While the health care sector and financial institutions have been historically the most targeted by cybercriminals, construction companies are no longer immune to cyberattacks. In fact, a 2017 study found that construction is the second most attacked industry after manufacturing.
What makes construction companies such an attractive target for cybercriminals? Construction companies usually have a lot of data that is valuable to criminals, including employee records, project files, and client information. And because construction companies often work with other businesses, a successful attack on a construction company can provide attackers with a gateway into those other businesses.
So what are some of the greatest cyber threats facing construction companies today? Here are six of the most significant:
1) Ransomware
Ransomware is one of the biggest cyber threats facing businesses today, and construction companies are no exception. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a company’s data and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt it.
While ransomware can be devastating to any business, it can be particularly crippling to construction companies. That’s because construction companies often rely on project files and other digital data for their work. If that data is encrypted by ransomware, it could bring construction projects to a standstill.
2) Phishing
Phishing is another major threat that construction companies need to be aware of. Phishing is a type of social engineering attack in which criminals send emails or texts that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a company or government agency. The goal of a phishing attack is to trick the recipient into clicking on a malicious link or attachment, which can then infect their computer with malware or give the attacker access to sensitive data.
Phishing attacks are particularly dangerous to construction companies because they often involve email attachments containing project files or other sensitive data. If an employee clicks on a malicious attachment, it could give attackers access to that data.
3) Malware
Malware is another serious threat to construction companies. Malware is any type of software that is designed to harm a computer or steal data from it. There are many different types of malware, including viruses, worms, and Trojans.
Construction companies are often targeted with malware because attackers know that they often have a lot of valuable data, such as project files and employee records. If that data is stolen or corrupted by malware, it could have a devastating impact on the company.
4) Insider Threats
Insider threats are another significant concern for construction companies. An insider threat is any type of threat that comes from within a company, such as an employee who steals data or an outside contractor who gains access to sensitive information.
Construction companies are particularly vulnerable to insider threats because they often work with other businesses, such as architects and engineers. If an insider at one of those businesses gains access to sensitive data, they could pass it on to criminals.
5) Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks
DDoS attacks are another type of cyberattack that can be particularly devastating to construction companies. A DDoS attack is a type of denial of service attack in which an attacker attempts to make a company’s website or other online service unavailable by flooding it with traffic.
DDoS attacks can be crippling to construction companies because they often rely on their website and other online services for their work. If a DDoS attack makes those services unavailable, it could bring construction projects to a standstill.
6) SQL Injection Attacks
SQL injection attacks are another serious threat to construction companies. An SQL injection attack is a type of attack in which an attacker inserts malicious code into a company’s database in order to steal data or take control of the database.
Construction companies are often targeted with SQL injection attacks because they often have a lot of sensitive data, such as employee records and project files. If that data is stolen or corrupted by an attacker, it could have a devastating impact on the company.
Consider hiring a construction information technology services company to help you secure your construction company from these and other threats. Cyber attacks can be devastating to construction companies, but with the right security measures in place, you can protect your business.