This is the ninth installment of FMI's Technology Blog Series, which explores digital innovations for the food industry and shares compelling insights from our research.
By: Robert Oliver, Intern, Industry Relations, FMI
It is well known that the unique dimensions and structure of a Rubik's Cube make it a particularly challenging puzzle to solve. When you turn one side of the Rubik's Cube, it often causes other sides to become misaligned, leading to a complex and intertwined problem that must be addressed holistically. This interdependence of the cube's sides is what contributes to its notorious difficulty. Each move impacts multiple facets, requiring a balance as progress in one area can disrupt another. This intricate dance of adjustments and corrections makes mastering the Rubik’s Cube a demanding and intellectually stimulating challenge.
Similarly, in cybersecurity, each system adjustment to fix a specific issue can introduce new vulnerabilities in other areas. Managing cybersecurity requires a strategic approach to anticipate and mitigate new risks, just as solving the cube requires preventing and correcting mistakes.
Managing a data breach is far more complex and time-consuming than correcting a mistake on a Rubik’s Cube. The average cost of a data breach incident last year was $4.45 million, with small companies facing even higher costs of $5.56 million on average. The data breach lifecycle now averages about 277 days, meaning it can take several months to detect, investigate, contain and recover from a breach. Unlike the fixed structure of a 3x3 Rubik's Cube, cybersecurity is an ever-changing landscape. Imagine the largest grocery retail chain data breach complexity as a 1000x1000 Rubik's Cube, with each square representing a third party with data access. A breach in such a large system can cause widespread chaos disrupting the previously interconnected and balanced system.
The Key to Solving Cybersecurity Challenges
Another reason why Rubik’s Cubes are comparable to cybersecurity is the possibility of an incident can be significantly decreased by implementing algorithms, the fixed steps and procedures used when the colors are in specific positions. By following these algorithms, the puzzle can be solved with speed and accuracy. The same approach should be applied to cybersecurity. These guidelines help organizations prevent mistakes and mitigate errors. By developing and adhering to comprehensive cybersecurity protocols, companies can make significant strides in safeguarding their data and minimizing the risk of breaches.
We are in an era where planning and recognizing potential threats is crucial. As technology advances, the possibilities for your business are endless, but so are the potential risks. Unlike a Rubik’s Cube, that can be definitively solved, the cybersecurity landscape is an ongoing challenge. Despite advancements, businesses will always face the threat of cyberattacks, making preparation paramount. The FMI Cybersecurity Guide offers a comprehensive action plan and a clear path to help protect businesses from a threat-intensive future. While it may not solve the puzzle of cybersecurity completely, it provides essential strategies and insights to enhance your organization's defenses.
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