Defense Against Hacking: Is A New Industry Emerging?

As the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to increase data exponentially, cyber-attacks and data breaches persist at alarming rates and effectiveness. 

As the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to increase data exponentially, cyber-attacks and data breaches persist at alarming rates and effectiveness. 

These circumstances create a need that has fostered a booming business for contractors whose business services and products are designed to assist corporations with defending against hackers and nefarious intruders.

The recent data breach against Target stores resulted in customers’ credit and debit card information being stolen. According to reports, hackers who attacked the credit card payment system of Neiman Marcus belong to a sophisticated Russia-based organization that has been attacking more than 100 retailers over the course seven plus years. Attempts to shut down this criminal network have failed thus far.

Many defense companies who have been defending government computers from security threats are now expanding their business model to the private sector and tailoring their offerings to assist companies that need to protect confidential, proprietary digital data.

In fact, defense firms market themselves as being better equipped than other cybersecurity companies. The logic is that if you can help the U.S. government hack-in, you are equally qualified to prevent similar hacks from infiltrating your business.

The types of services offered to defend against hacking varies. Some companies sell software aimed at detecting malicious computer code and implementing antivirus programs. Others offer consulting services on preventing cyber-attacks in specific industries or markets.

Security analysts for traditional tech companies argue that it is unclear or otherwise unproven whether defense firms offer better protection than they do, but it is evident that defense firms are more expensive to retain. As a result, these defense firms are often only within reach of larger companies such as multi-national banks and conglomerates , while the commercial tech companies are used by more mainstream businesses.

One consideration for multinational companies is that the contractors’ cybersecurity programs may be so strong that the programs cannot be legally exported to certain countries.

Still, you can expect to see defense firms increasing their cybersecurity offerings and the overall industry of defending against hacking to steadily expand.  And like most “new” things and offerings, price points are likely to be scaled over time and with increased competition to be more affordable.