Cybercrime’s evolution and how we can fight back

SMART Cybersecurity Handbook 2022 Information Security

How bad can a cyberattack be? This question often comes up in conversations with companies still contemplating their strategy against online criminals. Despite years of escalating attacks, cybercrime still exists in the realm of the surreal and intangible. It’s hard to imagine a hacker breaching your system in the same way as robbers bursting through the doors of a bank. The latter is violent and visceral, the former distant and unconnected to us.


Stephen Kreusch.

But the recent hack of Transnet’s port systems gives us an unambiguous indication of how dangerous a successful cyber-attack is. On 22 July, criminals breached the systems that manage the Durban Port, effectively shutting down infrastructure that handles 60% of South Africa’s imports. It was so bad that Transnet declared a temporary force majeure – that it could not run operations. Everything ground to a literal halt.

In the US, a major pipeline was shut down for days after criminals breached the business systems of its parent company. Locally, operations at the Justice Department were severely disrupted by cyber-attacks. I say ‘disrupted’, but it’s not strong enough. The Justice Department is still busy getting its systems back in order.

If a cyber-attack can bring a major port or pipeline to its knees, it indicates how dangerous these breaches are. Some companies still argue that they are too unlikely a target, but that’s not the case. Cybercriminals are a motivated lot, always looking for the next opportunity.

For example, when companies started to become good at recovering from ransomware attacks, the criminals diversified into stealing data to extort their victims. To increase their profits and scale their operations, those groups created ransomware-as-a-service, effectively a franchise model offering access to their tools for less capable criminals and taking a cut of the ill-gotten gains.

An organised and adaptable enemy

You can find entire value chains in the cybercrime world. Some people make money just by finding ways to breach systems. Called initial access brokers, they sell that access to other criminals, such as ransomware groups, who then infect systems and demand payment. Such transactions represent just one part of an industry that earns more than $1 trillion per annum.

Many attacks aren’t random. Criminals do their homework, looking for victims with access to sensitive data or systems. Sometimes the criminals are paid by others to steal information or sabotage systems. Your chances of being a cybercrime victim are much higher than you think. Few things are as traumatic to a company as to undo such an attack. Security providers are often called in only after an attack – and it’s always a scene of regret.

If you are a board member, a director or on the exco, you must ask your IT leaders what they need in place for security and you must work with them to make it happen. Good security isn’t bought off a shelf. It’s a complex and ongoing system and culture, like servicing your vehicles or balancing your books. Every bit of complacency is an opportunity for motivated criminals looking for their next payday.

How can we fight back against the scourge of cybercrime? It’s a process that requires investment and vigilance. Even though the statistics focus on successful attacks, prevention works and more companies can recover from such attacks.

Service partnerships: security’s best weapon

The most effective way to build proper security is through managed security service providers or MSPs. This type of security company builds security services that are modified for different customers, providing 24/7 monitoring. By pooling resources, MSPs protect multiple customers while keeping costs lower through economies of scale. We also have more exposure to what is happening out in the digital wild west and can adapt to the latest cybercrime tactics. MSPs are the most potent answer to cybercrime yet.

But it doesn’t mean you outsource your security and make it someone else’s problem. Security is and will always be an internal concern. To borrow one of my earlier comparisons, you might pay an accounting company to do your books, but you are still responsible for knowing what’s in them.

The same goes for security. Not only must companies be prepared to support their IT leaders around security strategy, but they should also invest in training their people. Staff are the last line of defence against cybercrime and they are most likely to be targeted as well. By partnering with an MSP, organisations can reduce technical security pressure and focus on security’s other requirements. By doing it alone they end up with too many balls in the air.

Security has a reputation as a grudge purchase. For years, companies skirted this grudge by under-spending or reducing risk through insurance. But cybercrime can hit you hard – hard enough that an 8000 km pipeline had to shut down and a major port had to declare force majeure. Protecting yourself against cybercrime is crucial and MSP partnerships make it an affordable and manageable part of your business.




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...
Cybersecurity a challenge in digitalising OT
Kaspersky Information Security Industrial (Industry)
According to a study by Kaspersky and VDC Research on securing operational technology environments, the primary risks are inadequate security measures, insufficient resources allocated to OT cybersecurity, challenges surrounding regulatory compliance, and the complexities of IT/OT integration.

Read more...
Cybersecurity in South Africa
Information Security
According to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2025, cyber incidents, including ransomware attacks, data breaches and IT outages, are now the top global business risk, marking their fourth year at the top.

Read more...
Are AI agents a game-changer?
Information Security
While AI-powered chatbots have been around for a while, AI agents go beyond simple assistants, functioning as self-learning digital operatives that plan, execute, and adapt in real time. These advancements do not just enhance cybercriminal tactics, they may fundamentally change the battlefield.

Read more...
Disaster recovery vs cyber recovery
Information Security
Disaster recovery centres on restoring IT operations following events like natural disasters, hardware failures or accidents, while cyber recovery is specifically tailored to address intentional cyberthreats such as ransomware and data breaches.

Read more...
Back-up securely and restore in seconds
Betatrac Telematic Solutions Editor's Choice Information Security Infrastructure
Betatrac has a solution that enables companies to back-up up to 8 TB of data onto a device and restore it in 30 seconds in an emergency, called Rapid Access Data Recovery (RADR).

Read more...
The rise of AI-powered cybercrime and defence
Information Security News & Events AI & Data Analytics
Check Point Software Technologies launched its inaugural AI Security Report, offering an in-depth exploration of how cybercriminals are weaponising artificial intelligence (AI), alongside strategic insights defenders need to stay ahead.

Read more...
The deepfake crisis is here and now
Information Security Training & Education
Deepfakes are a growing cybersecurity threat that blur the line between reality and fiction. These AI-generated synthetic media have evolved from technological curiosities to sophisticated weapons of digital deception, costing companies upwards of $600 000 each.

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...