The Growth of the Criminal Economy The growth of the criminal cyber economy is out of control. It is a Tsunami that will overwhelm Western Democratic Society. It only takes one dramatically successful, undetected cyber attack, whether casually through a common vector or plotted as an advanced exploit, to inflict severe and lasting damage on a business or a nation. The ramifications extend far beyond rapid technical remediation to include: Financial Losses :  Direct costs from  incident response ,  forensic analysis , and  ransom payments  are compounded by the long-tail indirect costs of  business interruption  and  lost competitive advantage . Reputational Damage and Loss of Trust :  A single breach can irrevocably shatter customer trust and partner confidence, creating a long-term drag on market share and valuation. Business Disruption :  Attacks can halt core operations for extended periods by disrupting  supply chains ,  s...