IT Leaders Recognize the Risks of Remote Work

   

The cybersecurity risks of remote work have received center-stage in light of the workplace restrictions in place because of COVID-19. However, these risks were well-known, even before COVID-19. According to a recent study, in 2019, nearly half of IT leaders admitted that remote workers had intentionally or accidentally put data security at risk. Most prominently, apathy or a failure to take security seriously was identified as one of the most substantial risks associated with remote work. 

Simply put, many remote workers are not attuned to the data security risks experienced when working from home. In some cases, murky technology policies contribute to the risk, but other factors, like being unprepared to identify and respond to phishing scams, pose a significant threat to data security. Fortunately, companies can move the meter in this regard, as intentional strategies, like comprehensive employee awareness training, can equip employees to be a prominent defender of data security. 

We have created a toolkit to help you secure your remote workforce quickly and affordably. Please don’t hesitate to contact my team to find out more about how our cybersecurity suite can help mitigate the risks of remote work.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2020/04/27/remote-workers-security-risk/ 

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Many Employees Feel Vulnerable to Cyberattacks

   

A survey of more than 1,500 UK employees found widespread fear of becoming the victim of a cyberattack following the national order to impose social distancing and transition to remote work. 49% of respondents indicated that they lack confidence in their computer hardware, and 42% reported receiving a suspicious email while working from home.  

Notably, 18% indicated that they’d experienced a cybersecurity event while working from home, and more than half of breach victims indicated a malicious email was to blame. Phishing attacks have soared, up over 600% in the wake of COVID-19.  

While some participants felt that their employers provided helpful defensive tools, like antivirus software or access to a VPN service, only 28% received specific training for the endpoints and applications that comprise their workflow.  

The risks of remote work are well-documented, and with this arrangement likely to continue for the foreseeable future, now is the perfect time to ensure that your employees have the tools necessary to protect your valuable data.   

https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/half-of-remote-workers-feel-vulnerable-to-growing-cyberattacks

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

DarkWeb Trends

phishing scams compromise patient data, ransomware disrupts remote work, the sale of the world’s largest whiskey collection is thwarted, and employees struggle to deter cybersecurity threats while working from home.

• Top Source Hits: ID Theft Forums
• Top Compromise Type: Domain
• Top Industry: Education & Research
• Top Employee Count: 1-10

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

50,000 Companies Send Employees Home with Infected Devices

 

In a rush to enable employees to work remotely, many companies unknowingly sent staffers home with compromised devices. A recent study found that as many as 50,000 companies issued already-compromised devices that were protected at the office by company firewalls and other in-house defensive measures but not outside of it.  

These compromised devices are now operating on lightly-secured home or public Wi-Fi networks in an unmoderated environment, and that brings a deluge of cybersecurity risks. At ID Agent, we’ve compiled several resources to help mitigate risks like this for your remote workforce including a guide for addressing remote work vulnerabilities. 

Adding an extra layer of protection for access to your data and systems is crucial. That’s why we’re excited to be able to provide you with a cutting-edge secure identity and access management solution that was designed with remote workers in mind – at an excellent value.

Passly is perfect for securing company data when workers and administrators are away from the office. Scalable and quick to deploy, Passly provides a single sign-on Launchpad tailored for each user and integrates seamlessly with the applications that your staffers use every day. Multifactor authentication means that even if passwords are compromised, an extra credential is needed to access your data and systems. 

We’re here to help as your company adjusts its cybersecurity strategy to meet the new challenges of our changed world and shifting threat landscape. If we can support your efforts during this tumultuous time, please contact us today. 

https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint/work-from-home-exposes-already-infected-machines-in-50k-us-organizations-/d/d-id/1337606?&web_view=true

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Hackers Use Stolen Credentials to Attack Hospitals with Ransomware

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals, and healthcare facilities have dealt with a deluge of cyberattacks, and ransomware has been especially pernicious. According to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), hackers infiltrated many of these organizations using stolen credentials obtained from a known vulnerability in their Pulse Secure VPN servers.  

This threat was first identified in October 2019, with the CISA and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation both issuing subsequent alerts in January and April of 2020. Unfortunately, even after repairing the vulnerability, the agencies have seen examples of cybercriminals using compromised credentials to access company networks. 

The incident is a reminder of the importance of acting swiftly to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities but also of maintaining insights into the Dark Web, where stolen login information can quickly circulate and create chaos for your IT infrastructure.  

COVID-19 is creating a more perilous digital environment for companies, making now the right time to double-down on cybersecurity initiatives that can prevent a breach.  

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/us-govt-hacker-used-stolen-ad-credentials-to-ransom-hospitals/?&web_view=true    

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Dark Web ID Trends:

phishing scams continue to inundate healthcare providers, malware steals SMB customer data at checkout, and thousands of companies send employees home with compromised devices. 

• Top Source Hits: ID Theft Forums
• Top Compromise Type: Domain
• Top Industry: Manufacturing
• Top Employee Count: 51-100

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

COVID-19 Treatment Centers Targeted by Cybercrime

    

This week, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a warning that hackers are increasingly targeting companies pursuing treatments for the novel Coronavirus. As a result, the FBI warned, “Now is the time to protect critical research you’re conducting.”   

Of course, it’s not just researchers experiencing a surge in COVID-19-related cyberattacks. Other healthcare facilities, including hospitals, testing facilities, and specialty care units have experienced a barrage of phishing scams, ransomware attacks, and other cyberattacks. This activity is part of a concerted effort by cybercriminals to take advantage of this scary and destabilizing moment to steal valuable company and customer data. 

Consequently, now is the time for every company to reassess its cyber preparedness in light of the new realities posed by COVID-19. If we can support these efforts in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact our team! 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-cyber/foreign-state-hackers-target-u-s-coronavirus-treatment-research-fbi-official-idUSKBN21Y3GL?&web_view=true

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863