As the internet grows, so does the sophistication and capabilities of cyber attacks. Cybercriminals constantly develop new ways to exploit even the most complex networks and servers. One of the newer types of attacks caused major headlines in 2020 and continues to be a force to be reckoned with for even the largest companies and organizations. It's called a double extortion ransomware attack. Becoming a victim of these vicious attacks can lead to devastating consequences.

Network security is of the utmost importance when it comes to protecting servers. An organization's servers contains a lot of sensitive data (e.g., clients’ personal data) that can greatly harm your business in the blink of an eye if compromised. One of the most common yet often undetectable ways the security of your servers can be compromised is cache poisoning. It is crucial to be aware of what cache poisoning is, how it works, why it is so dangerous, and how you can prevent becoming a victim.

One of the most frustrating challenges of vendor risk management is chasing outstanding security questionnaires. But with some clever operational strategies, you’ll never need to worry about delayed risk assessments impacting your SLAs again. To learn how to encourage your vendors to complete their risk assessments faster, read on.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is one of the world’s most popular regulations. Though the European Union designed the GDPR to protect European citizens, its compliance transcends European borders, impacting most businesses collecting personal data via their websites - because you can’t control whether a European citizen accesses your website. Third-party vendors often require access to sensitive personal data to deliver their services.

‍Phishing attacks make up over 90% of all data breaches (according to Cisco's 2021 Cybersecurity Threat Trends Report), far outnumbering malware and ransomware attacks, affecting millions of users yearly. The main issue with phishing attacks is that users and organizations are poorly trained to identify them. Even with the latest security protocols and software in place, it's impossible to fully protect against cyber threats without proper security awareness training.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that requires at least two forms of verification of the user’s identity to gain access to an account, application, or data set. Instead of needing just a username and password to log in, MFA adds additional layers of security by requiring users to verify their identity. Each additional verification method can prevent unauthorized access from cybercriminals or hackers from executing a successful cyber attack.

Data leak detection software identifies an organization's data leaks – the accidental public exposure of sensitive data due to software misconfigurations and poor network security. Data leaks quickly become data breaches when cybercriminals identify and exploit this exposed data. The following scenario demonstrates the progression of a cyberattack facilitated by a data leak attack vector.

A cybersecurity Incident Response Plan (CSIRP) is the guiding light that grounds you during the emotional hurricane that follows a cyberattack. A CSIRP helps security teams minimize the impact of active cyber threats and outline mitigation strategies to prevent the same types of incidents from happening again. But as the complexity of cyberattacks increases, so too should the strategies that prevent them.

Can TPRM programs integrate with my existing cybersecurity framework? These are just some of the questions troubling stakeholders at the precipice of a TPRM program implementation. While left answered, these questions cause delays in the onboarding of an initiative that could prevent a catastrophic third-party breach. Whether you’re considering implementing a TPRM program, or not sure how to even begin the implementation process, this article will be your guiding light.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a type of multi-factor authentication (MFA) used to verify users’ identities and provide an additional layer of account security. Users must enter two factors before they are allowed access to their online accounts to ensure they are who they claim to be. 2FA offers a greater level of security than single-factor authentication (SFA), which only relies on one factor, such as a password or passcode.

The answer is yes and no. While cybersecurity automation is necessary in today’s vast threat landscape, its current functionality will not replace the role of cybersecurity professionals. The use of cybersecurity automation is undoubtedly on the rise. A 2021 global Statista survey found that 35.9% of global survey respondents reported using a high level of automation in security operations and event/alert processing.

Ethical hacking is a field within cybersecurity where security experts assume the role of an unauthorized user and attempt to gain access to a private network or computer. These exercises aim to help targets identify any security vulnerabilities that could be exploited in a real cyberattack. Cybersecurity professionals utilize non-invasive methods, such as risk assessments, audits, and security questionnaires, to discover security risks.

Securing sensitive data in today’s digital world has become increasingly complex and challenging, especially if parties practice poor data management, network security, encryption methods, or endpoint protection. As cyber attacks continue to grow, it’s absolutely necessary to maintain stronger cybersecurity practices.

The threat landscape means the entire scope of potential and recognized cybersecurity threats affecting user groups, organizations, specific industries, or a particular time. As new cyber threats emerge daily, the threat landscape changes accordingly.

A data breach occurs when sensitive data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen, or accessed by an unauthorized individual. For a security incident to constitute a data breach, the exposure of sensitive data must be intentional. The presence of intent differentiates a data breach from a data leak, where exposure is accidental. A data leak occurs when data is accidentally exposed through a vulnerability, such as weak passwords.

In November of 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which authorizes a plan to invest $1.2 trillion into the nation's infrastructure. This bipartisan infrastructure bill plans to bolster the transportation, energy, water, utility sectors, and state and local governments. An important provision within the IIJA is the allocation of $2 billion towards enhancing the cybersecurity of government organizations.

Many of the most prolific ransomware attacks to hit the news, such as Wannacry and Petya in 2017, affected PC users only. The distinct absence of Apple computers in the long list of victims has many Mac users wondering if ransomware attacks are a cyber threat they need to worry about. Can ransomware affect Macs? Short answer: Yes. While rare, security researchers have noted examples of Mac-compatible ransomware variants.

Everyone is at risk of a data breach or cyber attack, no matter how small or large a company is. Hackers and cybercriminals come up with new ways every day to steal sensitive information or personal data that they can potentially sell or ransom for money. According to a report published by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), a record number of 1862 data breaches occurred in 2021 in the US.

‍Cybersecurity is a broad term that describes the practice of securing and protecting all computer systems, devices, and programs in an IT environment from cyber attacks or cyber threats. However, within the field of cybersecurity, there are many different specializations that individuals can choose for their career paths.