Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

December 2023

Getting the Board on Board: Explaining Cybersecurity ROI

Despite increasing data breaches, ransomware attacks, and assorted cyber threats, convincing the Board of Directors to invest in robust cybersecurity isn't always easy for many businesses. The challenge originates mainly from the need to demonstrate a quantifiable Return On Investment (ROI) from any cybersecurity initiative. Many Boards concentrate on performance indicators, profits, and strategic resource distribution, while cybersecurity primarily focuses on risk mitigation.

Cloud Security Optimization: A Process for Continuous Improvement

Cloud optimization is the process of correctly selecting and assigning the right resources to a workload or application with the ultimate goal of minimizing costs while improving performance and efficiency. These resources can range from computational power, memory, and storage to network capabilities. The cloud optimization process involves continuously monitoring, analyzing, and fine-tuning these resources to ensure optimal performance.

2023 Business Impact Report: Small Businesses and Cyberattacks

We live in a highly digitized world, and small businesses and solopreneurs have become prime targets for cybercriminals. The 2023 Business Impact Report, conducted by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), sheds light on a concerning trend: a sharp rise in cyberattacks on these smaller entities. This annual report reveals that 73% of small business owners and leaders experienced data breaches or cyberattacks in the past year, a significant increase.

What Role Does Cybersecurity Awareness Play in Education?

Cybersecurity is an essential consideration for any organization that deals in the digital sphere on any level, and the education sector is no exception. In recent years, the global pandemic and technological advances have led to a massive shift toward online learning, which has posed a number of challenges to educators and administrators. Facilitating digital education presents a logistical maelstrom that many educational institutions are not prepared to handle.

AI's Emerging Role in the Fight Against Intellectual Property Theft

In an era where knowledge and creativity are the cornerstones of progress, intellectual property (IP) is not just a legal asset but the very lifeblood that sustains business innovation, competitiveness, and growth. However, as we march deeper into the digital age, the specter of intellectual property theft looms larger than ever, posing a formidable challenge to industries worldwide.

Tips, Tricks and Updates for Tripwire's State Analyzer

At the recent Tripwire Energy and NERC Compliance Working Group, we held a session to demonstrate some tips and tricks to make the latest Tripwire State Analyzer (TSA) work better for your organization. The newest State Analyzer version is 1.5.2, which offers features that align it with most of the latest systems and practices. It also includes improvements with its integration with Tripwire Enterprise (TE).

The Current Challenges of Adopting Zero Trust and What You Can Do About Them

In the fast-evolving world of cybersecurity, the transition to remote work, the challenges of Zero Trust adoption, and the technology that supports it have taken center stage. Join me as we explore the insights of cybersecurity professionals and uncover the realities of this transformative journey.

The History of Patch Tuesday: Looking back at the first 20 years

One of the most critical aspects of cybersecurity is ensuring that all software is kept up to date with the latest patches. This is necessary to cover any vulnerabilities that cybercriminals could take advantage of in order to infiltrate an organization and launch an attack. With the volume of updates and the effort needed to install and configure them, it is good to know precisely when patches will be released.

Guide to Creating a Robust Website Security Incident Response Plan

Earlier this year, the SEC proposed a new set of rules on cybersecurity governance, which would require public companies to make appropriate disclosures of cyber risks and management procedures. Although the amendments target the financial sector, it is one more evidence of the fact that cybersecurity is no longer a backburner component of business operations. It is a critical factor that can determine the destiny of all kinds of organizations, large or small.

Tips for Achieving Success With a NERC CIP Audit

Electrical utilities are responsible for just about everything we do. This presents a tremendous burden on those who operate those utilities. One way these organizations offer assurance is through the audit process. While audits can generate tremendous anxiety, good planning, and tools can help make the entire process go smoothly. Moreover, these can also help to achieve positive results.

Operational Resilience: What It Is and Why It's Important

Frankly stated, operational resilience is your ability to climb the mountain, no matter the weather. Businesses now need more than a good security structure to weather the storms of AI-driven threats, APTs, cloud-based risks, and hyper-distributed environments. And more importantly, operational resilience in 2024 requires a paradigm shift. Attackers aren’t out there doing the bare minimum. As the numbers suggest, they’re getting the job done.

Kelvin Security cybercrime gang suspect seized by Spanish police

A malicious hacking group, thought to have been operating since at least 2013, may have suffered a significant blow after the arrest of a suspected leading member by Spanish police late last week. Spain's National Police arrested a Venezuelan man in Alicante on Thursday, in the belief that he is connected to the Kelvin Security gang.

NIST CSF 2.0: What you need to know

Organizations looking to protect their sensitive data and assets against cyberattacks may lack the ability to build a cybersecurity strategy without any structured help. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a free, public framework to help any organization mature its IT security posture. Recently, the institute published an updated version of the cybersecurity framework (CSF), NIST CSF 2.0, which contains a number of updates from the previous framework.

How to Avoid and Prevent Identity Theft

Identity theft is like a thief in the night; it can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. It is a real threat to everyone. We live in a time where so much personal information is stored online, which allows cybercriminals to steal it and use it for their gain. A Federal Trade Commission report shows that over 1 million people fell victim to identity theft in 2022. The most common types of identity theft are credit card fraud, bank fraud, and loan or lease fraud.

10 Essential Cybersecurity Tips For Your Organization This Holiday Season

The holiday season is just around the corner; a time of joy and celebration. However, threat actors anticipate this joyous season as much as it is by many festive revelers. In fact, cybercriminals tend to be particularly active during the holiday season, taking advantage of the distractions that come with it. The holiday season tends to witness an increase in successful attacks affecting both businesses and consumers.

Quick Look at the New CISA Healthcare Mitigation Guide

It’s the small vines, not the large branches, that trip us up in the forest. Apparently, it’s no different in Healthcare. In November, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a Mitigation Guide aimed at the Healthcare and Public Health (HPH) sector.

Understanding Mobile Payment Security

As the holiday shopping season kicks in, many are eager to secure early bird discounts and offers, preparing for the festive season. The convenience and speed of mobile devices has led to a growing number of individuals opting for mobile payments, whether conducted online or through contactless systems. The global mobile payment revenue is expected to reach $12.06 trillion by 2027, and smartphone users are anticipated to surpass 7.7 billion by 2028.

Supply-chain ransomware attack causes outages at over 60 credit unions

Over sixty credit unions across the United States have been taken offline following a ransomware attack at one of their technology providers - demonstrating once again the damage that can be caused by a supply-chain attack. There are a few moving parts here, so here’s a quick summary: Trellance - A provider of solutions and services used by credit unions, and the parent company of FedComp. FedComp - a provider of software and services that enable credit unions to operate around the world.