How Lithuania and Top Brands are Rising to the Challenge of Cyber Security

The emergence of online services, systems, and platforms has created a wealth of opportunities for communities and organizations all over the world.

We communicate with each other like never before, thanks to tools like social media and video conferencing. The way we enjoy leisure time has also changed, with online multiplayer games becoming a reality and top media content like music and movies available at the touch of a button. Of course, shopping has been transformed too, with many items being delivered straight to your door.

There are clearly many positives when it comes to how online services have impacted our lives, but our reliance on such platforms has also created new threats. Many risks have emerged in relation to these systems and security issues have gone on to affect both consumers and businesses.

A Global Concern

Cybersecurity has become a cause for concern across the entire connected world. Unsurprisingly, plenty of research has been undertaken into the area, with some studies worryingly suggesting that businesses need to improve their efforts on the issue.

In February last year, EY released its Global Information Security Survey, which polled around 1,300 cybersecurity leaders at companies and organizations across the world. It found that almost 60 percent of them had experienced an increase in the number of disruptive attacks across the previous 12 months. However, it was particularly concerning to note that cybersecurity was perhaps not as high on the agenda for such firms as it should be. After all, it was revealed that only 36 percent of new business initiatives tended to include cybersecurity teams in the planning stage.

Looking at how cybersecurity was integrated into organizations, the report revealed that the function tends to get on well with IT, audit, and legal. However, the relationship between cybersecurity and marketing was described as neutral at best by many of those polled which simply is not good enough.

Lithuania’s Efforts

Such findings suggest that many businesses could potentially be doing more on the issue. This raises the question of what Lithuania is specifically doing as it looks to address the matter? Back in 2019, Fifth Domain examined Lithuania’s position on the issue of cybersecurity. Interestingly, it revealed that the Global Cybersecurity Index ranked the nation as one of the best when it comes to the topic. Only the UK, the US, and France were rated to be better in their approach. Fifth Domain explained that the country has prioritized the matter, while it even adopted a national strategy in relation to it in 2018.

In the same year, a regional Cyber Security Center was also established in Kaunas with the support of the US, while the nation has been linked to other major initiatives too. For example, according to Euractiv, Vilnius was in the running to become the home of the European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre (ECCC). However, it was confirmed last December that Bucharest would play host to the facility. Lithuania has also recently been examining issues around the safe development of 5G across the country to further ensure user safety online.

So, with all of this in mind, how many cybersecurity issues do businesses and individuals in Lithuania face every year? Well, in April, LRT reported on the 2020 National Cyber Security Status Report, which revealed that incidents rose by around 25 percent last year. In terms of areas of specific concern, it also highlighted that issues linked to malware had increased by around 49 percent. In addition, there was some indication of the financial impact of such issues in 2020, with officials stating that residents experienced around 4.5 million euros of damage due to cyber-crime.

Safe and Sound

Lithuania clearly appears to be very proactive when it comes to cybersecurity, but how do some of the biggest brands and industries in the world go about providing reassurances on the issue? Well, a good place to start is online entertainment, where safety and security have always been hot topics. 

In particular, the hugely popular world of online casinos is well-known for placing high importance on keeping players’ personal data safe. For instance, 888 Casino in Sweden offers roulette in a multitude of ways, including European Roulette and French Roulette, while new variations are on offer thanks to live casino gaming too. But the brand also details how it aims to protect members from issues like adware and spyware, while it supports well-known payment methods and uses RSA encryption and firewalls to ensure any personal information is secure. Putting customers at ease about the security of their data online is something that has been embraced by all industries with an online presence.

For example, few brands can match Amazon as a massive provider of a host of different services. With that in mind, it is perhaps not a surprise that it offers a range of information on online security. The brand offers information on how it follows the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard when handling credit card details, while it has a range of reliable safeguards related to customer data. Of course, security is also taken very seriously in banking by brands like HSBC. In the UK, this bank provides a Digital Security Promise to customers. The promise states that the bank will monitor for unusual activity on accounts and ensure customers are updated on fresh security advice.

Neutralizing Threats

The online world has become a real land of opportunity in recent years, as it has transformed the way we do so many things. However, the endless possibilities have sadly come with a catch – the very real threat of cybersecurity issues and risks.

It is positive to see how top brands and countries like Lithuania are looking to ensure threats are always neutralized. The risks are evolving all the time, so it will be interesting to see how this area develops in the months and years ahead.