Renewable energy companies are vulnerable to cyber attacks.
The post Why Green Businesses Should Incorporate VPNs Into Their Cybersecurity Plans appeared first on Green Prophet.
A floating solar panel plant in Indonesia. Renewable energy companies are vulnerable to cyber attacks.
In the age of climate awareness, more businesses are taking positive action, with a recent Xerox report finding that the number of American companies with formal green programs has risen to 54%. In Canada, 68.4% of Canadian businesses or organizations across the economy have at least one green practice. Interestingly, small and medium-sized businesses are at the forefront of this. In line with this, a recent survey on QuickBooks outlined how 72% of all small business respondents consider sustainability necessary. On top of this, 3 out of 5 are already taking active steps to reduce their environmental impact. Since SMEs make up 90% of all businesses worldwide, the wave of green business is growing.
One way that more businesses are going green is by embracing online solutions that eliminate the need for physical practices that consume natural resources. This includes utilizing digital workspaces, opting for digital documentation, and optimizing cashless transactions. That said, going web-based requires that businesses adopt cybersecurity plans. Cybersecurity plans to implement various protocols and tools that thwart malicious online parties are a must-have in today’s digital environment. Among the most prevalent cybersecurity tools today are virtual private networks or VPNs.
Understanding the role of VPNs in cybersecurity
Cyberattackers are focusing on small businesses as more operations have gone digital. An Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) report revealed that small businesses are in the crosshairs of cybercrime. As of 2023, cyberattacks on small businesses broke record-high numbers, with up to 73% reporting a data breach. Following such incidents, respondents shared that they experienced financial hits, higher employee turnover rates, and loss of customers. For green businesses, experts, such as those from the ERM Sustainability Institute, note that such an attack can severely hurt and even negate ongoing green efforts. For example, a hacker can infiltrate online procedures, such as shipping or manufacturing communications, forcing a business to turn to other suppliers who may not follow the same green values. In some cases, the financial impact of such a hack is so significant that businesses cannot keep shouldering the higher upfront costs that their green initiatives require, like solar panels or green shipping.
Unfortunately, human error is a leading cause of vulnerability many hackers exploit in small businesses. A study by Stanford University says that up to 88% of all hacks are due to innocent employee mistakes. This is why more businesses are learning that apart from more offensive inclusions in their cybersecurity plans, they also need more passive employee-based answers. A secure VPN
