Ebenezer Scrooge was a successful but miserly business owner who ran a large accounting firm. He hated spending money on anything that he considered unnecessary, especially technology and cybersecurity. Ebenezer still used outdated software, hardware, and practices that put his business at risk of cyberattacks and data breaches. He thought that cybersecurity was a waste of time and money and that he could handle any problems by himself.
One night, on Christmas Eve, Scrooge was visited by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley, who warned him that he would face a terrible fate if he did not change his miserly ways. Marley warned Scrooge that he would be visited by three technology solutions, each representing a different aspect of cybersecurity: past, present, and future. They would show him the error of his ways and the consequences of his actions.
The Ghost of Cybersecurity Past transported Scrooge back to the early days of his business when he was a young and ambitious entrepreneur. It showed him how he used to invest in the latest technology and security solutions, and how they helped him grow his business and gain a competitive edge. The spirit also showed him how he gradually became greedier and stingier and started to neglect his cybersecurity needs. The ghost reminded him of the incidents that he suffered as a result, such as malware infections, ransomware attacks, phishing scams, and identity theft. The spirit explained to Scrooge that he could have avoided these problems if he had kept his technology and security up to date and followed cybersecurity best practices.
Next appeared the Ghost of Cybersecurity Present, who showed Scrooge the current state of his business, and how vulnerable it was to cyber threats. It revealed to him the hidden costs of his poor cybersecurity, such as lost productivity, reputation damage, legal liability, the high price of insurance coverage, and customer displeasure. The ghost also showed Scrooge the benefits to his competitors, who had invested in modern technology and security solutions, and how they were able to offer better services, attract more customers, and generate more revenue. The kindly spirit showed Scrooge that through his shortsightedness he was losing his competitive advantage and risking his business, and that he needed to improve his cybersecurity posture as soon as possible.
The Ghost of Cybersecurity Future was the most fearsome and terrible apparition. The spirit showed Scrooge a bleak vision of what would become of his business if he did not change his ways. It showed him a catastrophic cyberattack that compromised his entire network, destroyed his data, and exposed his confidential information. The spirit also revealed the devastating consequences of the attack, such as a costly lawsuit, audits, investigations, regulatory fines and, ultimately, bankruptcy. The ghost showed him the impact of the attack on his employees, customers, partners, and suppliers, and how they suffered from emotional distress and financial losses. Finally, the spirit showed Scrooge the inevitable outcome of his negligence and ignorance, and that he had no one to blame but himself.
When, on Christmas morning, Scrooge awoke from his nightmare and realized that he had been given a chance to change his fate. He decided to act immediately and invest in the technology and security solutions that he needed to protect his business. Scrooge updated his software and hardware, implemented a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, and educated his employees and customers on cybersecurity awareness. He also became more generous and caring and started to share his wealth and knowledge with others. Scrooge transformed his business into a secure, successful, and sustainable enterprise, and enjoyed the benefits of cybersecurity.
Scrooge learned how to appreciate the spirit of Christmas, and faithfully promised to live in the Past, Present and Future of cybersecurity. He even sent his long-suffering, underpaid clerk, Bob Cratchit, on a National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) advanced training course, giving him an above-inflation salary increase. And so, as Tiny Tim from IT support said, ‘A Merry Christmas to us all; God bless us, everyone!’
If you would like to know more about improving the cybersecurity of your business without the intervention of the spirit world then please contact Modern Networks today.