The latest DHS intelligence bulletin warning of a potential Russian cyber attack on the U.S. is not something to be taken lightly. We’ve seen notable ransomware groups operating out of that region, including REvil and DarkSide, with the technical ability to compromise large networks rapidly and at great scale.
It would be wrong to assume that the nation state housing such criminal elements doesn’t have a matching capability. An attack of significant magnitude, including a deliberate attack on U.S. critical infrastructure, would almost certainly have wider geopolitical consequences.
With this new bulletin, the Department of Homeland Security is working on the basis that to be forewarned is to be forearmed – and preparation is key. In this fast-paced world of constant cyberattacks and zero-day exploits, it’s always better to err on the side of caution. It’s better to assume you are a target and have strategic plans in place to match that of the adversaries’ capabilities. Resilience is as much about planning and exercising capabilities to ensure all potential risks are mitigated, in advance, as well as possible.