Termites and Cyber Breaches: The eerie similarities and the costly consequences of procrastination

Wilson Chua
2 min readJan 22, 2023

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Well folks, let me tell you something, it’s a funny thing but it seems like termites and cyber breaches have a lot in common. Both of these are sneaky little critters. They do cause a lot of damage before you even know they’re there. And let me tell you, the longer they go undetected, the more expensive it is to fix the damage. Unfortunately, by the time the hidden damage caused becomes evident, it will often be too late, and the cost of repairs far exceed the cost of preventative measures.

The same can be said of cyber breaches. Just as the termites cause chaos in your house, a cyber breach can also wreak havoc in the network. Compromised company systems “owned” by hackers can steal MORE sensitive information and cause widespread damage the longer they are left unchecked. Generally speaking, the more time they have in your network, they more they spread and compromise more systems.

So, just like termites, the longer the cyber breach go undetected, the more extensive the damage becomes. And just like the cost of repairing termite damage, the cost of recovering from a cyber breach can be substantial.

According to a study by the Ponemon Institute, the average time to detect a cyber breach is around 201 days.

Both the termites and the hackers are relentless in their pursuit of growth and expansion (lateral movements), but the consequences of their actions are devastating. The houses are left with (mostly hidden) structural damages, and the company struggles to recover from the breach. (Not to mention hefty fines, loss of reputation and possible jail terms)

It’s a reminder that prevention is always cheaper than the cure. It is essential to be vigilant and take action to prevent termite infestations and cyber breaches before they cause extensive damage. Regular inspections and implementing preventative measures can save homeowners and companies a lot of money in the long run.

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