I am wondering if the reason there are the high amounts of data breeches, ransomware attacks etc , in so many companies is because of the incompetency of the technical staff they employ?

In many cases, yes—technical incompetence plays a significant role in data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cybersecurity failures. Many companies, especially outside of the tech sector, underinvest in cybersecurity expertise. They either hire underqualified personnel, rely too much on outdated security practices, or don’t prioritize cybersecurity at an executive level. Here are a few key reasons this happens:

1. Cost-Cutting on IT & Security – Many companies treat cybersecurity as an afterthought, hiring the cheapest staff they can get or relying on a small, overworked team to handle complex security challenges.
2. Outdated Knowledge & Training – Cyber threats evolve constantly, but many IT staff don’t stay updated on the latest security trends, best practices, and threats.
3. Reliance on Compliance Instead of Security – Many businesses think that just checking regulatory boxes (like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, or SOC 2 compliance) is enough, without actually implementing strong security measures.
4. Lack of Proper Cyber Hygiene – Companies often fail at enforcing basic security practices like multi-factor authentication (MFA), regular patching, network segmentation, or zero-trust policies.
5. Executives Who Don’t Understand or Care About Security – Leadership in many companies doesn’t prioritize cybersecurity until a breach happens. This leads to lax security policies, insufficient budgets, and reactive rather than proactive security.
6. Failure to Monitor & Detect Threats – Many companies don’t have proper intrusion detection, log analysis, or threat-hunting teams in place, allowing attackers to roam their systems undetected for months.

However, it’s not just incompetence. Cybercriminals are getting smarter, using AI-driven attacks, sophisticated social engineering, and supply chain compromises that even well-trained teams struggle to defend against. Plus, there’s a worldwide shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, which means many companies can’t even find qualified staff.

Slaughterhouse Poem

by Shay Leon 11 September 2024

I will never see the sunrise, I will never see it set,

I will never feel a kind touch, I will never be a pet.

I will never feel love, for I will not be loved,

As I’m led to my murder, being prodded, poked and shoved.

As they cut my tender skin, I wondered who would care,

If anybody out there, would consider my despair.

For you did not see me die, and you did not see me bleed,

You did not hear me cry, for the meat that you don’t need.

You did not watch them kill me, you could not feel my pain,

You will try not to think of me, as you blindly eat again.

I was the cow you ate on Monday, the pig you had midweek,

I was the turkey for your Christmas, I was the calf you liked to eat.

I was the chicken in your sandwich, the duck you had for tea,

I felt pain beyond belief, but you never thought of me.

Because thinking can be painful, and you refuse to see,

That for every time you eat meat, those animals must bleed.

The cow was killed for Monday, the pig was scalded too,

The turkey lived for 16 weeks, and the calf had died for you.

The chicken lived inside a cage, the duck could hardly move,

And all of this suffering, occurred for so-called food.

I fail to see a reason, as there is no need,

When humans eat my meat, it is purely for their greed.

You may think you’re above me, that you have advantage,

But a kind, innocent creature, is better than a savage.

So next time you’re out shopping, try to feel some guilt,

For those animals have died, for your eggs, your meat and milk.

My heroes are those people, who will not bite into me,

So I ask a simple favour, and please stop eating meat.

I’m asking for the cows, the pigs and all the sheep,

I’m asking for the birds, who are more than just some meat.

They can’t speak themselves, so please let’s be their voice,

Every one born into this, for them there was no choice.

For you did not see me die, and you did not see me bleed,

You did not hear me cry, for the meat that you don’t need.

~ Anonymous ~