Are your voice communications and data safe from cyber attacks?

Cyber-attacks are continually increasing in both the public and private sectors here in the UK. With the complexity of these threats organisations are having to adapt their processes and practices to protect their systems against them.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve with data applications and cloud-based solutions, organisations must prioritise the protection of their sensitive information from potential breaches. This involves regularly re-evaluating people, processes, and technology to ensure readiness in protecting, detecting, and responding to evolving threats. This is especially important for organisations responsible for managing business critical infrastructure systems, posing a significant threat to the security of voice communications and data.

In this article, we will explore the role and importance of encryption to maintain the safety of your voice communications and data, specifically focusing on two-way radios and smart devices.

The growing threat of cyber attacks

Throughout 2023 the NCSC received an all-time high of 2,005 reports, an increase of almost 64% from last year’s 1226 and issued 24.48 million notifications informing organisations that they were experiencing a cyber incident, through their automated Early Warning service.

Jonathon Ellison, NCSC Director of Resilience and Future Tech, said:

“Over the next five years, the proliferation of cyber tools and services will have a profound impact on the threat landscape, as more state and non-state actors obtain capabilities and intelligence not previously available to them. Our new assessment highlights that the threat will not only become greater but also less predictable as more hackers for hire are tasked with going after a wider range of targets and off-the-shelf products and exploits lower the barrier to entry for all.”

While PWC’s survey found that the C-Suite is increasingly recognising the significant risks posed by complex cyber threats and the potential damage they can cause to overall organisational resilience.

These staggering statistics underline the urgent need for robust security measures to safeguard against these threats, and encryption plays a crucial role in mitigating these risks and ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information.

How does encryption work?

When it comes to voice communications and data security, encryption is widely recognised as one of the most effective measures. Data encryption is a process that transforms information into an unrecognisable and indecipherable format. It effectively disguises the data, ensuring that only authorised individuals can access and decipher the information.

Implementing higher levels of encryption is vital for protecting the transmission of sensitive information. Unauthorised parties trying to decode encrypted messages not only have to determine the encryption method used, but also the specific keys used. This makes encryption an invaluable tool in protecting radio and broadband push to talk communication systems.

The two way radios and smart devices Radiocoms support come equipped with various levels of encryption, including Basic Encryption, Enhanced Encryption (40-bit), and Advanced Encryption (AES 256-bit) to protect both voice and data transmissions.

Encryption levels explained

• Basic Encryption provides a basic layer of security and privacy through a 16-bit key size length. While it offers more protection than analogue methods, this level of encryption may not be sufficient to deter determined hackers.
• Enhanced Encryption 40-bit takes security a step further, using a greater key length to create multiple layers of complexity. Each transmission is broken down into packets of data, making interception attempts significantly more challenging.
• For the highest level of security available, Advanced Encryption (AES 256-bit) utilises a key size of 256 bits, making it nearly impossible to crack. This form of encryption is widely trusted and has been adopted by national governments, public safety departments, and other high-security agencies.

When selecting the encryption that best meets your organisation’s needs, it is essential to consider the required level of security. Although Advanced Encryption (AES 256-bit) provides the utmost protection, Enhanced Encryption (40-bit) can still offer a secure solution at a more budget-friendly cost.

Why carry out a cyber security audit?

Conducting a cyber security audit of your two-way radio or BBPTT system is essential for spotting potential irregularities. For example, it helps identify vulnerabilities like outdated firmware, software, and weak encryption. It also bolsters your incident response preparedness by refining response plans and highlighting the need for regular staff training to handle security incidents effectively.

Moving forward you can ensure compliance with regulatory standards helping your organisation avoid potential fines and legal repercussions.

Educating your employees
When your employees are knowledgeable in identifying suspicious activity you reduce system downtime and unpredicted costs associated with recovering from security incidents.

With a tailored training approach you can ensure that your employees are well-versed in the particular risks relevant to their role. For example, a comprehensive training program that focuses on workshops, webinars, and/ hands-on exercises that teach them how to recognise and respond to security incidents effectively, such as spotting phishing attempts, and detecting unauthorised access. Additionally, the creation of customised security guidelines and best practices tailored to your specific radio communications or BBPTT system can support new and existing employees and regular reviews.

Moving forward,

With cyber-attacks coming from various sources, ranging from employees unknowingly introducing viruses to organised cyber criminals targeting critical infrastructure it is necessary to enlist the skills and tools of cybersecurity experts to establish a strong and systematic approach to cyber resiliency.

If you would like to ensure the security of your voice communications and data, we encourage you to reach out to us to discuss your current communication systems. With our expertise, we can help you to safeguard your information from cyber-attacks and provide you with peace of mind in an increasingly digital world.

Sources:

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/cyber-experts-warn-of-rising-threat-from-commercial-hacking-tools-over-the-next-five-years
https://www.pwc.co.uk/issues/cyber-security-services/insights/cyber-security-outlook-2023.html#risk