Cybersecurity is a people issue, not a technology issue

Cybersecurity can be viewed in two ways, Change Horizon founder and Managing Director Celine Hourcade said during a presentation at Air Cargo Tech Summit 2023 in Brussels on Tuesday. She said there are companies that have been attacked and companies that will be, quoting former FBI Director Robert Mueller . With digitalization being implemented industrywide, Hourcade addressed the downside of advancing technologies. [caption id="attachment_57138276" align="alignright" width="300"] Cargo Facts Consulting Director Guillermo Ochovo speaks to Celine Hourcade, founder and managing director of Change Horizon, about cybersecurity during Air Cargo Tech Summit 2023 in Brussels. (Photo/Air Cargo Next)[/caption] “When we talk about acceleration of digitalization, we also need to look at the exposure to cyberthreats,” Hourcade said. “And that really goes hand in hand. So, cybersecurity is actually part of the 10 most severe risks over the next decade, according to the global risk report from the World Economic Forum . So, the question is, do you estimate the impact is going to be severe or extremely severe?” Since 2018, surveys have shown that senior executives believed cybersecurity was a major concern. Of more than 5,000 companies surveyed worldwide in 2018, 48% reported cyberattacks within the past 12 months, Hourcade said, and the issue is clearly garnering attention. In transport and air logistics, cyberattacks accounted for 3% in ransomware and 70% in data sets, Hourcade said. Cybersecurity is about people But cybersecurity is not necessarily about technology, she said. Rather, it’s about governance and cybersecurity awareness, along with proper training within companies. “What is really important … is to understand where you are in terms of leadership [communicating] to boards, in terms of governance, in terms of expertise inside the company, in terms of engagement with your business partners, your processes, insights,” Hourcade said. “Are you ready to identify those threats to protect your systems to respond in case of an attack? And then you [must] have the technology layer that is there with the solutions to address your threats.” To address these issues, companies need to ask the right questions to make sure risks are mitigated with an understanding that advancing technology can hinder business, Hourcade said. She identified poor training as one of the largest issues, saying companies need to address cybersecurity head-on with the appropriate department of skilled personnel. The skill gap “is not going to fade away,” Hourcade said. “Then you have the poor cybersecurity culture, or wellness and culture within the company with multiple employees. “So, it’s also about addressing the wellness sessions, different trainings, etc. Business changes technology, and technology changes in the company can create weak points and also a real reliance on third parties,” which then have access to the company’s system. Hourcade emphasized that proper training, governance and understanding realistic threats are the only ways to mitigate threats properly. Since no technology addresses these challenges, it’s left to the companies, she said. “What is really important when we do risk management [is figuring out] strengths,” she said. “But we need to also understand the vulnerabilities … and back our people.”

Cybersecurity is a people issue, not a technology issue

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