Cybersecurity articles

Email is the second-most common vector for cyberattacks, according to the latest data breach report from Verizon while IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach report for 2023 indicates that Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks, one type of email attack, resulted in an average loss of $4.67 million. Clearly, these attacks are succeeding against organizations. However, by following a few best practices, you can prevent many of the most common email-based cybersecurity incidents. 1. Invest in email/spam filters A sophisticated email […]

2023 has furnished an onslaught of data breaches, smashing 2022’s numbers, and putting an exclamation point on the need for companies of every size to invest in cybersecurity. By September 2023, there were already 20% more data breaches in the US than in the entirety of 2022. Probably most alarming is that 98% of all organizations have a relationship with at least one vendor that has been breached in the last two years. In an extensive study of the 2023 […]

The year 2023 hasn’t been kind in terms of data breaches. By October, the number of data compromises was already up by 17% (2,116 compromises) compared to the entirety of 2022. An Apple-commissioned study carried out by MIT professor Dr. Stuart Madnick labels the current state of data breach prevalence as an “epidemic.”  The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) attributes the 2023 increase to the combined increase of zero-day vulnerabilities, ransomware attacks, and supply chain attacks. Each of these elements […]

The days of purchasing anti-virus software for your organization and knowing that’s all you need to do to be secure are long gone. Businesses large and small need a full security tech stack that includes a variety of tools and solutions to address a multitude of threats. The cybersecurity market, however, is crowded. With more than 3,500 vendors to choose from, it can be difficult to assess which vendors will best address your security concerns. The issue is further complicated […]

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been busy trying to protect investors from losing funds due to cyberattacks. As the number of cyberattacks continues to rise, the SEC has taken a hard stance: A breach is an inevitability. To help affected parties, companies need to be prepared and communicate when an incident occurs. In March of 2022, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructures Act of 2022 (CIRCIA) was signed into law. The SEC has since proposed additional updates to […]

As the threat landscape continues to grow and shift and cyberattacks continue to rise, many companies are looking for new ways to defend themselves against bad actors, nation-states, and competitors trying to hack their systems and steal intellectual property. One major threat organizations may not be on top of is the one that lurks within their company — insider threats. It’s estimated that 60% of data breaches are caused by insider threats, and a study by the Ponemon Institute found […]

Worldwide adoption of digital systems has led to the emergence of a very real threat to businesses of all sizes. While these digital solutions empower businesses to conduct their operations more efficiently, a constantly connected state means that business data is always at risk. Company data is often available from the internet, whether stored on the cloud or on-prem, and hackers are constantly trying to access it. With companies using third parties more and more, this data can often be […]

Investing in effective cybersecurity is no longer a luxury but a critical necessity for businesses of all sizes. Smaller organizations are especially vulnerable because hackers rely on the fact that SMEs have a smaller cybersecurity budget than larger organizations. This is borne out by the fact that 43% of all cyber attacks are launched against small/mid-size businesses. Reasons your organization needs managed security Cyber threats have grown both in quantity and complexity. Research by Check Point showed a 38% increase […]

As economic uncertainty continues in Q3 of 2023, many small and mid-sized businesses (SMEs) are struggling to stay afloat. Spending needs to be curbed and executives are faced with tough choices about where to make cuts. For many, trimming the cybersecurity budget is often one of the first steps. After all, what are the chances a bad actor will go after a mom-and-pop shop when they can make far more by attacking a large corporation or major financial institution?  Higher-ups […]

Growing strain on IT departments means organizations need a better solution to manage their cybersecurity needs. IT departments are overworked. A recent survey published in Security Magazine found that 62% of IT Leaders frequently work on holidays or weekends, and almost 50% have needed to work through the night at least once. Many IT leaders also lack the specific cybersecurity knowledge necessary to put the right kind of security in place. They may only invest in preventative options and may […]

The growing sophistication of cybersecurity threats means that investing in top-quality cyber protection is no longer an option but a necessity. However, budget constraints make this virtually impossible for many organizations, especially smaller ones to do in-house. Managed security has emerged as a solution for organizations struggling to optimize their cybersecurity. With a managed security program, organizations can have top-of-the-line security for a fraction of the cost of assembling, integrating, and maintaining an internal program. That said, choosing the right […]

It is the 20th anniversary of CISA’s cybersecurity awareness month and for the beginning of the second decade of this tradition. While this year’s themes are geared towards personal security, there are ways to implement them within an organization for more cyber resilience so there’s still something to learn here. Here are the key themes for the year: These themes are important to be aware of, but on the organizational level, there’s a lot more that can be done to […]

Your business might not have the resources and budget to invest in sophisticated cybersecurity tools. Managed security providers, however, often come with advanced technology and tools to help bridge the cybersecurity gap. But how do you know if they’re bringing the right tools? This guide walks you through seven essential cybersecurity tools and solutions a managed security provider should bring. 1. Ransomware Protection and Assessment Today’s ransomware attacks have evolved and can take many forms, such as: Protecting against ransomware […]

Recent data from Verizon reveals that small and large businesses suffer from similar vulnerabilities and attack surfaces, yet small businesses face much more difficult challenges. Small businesses are typically less prepared for a cyberattack than their larger counterparts and attackers are often more successful when targeting small businesses. Verizon’s report indicates that cybercriminals have far more success penetrating small businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees than businesses with over 1,000 employees. Given that ninety-eight percent of cyberattacks were financially motivated, […]