b'24 Cybersecurityobvious target for cybercriminals, several factorsto a cyberattack.make it attractive:Reputational Damage: In a competitive industry, Largefinancialtransactions:Constructionreputation is everything, and a tarnished reputation projectsofteninvolvesubstantialfinancialcan be difficult to recover from. A data breach or transactions, making construction companiesother cyber incident can erode trust with clients lucrative targets for ransomware and fraud. and partners, leading to a loss of future business.Complex supply chains: The involvement ofCompliance Issues: As governments tighten multiple third partiessubcontractors, vendors,cybersecurity regulations, construction companies and supplierscreates numerous potential entrymay face fines or other penalties if they fail to points for attackers. comply with data protection laws. For instance, if a construction firm handles personal data, it Criticalinfrastructure:Manyconstructionmust adhere to regulations such as the General firms work on critical infrastructure projects,Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe or such as bridges, highways, and power plants.the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in Cyberattacks on such projects can have widespreadthe United States.consequences, making them attractive targets for nation-state actors, terrorists or politicallyBuilding a Cybersecurity Strategymotivated hackers. Constructioncompaniesshoulddevelopa comprehensive cybersecurity strategy to mitigate Cyberattacks Big Impact the risks posed by cyberattacks. Key steps include:Asuccessfulcyberattackonaconstruction Dedicated to keeping its members at the forefront in their industrycompany can have far-reaching consequences: Employee Training: It is essential to educate employees on cybersecurity best practices, such Project Delays: Cyberattacks can disrupt projectas recognizing phishing attempts, using strong managementsystems,delaytimelines,andpasswords, and safeguarding sensitive data. A halt construction progress. The impact can bewell-trained workforce is the first line of defense devastating in an industry where delays can leadagainst cyber threats.to significant financial penalties.Regular Security Audits: Regular security audits Missed Bid: For a contractor, a missed bid is acan help identify company system vulnerabilities missed opportunity. A cyber attack can hinderbefore attackers can exploit them. Audits should a contractors ability to submit a bid by causinginclude both internal systems and those of key systemoutages,dataloss,andreputationalvendors and subcontractors.damage, all of which disrupt their preparation and ability to meet submission deadlines. CriticalMulti-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implementing documents and pricing information may becomeMFAforallemployeesandcontractorscan inaccessible, and the contractor may struggle tosignificantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access gather necessary compliance materials, makingto company systems.it impossible to submit a valid bid on time.DataEncryption:Sensitivedatashouldbe Financial Losses: Beyond the immediate costsencrypted at rest and in transit to ensure that of ransomware payments or data recovery efforts,even if attackers gain access to the data, they construction firms may also face lost revenue,cannot easily read or use it.legal fees, and regulatory fines. Clients may sue for breaches of contract if a project is delayed dueIncidentResponsePlanning:Construction The InsulatorSeptember 2025'