Given the escalating likelihood of conflict in Ukraine and the high tensions between the U.S. and Russia, an increase in cyberattacks is almost imminent, the Harvard Business Review reported Feb. 21.
While Russia has already ordered its troops into the rebel-held regions of Ukraine Feb. 22, it also has an army of cyberattackers who are ready to wreak havoc on systems across the West, HBR reported.
The Biden administration characterized the troop movements as the beginning of an invasion and is planning to announce sanctions on Russia Feb. 22, a senior administration official told The Wall Street Journal. According to HBR, Russia will likely view economic sanctions as a signal of financial war. Subsequently, Russia will likely mount an attack using its strong cyber capacity, creating "perhaps the most acute cyber risk U.S. and western corporations have ever faced."
Warnings have already been issued by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, sounding the alarm to the potential of Russian cyberattacks spilling over onto networks in the U.S. The European Central Banks also alerted European economic agencies and corporations to the risk of cyberattacks from Russia.
Some attacks have already begun, with Ukrainian government systems and banks being attacked in the past week. Some U.S. companies have also seen a recent increase in cyber-probing.
Given the recent movement of Russian troops into Ukraine, conflict looks imminent, and American organizations should reassess their cybersecurity plans, according to HBR.
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