Cyber defence: measures and challenges in the digital age
In the digital age, cyber defence is a key concern for every organisation and every company. Cyber attacks are no longer a theoretical threat, but a reality that business, government and society have to deal with on a daily basis. Cyber defence** helps to detect and ward off attacks and limit their consequences.
Many companies report that they are increasingly confronted with phishing, malware or data theft. Online retailers and financial service providers in particular are experiencing a high number of fraud attempts. Fraud when making online purchases and spying on personal data are particularly common offences. The threat of cybercrime has not levelled out in recent years, but has increased in complexity despite better protective measures. The increased use of artificial intelligence in attack techniques calls for new strategies in cyber defence.
The importance of cyber defence in corporate reality
Companies from a wide range of industries consult experts when it comes to protecting their IT infrastructure against attacks. Many clients come to me with the following concerns: How can we recognise attacks at an early stage? How do we ensure operational readiness even in the event of attacks? And what role does employee training play?
Critical infrastructure and the manufacturing industry in particular are facing an increasing risk from ransomware and espionage. Service providers in the healthcare sector are also affected by personal data that urgently needs to be protected. The increasing interplay between artificial intelligence and cybercrime poses new challenges that must be accompanied by a broad-based cyber defence.
In the online mail order business, for example, companies recognise the need to protect customer data even more and at the same time ensure speed in operations. Financial service providers that offer digital services rely on continuous monitoring of their networks and robust authentication procedures. And consulting firms that work digitally support their clients in developing individual cyber defence strategies.
Best practice from the field
BEST PRACTICE at company XYZ (name changed due to NDA contract) In this case, a comprehensive cyber defence strategy was established that raises employee awareness through regular training and equips the IT infrastructure with automated detection mechanisms. In addition, a crisis response plan enables rapid countermeasures to be taken if an attack is suspected. The company reports that although this accompanying support does not rule out attacks, it significantly mitigates them and secures processes.
BEST PRACTICE at a medium-sized IT service provider The integration of AI-supported analysis tools enabled suspicious network activities to be recognised at an early stage. The impetus from the collaboration with cyber defence experts was used to strengthen technical and organisational protective measures. They also rely on dialogue with other companies to better understand threats and adapt to the situation.
BEST PRACTICE from the healthcare sector Cyber defence was introduced as part of risk management in one clinic. In addition to firewalls and virus protection, an emergency concept was implemented, which also undergoes regular tests to check its effectiveness. The clinic management reports that support from experienced cyber defence specialists has noticeably increased security and makes valuable alternative courses of action visible in an emergency.
Typical topics and challenges in cyber defence
Most organisations come to us with specific questions about cyber defence. For example, they are concerned about the difficulty of protecting all IT systems seamlessly with limited resources. The increasing complexity of attack scenarios also poses a challenge. In addition, there is often a lack of clear responsibilities and there is room for improvement in internal communication on cyber defence.
Another issue is building resilience so that data integrity and availability can be restored quickly even after a successful attack. This challenge is particularly evident in the manufacturing industry because production downtime can have enormous consequences. Companies often report that the combination of technical protection and raising employee awareness provides useful impetus for cyber defence.
Impetus and support to strengthen cyber defence
As a coach, I help companies to organise their cyber defence effectively. I provide them with impulses, for example on prioritising protective measures or developing crisis response plans. Clients also receive support in analysing their attack risks and implementing technological solutions.
Clients often report that it is precisely the trusting support provided by external expertise that helps them to drive internal change processes forward in a targeted manner. Cyber defence is not a one-off project, but an ongoing process that I am happy to accompany in dialogue and taking individual company situations into account.
My analysis
The increasing threat of cybercrime makes it essential to take early and strategic action in the area of cyber defence. It is important to combine technical solutions with organisational measures such as training or communication structures. This is the only way for companies and organisations to effectively reduce their attack surfaces and be prepared for new threats. Accompanying support and continuous adaptation of strategies are key success factors.
Further links from the text above:
[1] Cyber Security Conference 2025
[2] Federal Cybercrime Report 2024
[4] Cybercrime balance sheet 2025 from Bitkom
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