These days, data breaches are as common as morning coffee — but far more bitter. According to Sophos’ State of Ransomware 2023 report, 66% of respondents revealed their organization was hit by ransomware in the last year. SonicWall’s mid-year update to its latest Cyber Threat Report found that internet of things (IoT) malware is up 37% globally from 2021, there’s been a 399% surge in cryptojacking, and encrypted threat attacks have jumped 22% globally.

We spend a lot of time focusing on simplifying cloud management and many of the most difficult IT challenges for our customers that we sometimes forget how unique this is. Which is why we were pleasantly surprised when CRN told us they were naming 11:11 Systems to its Stellar Cloud Startup list.

In today’s dynamic IT landscape, safeguarding your data — no matter where it lives — is non-negotiable. Doing so, however, is much easier said than done. Success requires the diligence to look under every rock for vulnerabilities and gaps in retention, even (and especially) in places you wouldn’t expect. Take Microsoft 365, for example. It’s no secret that it has changed productivity in the workplace forever.

The stark reality of cybersecurity today isn’t merely a question of advanced software or strategic counterattacks. It’s about people. The financial impact is undeniable with cybercrime costs projected to reach an astonishing $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. Yet, beneath these figures lies a more pressing issue: the exploitation of human psychology.

We should all be concerned with our health and well-being. For the most part, we all aspire for good health. Now that doesn’t always mean we are perfect, but we understand the changes and course corrections necessary to feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally. This may include actions like getting more sleep, exercising regularly, routine doctor’s visits and making better food choices along the way.

If, as the saying goes, two’s company and three’s a crowd, then, as of today, consider our Disaster Recovery trophy case standing room only. The unfortunate reality of today’s cybersecurity landscape is this: It’s not a matter of when, but if, your organization’s defenses will be tested. Success in these tense moments, when your adrenaline is pumping and time and attention are at a premium, requires more than just the right technology.

The future is notoriously hard to see coming. In the 1997 sci-fi classic Men in Black — bet you didn’t see that reference coming — a movie about extraterrestrials living amongst us and the secret organization that monitors them, the character Kay, played by the great Tommy Lee Jones, sums up this reality perfectly: While vistors from distant galaxies have yet to make first contact — or have they? — his point stands.

Backup immutability. It’s a phrase you may hear a lot. But what is immutability? According to the dictionary definition, it is this; For you, It may simply be a tick box you need to satisfy for cyber insurance policy or a line item on a Request For Proposal document. Regardless of the what or the why it is important to understand how immutability support is an important layer of your organizations’ overall data protection strategy.

A recent article from The Hacker News highlights the challenges and significance of cybersecurity awareness training within organizations. As companies budget for 2024, many are allocating funds for employee security awareness training. However, the effectiveness of such training has come into question, given the behaviors in the workplace including phishing attacks and social engineering.