8 Tips to Minimize Cybersecurity Risk
The cannabis industry is not immune to cyberthreats. Many Canadian businesses lost millions after a distributor for the government-operated Ontario Cannabis Store was hit by a cyberattack that left the region incapable of processing or delivering orders to retailers. In another cyberattack, hackers stole $3.6 million an Australian medicinal-cannabis firm intended to send to an overseas contractor. These are just two examples of how the industry has become a popular target for cyber-extortion in recent years due to the nature of the business. Dispensaries typically are all-cash operations that collect vast amounts of protected health data and personally identifiable information. In addition, most cannabis companies are small operations that employ fewer than 100 workers, and many don’t have advanced cyber-protection systems in place. Sophisticated hackers could target workers via email-based phishing scams and steal protected health information to sell or client records to extort. The...