What is the biggest cybersecurity challenge facing companies worldwide? The answer may vary depending on who you ask, but one indisputable fact remains clear: “What you can’t see, can and will hurt you.” Cyber threats lurk in the depths of the digital world, constantly evolving, poised to strike unsuspecting victims. They often strike by compromising unseen connected devices which, experience has proven, represent up to 50% of all devices on a network.*

On February 15, the US Department of Justice announced “Operation Dying Ember”: the takedown of a botnet controlled by APT28, the Russian military cyber threat actor also known as Fancy Bear. APT28 was previously known for developing the VPNFilter botnet, which targeted routers and network attached storage devices and was also disrupted by the DoJ in 2018.

The digital transformation of industrial landscapes has brought unprecedented advancements in efficiency and productivity for Operational Technology (OT) companies. But this surge in connectivity exposes critical infrastructure to heightened cybersecurity risks, such as: To address these risks, OT companies should adhere to the guidelines in the European Union’s Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems (NIS2).