Why cyber security is an ethical issue

The Panama Papers leak earlier this year caused tremendous fall-out around the world with the political class and the “establishment”.  It also helped to galvinise all organisations to tighten up their privacy protections as a key factor in engendering customer trust.  But perhaps what has been missed in all this is the actual motivation behind the hacking.  The goal was not to deny the use of the computer system or to use it for direct financial gain (well from what we know).  It appears this was more “hacktivism”, an action driven by moral outrage.

With cyber security more prominent on the board agenda now, this example does help to provide another building block in the business case for more ethical cultures and responsible business practices.  If all stakeholders in an organisation are identified, treated fairly and proportionately, surely this will help to reduce the risk of cyber security attacks from connected, aggrieved parties at least, and help to build a company’s reputation to help it withstand the fall-out from any subsequent damage?  Cyber security must now be part of a company's risk mitigation strategy. One of the best ways of maximising this investment and improving all risk defences must surely be a grounding in solid ethical behaviours?