The ransomware attack on the Canadian city of Hamilton in February 2024 is now seen as a lesson in why technical defences alone are not enough.

Technology meets trust: a case study

Subsequent analysis of the Hamilton incident made it clear that the vulnerabilities were not solely technical in nature. In addition to poorly protected servers, human factors contributed significantly to the escalation – insufficiently vetted service providers, inadequate access controls and a lack of trust checks in advance.

This is precisely where the cooperation between CypSec and Validato comes in. While CypSec specialises in cyber defence, system hardening and incident response, Validato addresses the often underestimated human factor through structured background screening and partner due diligence. The common goal: to protect companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland from the financial and operational consequences of human error.

Security requires human reliability

Validato provides the foundation for trustworthy personnel and partner structures. The company relies on role-based screening – from applicant checks and regular re-screenings to continuous monitoring during the employment relationship. Identities, qualifications, references and potential conflicts of interest are checked.

In addition, OSINT-based analyses are used to identify risks in supply chains or with service providers at an early stage. CypSec complements this approach with comprehensive technical security – from end-to-end MFA enforcement to network segmentation and red teaming to targeted threat modelling.

The aspect of insurance compliance is particularly relevant: insurance cover only remains valid in the event of a claim if protective measures are documented and verifiable. The Hamilton incident shows the costly consequences that can arise if this evidence is lacking.

Double protection for the supply chain

Dealing with third parties remains a key risk factor. In Hamilton, an external company had access to systems even though it had already been excluded from public tenders elsewhere – a classic case of a lack of partner screening. The combination of Validato’s due diligence processes and CypSec’s technical supply chain hardening closes precisely this gap: suspicious connections, sanction risks or identity manipulations are detected early on, before any damage is done.

From incident to strategy

For companies in the DACH region, this results in a clear plan of action: security governance and technical hardening must be supplemented by binding screening processes. Only those who systematically check people, roles and partners can operationalise trust – and thus combine insurance cover, compliance and actual resilience.

‘Even strong technical layers of protection fail if human risks remain unregulated,’ emphasises Reto Marti, COO of Validato. ‘That’s why reliable background screening is now an integral part of any security strategy.’

The Hamilton wake-up call impressively demonstrates that cybersecurity begins where trust can be verified – and ends where human risks are ignored.

Source:

‘How Background Checks Protect Organisations – The Hamilton Case’, CypSec, 17 September 2025, Zurich