Is your company the weakest link?

We live in a world where cybercrime generates more revenue than the illegal drug trade. These are not opportunistic hackers working from their basements. It is organised crime on a vast scale, targeting the weakest link – whether a large corporation, a small business or a sole trader. If criminals find a way in, they will exploit it. The consequences can be devastating.

That is why cybersecurity must be at the top of the board’s agenda – not delegated to IT or reviewed only once a year. It must remain a priority.

Everyone is exposed – but the least prepared are targeted first

A common misconception is that cyber risk primarily concerns large companies with complex digital infrastructure. It does not. Cybercriminals strike wherever they find an opportunity – and the least prepared make the easiest targets.

If criminals encounter strong defences, they are likely to move on. That is the key insight for any board: you do not need to be impenetrable, but you do need to be better prepared than the next target.

The board’s role – understand your unique exposure

The starting point is not technology, but the business. The board needs to understand the company’s specific exposure. Which technologies and online services does it use? Which third-party providers does it depend on, and how prepared are they? How reliant is the company on digital channels to serve its customers?

With that understanding, the board should define a clear risk appetite. What level of risk is acceptable? Which systems must remain operational under all circumstances? The answers should guide decisions on backups, data resilience and how quickly the company can switch to alternative systems after an attack.