Cyber ​​attacks and positive psychology: This is how companies secure their future!

Cyber ​​attacks and positive psychology: This is how companies secure their future!

Oberbank Kirchdorf recently organized an exciting themed evening for corporate customers that dealt with two current challenges: cyber security and positive psychology. These two topics are of great importance for companies today, as meinbezirk.at reports.

Othmar Gattringer, the head of IT and IT security management at the Kirchdorfer Group, shared his first-hand experience of a significant cyber attack in 2022. Fortunately, the damage was successfully repaired, but these incidents are not isolated. It is estimated that cybercrime generates a massive $10.5 trillion annually worldwide, with Austria reporting over 62,000 registered cyberattacks last year. Of these, around one in seven attacks were successful.

Cyberattacks: A Growing Problem

Dieter Ettl from 3Banken Versicherungsmakler GmbH described cyber attacks as the largest single risk worldwide. He strongly recommends that entrepreneurs take out cyber insurance, even if it does not offer complete protection against attacks. The threat of cybercrime does not stop at large companies; anyone can be affected.

In Germany, the threat situation has been getting worse for years, with no improvement in sight. In 2025, 69% of companies rated cybercrime as high, a significant increase compared to 2015 when only 34% felt this way. More and more private individuals are becoming victims of cyberattacks, and 61% of Germans have had personal experience with them, further illustrating the problem as Statista presents it.

The role of positive psychology

While cyber security is of utmost importance, Sigrid Sperrer, clinical health and emergency psychologist, focused on the benefits of positive psychology in a corporate context. It's not just about warding off threats, but also promoting life satisfaction and the development of potential of employees. Positive psychology focuses on strengths and can help reduce stress levels and reduce sick leave while increasing productivity.

A central aspect for companies is appreciation, which should be on an equal footing in order to run a successful business. These findings fit well with findings from a research group studying the impact of technology on well-being. This research group developed the concept PCyb, which links cyberpsychology with positive psychology and focuses on how technologies can have both positive and negative effects on our well-being, as explained in current research PMC.

The connection between digital security and psychological well-being is crucial for business management. Companies that incorporate both cyber security and positive psychology into their strategies are better equipped to meet today's challenges.