John McLoughlin, CEO of J2 Software says, “Without full visibility into your IT systems, your organisation is largely blind to cyberattacks until it’s too late. Without full visibility into your systems, you often won’t know there’s a problem until it’s staring you in the face, or until the ransomware demand arrives.”
McLoughlin notes recent high-profile breaches in different parts of the world that prove this point. For example, in June 2024 South Africa’s National Health Laboratory Service was hit by a ransomware attack that stole 1.2 terabytes of patient data and crippled labs amid the wider public health crisis. Similarly, in the UK, the Russian-linked Qilin gang brought London NHS labs to a standstill, exfiltrating 400 GB of sensitive patient records onto the dark web. These cases show that hackers are now audaciously targeting critical services, and a single breach can paralyse entire services or sectors.
“The core concern is that most organisations will not know an attack is happening until the demand letter arrives or the system outage makes headlines. It is often loyal, well-meaning employees – not inside 'evil geniuses' – who open the door to hackers. Recent studies confirm that most breaches involve human error.
“Most workers believe they could spot a phishing email, yet many admit they have fallen for a scam. In practice, if an employee unknowingly clicks ‘the wrong link' or installs a seemingly safe update, these missteps give cybercriminals a foot in the door. Attackers don’t need sophisticated entry routes, just one slip-up.
“Although sophisticated AI does now make those mistakes easier,” McLoughlin acknowledges. Security experts warn that AI has elevated phishing into a highly personalised threat, enabling hackers to craft emails that mimic legitimate sources – including nuances such as tone and grammar. Deepfake audio and video are already being used to dupe staff via WhatsApp and phone calls.
“For business leaders, the implication is stark,” McLoughlin continues. “If you lack real-time insight into your network and data, you cannot act until an attacker has already infiltrated the system. Without visibility and the capability to understand intent, you will only know something has been going on when your name is shining in the lights of breach notifications.
“The old approach of building higher walls around a network is obsolete. Would be intruders need to be detected and stopped at the perimeter, before they penetrate the fence.”
Effective cyber resilience
“At J2 Software, our mission is to give businesses that critical visibility into their IT systems, to stop the intentional intruder at the fence, before they are inside the house. With a centralised security platform and 24/7 monitoring, threats stand out immediately, they cannot lurk undetected.”
McLoughlin emphasises that good security is not a luxury. “What matters is not the size of your cybersecurity budget – but having the right tools and processes in place. Effective cyber resilience is about preparation and speed: acting immediately the moment an alert arises, rather than scrambling in crisis mode.”
He says managed cyber-resilience services are essential for businesses of all sizes, from sole proprietors to large enterprises. The need for robust protection has grown as cyber threats become more frequent and sophisticated. No organisation is too small to be targeted.
He also makes the point that the most effective approaches are affordable and practical, focusing on three key principles:
- Low cost, ensuring that security is not treated as a luxury but a necessity even for businesses with modest budgets
- Low risk, with frameworks and controls that integrate into existing systems without disrupting daily operations
- Accessibility, offering scalable solutions that can be tailored to the specific needs of any organisation, from startups to government agencies.
At the core is real-time visibility, enabling teams to detect and respond to threats before they escalate. This visibility makes the difference between catching a potential intrusion at the perimeter or only discovering it once the damage has been done.
“With these safeguards in place, businesses gain control.” McLoughlin states. “Visibility gives you the ability to respond. Seeing threats early means you can stop them quickly and keep your organisation running smoothly. Cyber resilience isn’t measured by how much you spend, but by how effectively you protect what matters. Effective cybersecurity will give your team and customers confidence in your operations.”
For more information visit: J2 Software
