

Protection tools

Next, it is mandatory to have, at a minimum, deployed endpoint protection tools such as EDR, antivirus, antimalware, and a firewall to detect and prevent potential threats.

An email filtering solution must also be in place to reduce the risk of phishing and email-based attacks. Two-factor authentication must be enabled, especially for admin accounts and remote access, adding an additional layer of protection for sensitive accounts. GDPR compliance is necessary to protect the sensitive data of your partners and clients, which should be stored securely.

For larger accounts, cyber insurers will require a managed EDR or XDR within a SOC (Security Operations Center), essential for quickly detecting, analyzing, and responding to security incidents when applying for cyber insurance.

Regular assessments

Regular evaluation audits to measure cybersecurity maturity and identify vulnerabilities to be addressed will also be among the prerequisites needed to subscribe to cyber insurance.

It is also crucial to be prepared for a cyber crisis by having emergency response and incident response plans in place, which can be done through crisis management exercises.

It is important to optimize security protocols related to IoT to prevent potential compromises.

Finally, by using a cyber rating solution, the company can obtain a diagnosis of its cybersecurity status and identify areas for improvement before subscribing to cyber insurance. This approach is primarily declarative and can be enhanced by attack simulation scenarios that demonstrate the actual effectiveness of the measures in place. By strengthening the cyber scoring, these approaches provide evidence of cybersecurity effectiveness to the insurer, paving the way for negotiations.

Implementing these prerequisites enhances the company’s cybersecurity posture, reduces the risk of costly incidents, and protects against successful cyber-attacks with insurance.

What attacks and compensations does cyber insurance cover ?

Understand your insurance policy and negotiate to match your cybersecurity needs. Cyber insurance can cover expenses like:

• Data breach: Cyber insurance can cover the costs associated with the recovery, restoration, or replacement of stolen data. If sensitive data has been compromised, the insurance may cover the expenses related to potential lawsuits and regulatory obligations.
• Business interruption: Cyber insurance compensates for financial losses due to business interruptions caused by cyberattacks.Recovery and restoration expenses: Cyber insurance covers costs related to restoring information systems.
• Fund losses: Whether it’s losses of funds transferred due to events like fraud, social engineering, or extortion, cyber insurance may cover a portion of these losses and provide compensation to victimized organizations.

Of course, this list is not exhaustive, and it is essential to check with your insurer for any coverage exclusions.

What are the prices of cyber insurance ?

There are no general rules regarding the price of a cyber insurance policy, as it depends on several factors such as the type of business, size, cybersecurity history, industry sector, annual revenue, and geographical location.

An insurance premium can start at a few thousand euros per year for a small business with low cyber risks and can increase significantly for an organization with strong cybersecurity needs.

For example, sectors like healthcare or finance are more susceptible to cyberattacks, which can significantly impact the cost coverage provided by cyber insurance.

To obtain an accurate estimate of the price of cyber insurance tailored to your organization, it is necessary to contact an insurance company to obtain a personalized quote.

The uncovered elements by cyber insurance ?

While each insurance policy is unique, and clauses vary from one organization to another, there are certain elements that are generally not covered by cyber insurance. Among these, we find:

• Malicious acts committed by internal parties, such as employees or subcontractors.
• Security failures (flaws or vulnerabilities) known to the company but not addressed, thereby resulting in the exclusion of coverage for resulting incidents.
• Non-compliance with established security policies.
• Expenses resulting from acts of war, terrorism, or conflicts of a geopolitical nature are sometimes excluded from insurance policy indemnification clauses.
• Attacks attributed to or supported by governments or intelligence services.
• Loss of intellectual property, which is often excluded based on the circumstances.
• Physical damages (fire, flood, etc.) are excluded from cyber insurance and covered by other types of insurance.
• Failure to meet the notification deadlines to the cyber insurance company.

When subscribing to a cyber insurance policy, it is essential to be aware of the terms, conditions, and potential exclusions in the policy to ensure that the coverage aligns with the organization’s needs and to avoid unpleasant surprises in the event of a successful attack.

How to choose the cyber insurance ?

To choose the best cyber insurance, which is most suitable for the organization’s cybersecurity needs, several factors need to be considered.

Understanding your context

A thorough assessment of your context (industry, size, revenue) and the cyber risks to which the organization is most exposed is essential. This will help evaluate the company’s maturity level and determine the threats it is most likely to face to ensure their coverage by cyber insurance.

Real-conditions Cyber Assessment, implemented by Erium, evaluates a company’s cyber effectiveness with a score ranging from 0 to 100. It considers the cyber maturity of the organization’s employees (assessed using the Cyber Investigation cyber awareness platform), defense and response capabilities against cyberattacks (evaluated with the Breach and Attack Simulation tool BlackNoise), and crisis management and cyber resilience capabilities (evaluated with Cyber XP, real-world crisis exercises).

Real-conditions measurement tools provide a genuine overview of the organization’s cyber risk coverage. This allows for the establishment of appropriate cybersecurity policies and the negotiation and selection of the most suitable cyber insurance.

The extent of coverage

It is essential to choose a cyber insurance provider with experience and a strong reputation in the field of cybersecurity, capable of understanding the cybersecurity challenges and threats that organizations face. While price is an important factor, it should not be prioritized at the expense of the quality or extent of insurance coverage.

The extent of coverage provided by cyber insurance, as well as any exclusions, is the primary criterion to consider when subscribing to an insurance policy. It is crucial to ensure that all the risks the company is exposed to are covered by the insurance. The terms and conditions, which must be understood before committing to an insurance contract, are also important in order to comprehend the mutual commitments of both parties.

By taking these various factors into account, it will be easier to choose a cyber insurance policy that will protect the company in the event of a successful cyber-attack.

How to subscribe to cyber insurance policy ?

Once the assessment of cyber risks and the company’s cyber coverage needs have been established, the process of obtaining cyber insurance involves several steps.

First, it is necessary to conduct an insurance assessment that clarifies the coverage needs and cyber vulnerabilities to be addressed.

In addition, you will need to choose a competent insurance broker with expertise in cyber risks, who will assist the organization throughout the process. The broker guides the company in identifying the cyber insurance that best suits its needs, taking into account its size, sector, and various activities.

Working in conjunction with the broker, the scope of coverage and the coverage limit are defined and communicated to the chosen insurer. The insurer then conducts a risk analysis that assesses the cyber maturity of its client. Based on this analysis, the cyber insurance provider offers a premium amount that reflects the company’s level of readiness to face cyber threats.

Finally, the negotiation phase begins with the aim of reaching an agreement on the extent of coverage, the coverage limit, and the insurance premium amount. Once all parties are satisfied, the cyber insurance policy contract can be signed, providing the organization with strong and targeted protection against the cyber risks it faces.

Best practices to enhance cyber insurance

Cybersecurity awareness for employees

To enhance cyber insurance coverage, strong cybersecurity best practices should be adopted. Awareness, or rather acculturation, to cybersecurity for the organization’s employees forms the foundation of this approach. This awareness is achieved through a clearly communicated internal cyber policy that establishes rules and responsibilities for everyone.

Regular cybersecurity training for all employees against cyber risks and threats ensures that each person understands the cybersecurity issues and knows how to identify and respond to potential cyber threats. It is also crucial to assess the cyber maturity of these employees in order to take appropriate protection measures based on the results.

A platform like Cyber Investigation is ideal for training employees interactively and in an engaging manner. This immersive tool allows individuals to put themselves in the shoes of a hacker, promoting an understanding of the mechanisms of a cyber-attack. Enriched with supplementary content (quick reference guides, quizzes, videos), it educates employees about proper cyber practices. The platform also provides CISOs with the ability to measure their employees’ performance, allowing them to subsequently implement measures based on the specific risks to which they are exposed.

Software and system updates

In addition, keeping software and systems up to date is an essential practice to strengthen defense capabilities against a cyber-attack. Whether it’s software, websites, antivirus, or firewalls, updates help to fix vulnerabilities and security flaws.

Any sign of suspicious activity should be reported, allowing for a quick and effective response in the event of a potential incident. When a security flaw is detected, necessary measures must be applied to correct and minimize risks.

As an example, a Breach and Attack Simulator (BAS) like BlackNoise allows for real-time attack simulations to assess the company’s ability to detect and respond to cyberattacks. This innovative and proactive approach helps identify vulnerabilities and correct them, thereby facilitating continuous improvement in security measures.

In conclusion, adopting a cyber acculturation policy, keeping systems up to date, and being prepared to respond in times of crisis are the key elements to optimally complement your cyber insurance coverage.

Cyber insurance in the Age of AI

Erium couldn’t conclude this article without addressing the role of AI, which now holds a central position in the technology sector.

The emergence of artificial intelligence in recent years has brought about a significant and global transformation in various industries, including that of cyber insurance. This innovative and revolutionary technology can automate tasks, analyze massive volumes of data, and make decisions based on these analyses.

Benefits of Artificial Intelligence

In the field of cyber insurance, AI is transforming the underwriting process by automating its operations. With its data analysis capabilities, AI can provide insurance companies with information about the cyber risks to which businesses and institutions are most exposed. As a result, the automated process becomes more efficient and effective. Furthermore, AI enhances the claims processing and settlement by automating the collection of claims-related data, promoting efficiency and accuracy in claims settlements.

For insurers, AI also offers the advantage of being able to detect fraud and fraud attempts, thereby strengthening the security and integrity of the cyber insurance sector.

Limitations and challenges

However, despite its advantages, AI has limitations and poses challenges for the cyber insurance sector. Cyber risks are complex and constantly evolving, so AI may struggle to assess the risks associated with cyber insurance coverage accurately. Similarly, AI may have difficulty predicting the impact of new technologies and regulatory developments related to cyber threats, leading to inaccuracies in its assessments.

Furthermore, AI can perpetuate biases based on the data it was trained on, which can result in unequal or unfair treatment among clients.

Lastly, the role of AI may diminish that of human underwriters and claims adjusters, leading to a loss of expertise, personalized experience, and reduced levels of service.

AI has a significant impact on the cyber insurance sector. It offers the potential for improving underwriting and claims settlement processes, as well as a new way to protect against fraud for cyber insurance companies.

However, it faces limitations with the perpetuation of biases since it relies on the operational knowledge of its user and the data provided at a specific point in time, and with the diminishing role of humans. It is essential to keep in mind that AI is a tool and not a substitute for human underwriters and claims adjusters.

More than ever, it is important to adopt a critical approach to the information provided by artificial intelligence and to use it responsibly, in conjunction with human skills and judgment.

To conclude

The cyber insurance market is rapidly evolving. To make the most of it, it is essential to :

• Work with an efficient and specialized broker.
• Implement a cybersecurity policy to reduce cyber insurance premiums.
• Avoid any disputes in the event of a cyber claim by establishing control over the effectiveness of this cybersecurity policy.
• Demonstrate the policy’s effectiveness in real-world conditions to support any legal claims if disputes arise.

The post Cyber Insurance: the comprehensive guide to protecting your organization appeared first on Erium.

A cyber crisis has become an unavoidable reality for all organizations with a digital presence. It is defined as a critical situation resulting from a successful cyberattack. These attacks aim to compromise the security of data, infrastructure, and computer systems and most often manifest through major incidents such as ransomware attacks, data breaches, and fraud, posing a threat to the continuity of businesses and institutions.

In the face of these threats, and organizations must be responsive and prepared. Swift detection and response to a cyberattack can help mitigate damage and operational disruptions, as well as maintain the trust of customers and partners.

Anticipating the cyber risks to which the organization is exposed, establishing robust crisis management strategies, and training teams ready to respond are among the key elements that enable organizations to navigate a cyber crisis and emerge from it with enhanced resilience and digital security.

The importance of cyber crisis management

Identify the primary threats

Carried out by various malicious actors, cyberattacks and their motivations vary. Among the most common objectives are financial gain, industrial espionage, the pursuit of intelligence and sensitive information, or even the desire to disrupt computer systems for ideological or political reasons, which is referred to as hacktivism.

Identifying the primary threats and understanding their motivations enables cyber crisis management to target the prevention and preparedness measures to be implemented according to various threat scenarios.

The various types of cyberattacks and cyber crises

Cyberattacks come in various forms, constantly evolving as attackers reinvent themselves to find new modi operandi. Each attack is different and exploits different vulnerabilities to gain access to organizations’ computer systems and infrastructure.

However, among the most common attacks are phishing attacks (which deceive internet users to obtain information), malware attacks that encrypt data and demand payment (viruses, ransomware), and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks (which flood servers with traffic to make them inaccessible).
Understanding attackers’ tactics and the types of attacks a company faces during a cyber crisis allows for the preparation of appropriate response and recovery strategies, thereby minimizing the impact of the attack.

Who is involved in a cyber crisis ?

Far beyond the technical actors, a cyber crisis involves a wide range of stakeholders, from the attacker to internal members of the organization.

To prepare for the management of a cyber crisis, it is essential to understand the various actors involved and their roles in crisis management. Indeed, employees who are not trained in cyber culture could inadvertently play into the hands of hackers and harm the organization.

For this reason, raising awareness about cybersecurity among the organization’s employees is one of the cornerstones in both preventing and managing cyber crises. Companies must implement regular cybersecurity awareness and education programs, as well as clearly communicate a cybersecurity policy, to teach all internal stakeholders to recognize potential threats and report information.

It is essential to keep in mind that 90% of attacks begin with human error, including what is known as ‘brain hacking.’ Therefore, training in good cyber practices significantly reduces the risk of human error and serves as the initial defense against the increasing cyberattacks.

How to establish an effective cyber crisis management strategy ?

Every organization faces different cyber risks based on its size, market, and activities. Each crisis management strategy must, therefore, be tailored to the company’s crisis management needs. However, to develop an effective crisis strategy, certain essential elements need to be established, regardless of the organization’s size or industry.

Such a strategy relies on meticulous planning specifically designed to address the types of attacks to which the organization is most likely to be exposed. The cyber crisis management plan should outline the steps to be taken in the event of an incident and adapt to various possible scenarios. It should include threat identification protocols, prioritization, internal and external communication, coordination of the various teams involved, and business continuity.

Successful crisis management requires the adequate allocation of human, technological, and financial resources to handle critical situations. Clearly defining the responsibilities of each stakeholder in the event of a crisis within the organization, especially within the crisis management team, is also necessary to ensure effective coordination during a cyber incident.

crisis management extends beyond internal organizational teams, and so it is crucial to ensure effective collaboration among all stakeholders, both internal and external. Whether it involves IT suppliers, partners, government agencies, or regulatory bodies, clear and transparent communication will facilitate the coordination of response efforts, information sharing, and the implementation of the devised plan to mitigate crisis-related damages.

However, all these recommendations remain purely theoretical, and in crisis management, practical experience is the cornerstone for learning how to face and overcome a crisis caused by a cyberattack. Organizing crisis exercises in real conditions, either on an occasional or regular basis, remains the most effective way to test the efficiency of established crisis management strategies. Crisis management exercises also help identify vulnerabilities, improve the decision-making process, and strengthen coordination among the various parties involved.

Essential steps to implement a crisis management strategy

Risk Assessment and Preparedness: before the crisis

An essential asset for the organization’s stability, crisis management should be prepared long before the occurrence of a cyber attack. Organizations must adopt a proactive approach and rigorously prepare for crisis management in advance.

This preparation primarily involves a comprehensive understanding of your cyber risks, your environment, your professional, geopolitical, and cyber context, as well as your assets (physical, intangible, human, business). You must be able to identify potential threats, and for this purpose, constant economic, political, and cyber monitoring is necessary.

Conducting risk assessments and prioritizing them is also necessary to develop clear and suitable procedures.

Anticipating the organizational aspects of a crisis is also of paramount importance: meticulously plan the staff dedicated to crisis management logistics, and consider everyday life aspects—all of these factors help to face the crisis and demonstrate cyber resilience.

In this process, establishing a decision-making chain is imperative: it should be clearly defined, with designated responsible parties and precisely established organizational and management procedures. The decision-making chain in crisis management is divided into two crisis cells, each with its specific role: a decision-making cell, bringing together members of the leadership and IT representatives, and an operational cell, focusing on technical aspects.

Cyber crisis management is not merely about incident response; it represents a proactive approach that can transform crises into opportunities for strengthening and development. Investing in meticulous preparation, allocating resources, and establishing a decision-making chain can make cyber crisis management a true strategic pillar in cybersecurity.

Detection and Response to a cyber attack: managing the crisis

At the heart of a cyber crisis, detection and response take center stage, determining the path to crisis resolution and business resumption.

Swiftly identifying cyberattacks by detecting any anomalies in IT systems (inaccessible servers, massive file changes, sudden appearance of a ReadMe document) helps limit the damage caused by the incident. The earlier an attack is detected, the lighter its impact on the organization.

While the attack, the carefully crafted crisis management plan from the preparatory exercises becomes the guiding framework. It is crucial to follow the communication protocol (internal and external) to efficiently gather and disseminate information to employees and service providers. Initiating proactive crisis communication is recommended to inform, reassure, and anticipate potential media inquiries. Consider alternative communication channels, as the usual ones may be compromised during a crisis.

Containing and mitigating the attack are paramount: isolate infected parts of the network, disconnect the system from the internet, engage an internal or external Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), and safeguard your backups to prevent contamination, all actions to take upon detecting an attack.
Swift deployment of the crisis management team is also fundamental. Following the defined protocol while ensuring that Business Impact Analysis (BIA) is up-to-date helps anticipate the necessary steps to restore your information system.

Through experience, crisis management and cyber resilience experts at Erium have identified seven key points that makes crisis management and resolution easier .

The first hours of a crisis require crucial decisions: Should you involve your insurance? Should you hire an external service provider? Have the criteria for activating the crisis management team been met? Should you inform the relevant authorities? In the case of a ransomware attack, should negotiations be initiated, or should other alternatives be explored?

Maintaining control of time and communicating realistic estimates to stakeholders within your ecosystem is essential. Here are the questions that will be most recurring during the cyber crisis: when will operations resume? when will customers be served again? when will production be restored? when can we anticipate a return to normal?

A methodical and proactive approach ensures that the company navigates the cyber crisis as effectively as possible and emerges from it stronger and better prepared for the future.

Anticipating risks to ensure effective response

While most organizations aim to avoid cyber crises and prefer not to contemplate the possibility of facing one, it is, nevertheless, necessary to anticipate and understand the risks to which the organization is exposed in order to respond better when a cyber crisis occurs.

A well-founded anticipation relies on several essential pillars. Firstly, it is vital to know the exact context of the company and identify the risks to which it is most exposed. Sensitizing and even educating employees to cyber dangers and threats is a vital step in creating a culture of security and minimizing the risk of incidents. Tools such as Cyber Investigation, for assessing the cyber maturity of employees and guiding appropriate measures, can be the solution.

To enhance cyber defenses, real-time attack simulations by tools like BlackNoise’s Breach and Attack Simulator (BAS) facilitate vulnerability understanding, while measuring and managing the organization’s cyber maturity.The ‘zero trust’ model also strengthens the security posture of organizations that have adopted it.

Finally, choosing cyber insurance tailored to the specific needs of the company completes this proactive approach, ensuring an effective response in the event of a crisis.

Anticipating cyber risks proves to be the foundation for an effective response to today’s digital challenges.

Tools and Solutions for Cyber Crisis Management

Effective crisis management that ensures an organization’s resilience in the face of a cyber crisis relies on several tools and solutions.

The appointment of a competent risk manager is crucial for crisis management and prioritizing risks.During the crisis, tools like Shadline, which ensure the continuity of vital activities by providing instant access to data in all circumstances and secure communication, should also be integrated into the organization’s IT systems.

The establishment of internal communication and crisis management plans that define appropriate procedures and responses in the event of a cyber incident is vital for crisis management.
Finally, real-world crisis simulation remains the best way to optimize the speed and effectiveness of the actors involved in a cyber crisis situation.

By leveraging these various solutions, an organization can better prepare itself to face the challenges of a cyber crisis and maintain its vital operations, even during the crisis period.

Conclusion: best practices for Cyber Crisis Management

An unavoidable imperative for businesses and institutions operating in an occasionally hostile and constantly evolving digital environment, effective crisis management relies on a few essential pillars that are crucial to understand.

Sound cyber crisis management requires continuous employee awareness, conducting crisis management exercises in real conditions, and meticulous planning of a crisis management plan.

Allocating the necessary technical, human, and financial resources to crisis management strategies enables organizations to demonstrate cyber resilience and minimize the impact of a cyber incident.

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