Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

Identity and Access Management (IAM) is the name for any framework of technology, policies and processes that authenticate and authorize a user in order for that user to access and consume an organization’s resources. Managing user identities and granting appropriate user access helps protect your assets. These assets can include digital access to sensitive information, intellectual property, data and application workloads, network access or perimeter access to the physical data center location.

23andMe is a personal genome and biotechnology company that provides genetic reports to interested clients. 23andMe employs over 800 employees and operates in California. The company reported $299 million in revenues this year, but the figure will likely drop in the upcoming quarter; opportunists have accessed 23andMe’s systems, resulting in thousands of user records leaking online.

Last week in New York, I had the opportunity to attend a panel discussion hosted by SINET and moderated by Upendra Mardikar, the Chief Information Security Officer of TIAA. We discussed everything from security in DevOps, to AI’s pros and cons, and cybersecurity’s future. As long as the attack surface, API usage, and digital footprints increase, so will cyber risk.

This year for the 13th year in a row, the healthcare industry continues to experience the most expensive data breaches worldwide, at an average cost of nearly $11 million – double the cost for the next-highest industry, finance. That’s not surprising; ransomware attacks on hospitals and health systems are constantly in the news. Add to that the cybersecurity talent shortage, which is especially acute (pardon the pun) in the healthcare industry.

In the realm of cybersecurity, there's a common analogy that likens the process to a health checkup. Vulnerability scanning, in this context, can be seen as a basic health screening. It's a preliminary step, offering a snapshot of potential issues within a system. It's like getting your blood pressure or cholesterol checked during a routine visit to the doctor. These tests are essential, providing a quick overview of potential health concerns. But they don't give the full picture.