A Practical Guide to Cybersecurity for the Construction Industry

Last year, 43% of reported data breaches involved small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs). To help protect our construction industry clients that fall into the SMB category, here is the information you need to prepare yourself to make the right decisions for your organization.

Protecting your construction company’s network from cyberattacks is essential to keeping your data safe and ensuring smooth operations. Investing in vulnerability and penetration testing can help identify and neutralize potential threats before they become costly problems.

Our cybersecurity specialists have put together a practical look at how these processes work and why they’re essential for small to mid-sized construction firms.

Why Cybersecurity Matters for Small and Mid-Sized Construction Companies and Contractors

Cyberattacks are not a problem exclusive to large corporations. SMBs are increasingly targeted, with 76% of SMBs suffering a cyberattack last year and 69% experiencing a data breach. With over 22,000 new vulnerabilities disclosed every year, many businesses struggle to keep their systems up-to-date. The stakes are high. For SMBs, the average cost of a single security breach exceeds $380,000—enough to threaten the short-term if not the company’s long-term viability.

Understanding Vulnerability & Penetration Testing for the Construction Industry (VATP)

Vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VATP) are like regular checkups for your network, uncovering weaknesses that attackers could exploit. While they both strengthen your defenses, their methods differ. Think of vulnerability testing as a basic home inspection. It identifies your unlocked or broken doors, or windows easily opened from the outside. Penetration testing, or pen testing, on the other hand, is like having someone try to break into your house and then identify what they could steal and how they would do it.

In other words:

• Vulnerability Testing is a deep scan of your system to identify flaws.
• Penetration Testing takes it a step further by simulating a real-world attack to identify exploitable vulnerabilities and assess the potential impact.

Together, vulnerability and penetration testing provide a clear and actionable picture of your network’s security, allowing you to prioritize and address vulnerabilities, starting with those that would cause the greatest harm to your business.

When Should Your Construction Company Conduct Cybersecurity Testing?

If your construction company has experienced rapid growth, undergone a digital transformation, or you haven’t tested your defenses in the past 12 months, you should probably consider vulnerability and penetration testing. Scaling quickly often leaves gaps in your IT infrastructure that can go unnoticed, while a move to new technologies like cloud computing and IoT can present different threat exposures from the ones you may have been previously prepared for. And, with new vulnerabilities emerging daily, annual assessments are a valuable investment.

Steps in Vulnerability and Penetration Testing

When you pursue comprehensive vulnerability and penetration testing, you should expect the following steps:

1. Information Gathering. Consultants map your network using DNS records and metadata.
2. Host Discovery. Tools like Nmap identify active systems.
3. Open ports and network traffic are scanned for vulnerabilities.
4. Experts simulate attacks to test your system’s defenses (be sure that whoever you choose to work with can prevent disruption during this phase).
5. Post-Exploitation. Sensitive data such as passwords and financial information are searched for and analyzed.

Each step builds a comprehensive understanding of your network’s vulnerabilities and provides actionable insights for improvement.

Choosing the Right Cybersecurity Provider for Your Construction Company

If you decide penetration testing is the right step for your construction company, choosing the right provider is crucial. Look for partners that offer:

• Comprehensive Reporting. Detailed insights into vulnerabilities, their potential impact, and recommended remediation steps.
• Real-time notifications and access to testing progress ensure you’re properly informed.
• The ability to schedule tests on your timeline, minimizing disruptions to your operations.

Protecting Your Construction Company Against Cyber Threats

With cyberattacks on the rise and vulnerabilities becoming harder to track, vulnerability and penetration testing offers an effective way to take control of your cybersecurity posture. Whether you’re proactively addressing risks or responding to specific incidents, the insights from these tests will help you prioritize the right actions for your construction business.