A single data breach can cost a company millions of dollars. And it takes months on average for a data breach to be detected in the first place. A lot of companies do not realize that their systems and networks have been compromised. Thus, conducting Elijah m & a due diligence before a merger and acquisition (M&A) is important. Your organization might be leading in terms of cybersecurity; however, you cannot be sure about the company you are targeting to acquire. Apply for cyber security course in Hyderabad to learn more
Risks of Cyber Breach
A cyber breach can lead to the following issues:
- Loss of intellectual property. Hackers are looking to steal important business information such as proprietary information or company, customer, employee, or vendor data. Unfortunately, the fallout can be quite serious and costly.
- Compliance issues. Companies that are governed by standards will find it very difficult to recover from a cyberattack as they have to deal with compliance problems.
- Business interruptions. Although ransomware is potentially the most clear-cut example, any type of malware can cause downtimes while the system tries to dig out and eliminate the virus.
- Damage to business reputation. This problem is incalculable and can lead to the company shutting its doors.
Examining the Target Company
Proper preparation is important to avoid issues down the road. It is important to perform the following examinations of the target company:
- Analyzing social media profiles. Your company should carry out a well-structured social media analysis to create a risk matrix and address any vulnerability before they escalate.
- Exploring the dark web. Standard internet browsers cannot access the Dark Web which contains extensive data and private websites. A lot of breached databases, personal information, credentials, and other sensitive data can be found in the Dark Web. You want to ensure data from the target company appears here.
- Doing extensive internet search. It is important to understand what the market thinks is important for the brand image and customer service. However, current or previous employees might also be sharing company secrets and knowledge of business operations.
As the acquirer, your company must review the information security standards of the target company. These should include plans, policies, and procedures. Make sure to look into its incident-response methods, disaster-recovery procedures, and business continuity plans. Moreover, take your time examining the cybersecurity employee-training program of the company. Evaluate its software and infrastructure and assess its IT personnel for capabilities and competence. Learn more about it at cyber security course in Bangalore
