Google Cloud’s security leaders have issued a stark warning: cybercrime is no longer just a business risk—it’s a national security threat.
In a recent discussion with Finextra, Nick Godfrey, Global Head of the Office of the CISO, and Jamie Collier, Lead Threat Intelligence Advisor (Europe), outlined the growing dangers posed by cybercriminals and nation-state actors. Supply chain attacks, financial fraud, and the exploitation of interconnected digital systems are escalating, posing existential threats to businesses, governments, and critical infrastructure.
But what makes today’s cyber threats more dangerous than ever?
Google Cloud’s Warning: The Attack Surface is Expanding
Godfrey and Collier highlighted several key concerns:
1. Cybercriminals are targeting supply chains as weak links
Financial institutions and large enterprises often have strong cybersecurity defences, but their smaller suppliers and service providers do not. Attackers exploit these weaker links, using them as backdoors to gain access to high-value targets. Banks, insurers, and fintech firms increasingly find that breaches originate from third-party vulnerabilities.
2. Ransomware gangs and nation-state actors are collaborating
The distinction between financially motivated hackers and politically driven threat actors is blurring. Criminal gangs are now selling access to corporate networks to hostile states, effectively weaponising ransomware for geopolitical advantage. This means organisations are not just dealing with cybercriminals but also adversaries with intelligence-level capabilities.
3. AI is being used to automate and scale cyber-attacks
Cybercriminals are leveraging artificial intelligence to automate phishing campaigns, scan for vulnerabilities, and evade detection. This has resulted in an explosion of attacks that are faster, more targeted, and harder to trace. Traditional security tools are struggling to keep up with the sheer volume and complexity of AI-driven threats.
4. Regulatory pressure is mounting
Governments and regulators are responding to these threats with stricter cybersecurity requirements. However, compliance does not equal security. Many organisations mistakenly believe that meeting regulatory frameworks like GDPR, DORA, or the NIS2 Directive is enough to keep them safe—but this approach does not address the fundamental issue of how to prevent breaches in the first place.
A Simple Truth: If They Can’t See It, They Can’t Attack It
Cybersecurity has reached a tipping point. Perimeter-based security models are failing, and AI-driven threats are outpacing traditional detection methods. The only way to guarantee the security of critical assets is to disconnect them from potential threats when they are not in use.
This is where Firebreak™ changes the game. Instead of relying solely on digital defences that can be bypassed, Firebreak™ introduces physical network segmentation—allowing organisations to remotely and instantly disconnect sensitive systems, making them invisible to attackers.
From National Security to Corporate Protection
What Google Cloud’s experts described as a national security risk is also a business survival issue. Financial institutions, government agencies, and critical infrastructure providers all rely on constant connectivity, but this connectivity comes at a cost: exposure.
Firebreak™ provides a critical missing layer in cybersecurity—a last line of defence that prevents attacks before they can begin. By physically disconnecting networks and critical systems when they are not needed, organisations can significantly reduce their attack surface and eliminate digital entry points for adversaries.
The Future of Cybersecurity: A Hybrid Approach
Cybersecurity cannot rely on software solutions alone. The most effective approach is a hybrid model that combines digital protections with physical security mechanisms. Just as high-security government facilities use air-gapped networks, businesses handling sensitive data need the ability to isolate and secure their assets on demand.
Firebreak™ is redefining cybersecurity by making this level of protection available to enterprises that cannot afford to take risks.
Learn More: Disconnect to Protect
The threats outlined by Google Cloud are real and accelerating. Organisations can no longer rely on reactive cybersecurity measures—they must take a proactive approach to securing their most critical systems.
It’s time to rethink cybersecurity and integrate physical network disconnection into security strategies.
Find out how Firebreak™ is leading the charge—read more on InsightBull.