Cybersecurity

The division of labor has been a core principle of economic theory for more than two centuries. Organizations can increase productivity and efficiency by dividing complex jobs into smaller, more specialized tasks. A downside of this model is that it can encourage a “not-my-job” mindset. Individuals often decline to take responsibility for tasks or duties that aren’t explicitly outlined in their job descriptions.

It’s estimated that more than 90 percent of U.S. businesses use social media to build brand awareness, engage with customers, conduct market research, and increase sales. Naturally, hackers have taken notice.

An early August ransomware attack against a California-based network of healthcare organizations forced hospitals across four states to close their emergency rooms, divert patients to other facilities and take their computer systems offline. The attack on Prospect Medical Holdings is the latest in a concerning escalation of attacks on healthcare and other critical infrastructure sectors.

There’s one sure way to protect computer systems from cyberattacks — disconnect them from the network. Of course, that’s not feasible. Network connectivity is essential to business communications and operational processes.