Iran Cyber Threats Push US Companies to Shore Up Core Defenses

A potential spike in cyberattacks from Iran against US networks is putting companies on alert to test their most basic cybersecurity defenses and scan for open vulnerabilities.

Businesses across different industries face heightened risks of cyber activity from Iran following US airstrikes on the country’s nuclear sites over the weekend, government officials and cybersecurity professionals said. The threat expands beyond traditional critical infrastructures—like dams or power plants—and looms over companies in financial, transportation, communication, or commercial sectors.

Iran-affiliated bad actors have recently pursued ransomware attacks against US organizations in the education, finance, healthcare, and defense sectors, for instance. Despite a ...