Data security during load shedding

Issue 2/3 2023 Information Security, Power Management

Everything is going fine, but then the power cuts out. No problem, your employees have laptops, and backup systems keep PCs running. But what about your data? What steps have you taken to ensure your business information and application services remain available when load shedding strikes? And did you also cover your security?

When data and applications become unavailable, work stops. Load shedding has made this balance much harder to maintain, and many companies might start cutting corners in their security to ensure productivity. They are taking a significant risk.

"Today's digital businesses must balance access to their systems with hybrid workers, 24/7 availability and ongoing security. Throw in frequent power failures and they need to start making tough choices. It becomes tempting to make choices that focus on availability and sacrifice security features, which is understandable, but they should be careful because cybercriminals can exploit those shortcuts," says Gerhard Swart, CTO at cybersecurity company, Performanta.

Load shedding puts every organisation's security under pressure. According to Swart, there are five key considerations you should take into account to avoid trouble while keeping your systems online and your business cyber-safe.

1. Users log in from different areas and at different times

Modern cybersecurity depends on predictable user behaviours, particularly zero trust security that scrutinises the locations and times of people logging in. Load shedding causes big swings in when and where people decide to access systems, and criminals exploit this confusion. Companies should implement multi-factor authentication to reduce problems with hacked accounts and enlist threat-detection services to catch unusual behaviour.

2. Data centre providers are not impervious

Third-party data centres invest considerable resources to provide power generation and protection against surges. But these measures can still fail, and all organisations must have data loss protection plans. These plans include backup services and failover contingencies, such as a secondary live data site duplicated from the primary data centre.

3.Productivity pressures can derail backup/recovery security

When users need to access data or applications, it should happen quickly, or their productivity will suffer. Speed is essential for ready access to digital assets. But such productivity demands often lead to cutting security corners. This is a dangerous compromise and should be avoided. Create clear, flexible backup and recovery processes that maintain key features such as zero trust security and encryption.

4. Password sharing and weak passwords are more widespread

Hybrid working has encouraged some bad security habits to grow, such as weak passwords, reusing passwords and sharing passwords. Even though passwords are not a great solitary defence, they still form part of a robust security posture and good security hygiene. Poor password habits have dual adverse effects: they undermine security culture and weaken security measures. Load shedding amplifies these bad habits. Create a clear password policy, scan for duplicate passwords, and consider providing a company-supported password manager.

5. Criminals can exploit load shedding anxiety

One of the most significant risks from load shedding is the anxiety and panic it causes. Criminals can use these emotions in phishing attacks such as an email offering a super-cheap, high-end power supply (act now or lose it forever!). Users click on the link, thinking they will get a special deal, but they instead allow malware onto their system. Ensure your people are updated on their security hygiene, inform them to watch out for these attempts, and use periodic testing to demonstrate how an attack could happen.

Load shedding amplifies many risks around technology. Most of these are apparent, such as providing backup power. However, it’s important not to overlook the problems it creates for data and applications. Speak to an experienced digital business security provider to ensure your environment balances security and productivity when the lights go off.




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Highest increase in global cyberattacks in two years
Information Security News & Events
Check Point Global Research released new data on Q2 2024 cyber-attack trends, noting a 30% global increase in Q2 2024, with Africa experiencing the highest average weekly per organisation.

Read more...
What does Agentic AI mean for cybersecurity?
Information Security AI & Data Analytics
AI agents will change how we work by scheduling meetings on our behalf and even managing supply chain items. However, without adequate protection, they become soft targets for criminals.

Read more...
Phishing attacks through SVG image files
Kaspersky News & Events Information Security
Kaspersky has detected a new trend: attackers are distributing phishing emails to individual and corporate users with attachments in SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) files, a format commonly used for storing images.

Read more...
Crypto in SA: between progress and precaution
Information Security
“As cryptocurrency gains momentum and legitimacy, it’s becoming increasingly important for people to pay attention to financial security”, says Richard Frost, head of technology and innovation at Armata Cyber Security.

Read more...
Cyber recovery requires a different approach to disaster recovery
Information Security
Disaster recovery is about getting operations back on track after unexpected disruptions; cyber recovery, however, is about calculated actions by bad actors aiming to disrupt your business, steal sensitive data, or hold your system hostage.

Read more...
MDR users claim 97,5% less
Sophos Information Security
The average cyber insurance claim following a significant cyberattack is just $75 000 for MDR users, compared with $3 million for endpoint-only users, according to a new independent study.

Read more...
The impact of GenAI on cybersecurity
Sophos News & Events Information Security
Sophos survey finds that 89% of IT leaders worry GenAI flaws could negatively impact their organisation’s cybersecurity strategies, with 87% of respondents stating they were concerned about a resulting lack of cybersecurity accountability.

Read more...
Efficient, future-proof estate security and management
Technews Publishing ElementC Solutions Duxbury Networking Fang Fences & Guards Secutel Technologies OneSpace Technologies DeepAlert SMART Security Solutions Editor's Choice Information Security Security Services & Risk Management Residential Estate (Industry) AI & Data Analytics IoT & Automation
In February this year, SMART Security Solutions travelled to Cape Town to experience the unbelievable experience of a city where potholes are fixed, and traffic lights work; and to host the Cape Town SMART Estate Security Conference 2025.

Read more...
Kaspersky KATA 7.0 for targeted attack protection
Information Security Products & Solutions
] Kaspersky has announced a major update to its Kaspersky Anti Targeted Attack (KATA) including enhanced network detection and response (NDR) capabilities with deeper network visibility, internal threats detection and other critical security features.

Read more...
The role of advanced technologies in ransomware recovery
Information Security
As businesses increasingly adopt cloud technologies, the complexities of maintaining resilience and ensuring rapid recovery from such incidents become even more pronounced. The integration of advanced technologies is essential to navigate these challenges effectively.

Read more...