Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

In today’s connected world, our online presence is central to our lives like never before. We stay connected with our friends and family wherever they are through social media. Whereas in the past our social contact was limited to those who lived or worked nearby, now, through social media, we can connect with those with shared interests or beliefs anywhere in the world. Most of us use social media to stay in touch with those they care about.

In today’s interconnected business environment, organizations rely heavily on third parties, and while third party relations are critical for success in most businesses, they also leave data more vulnerable to exposure from bad actors. This makes vendor risk management (VRM) a critical component of any company's overall risk management strategies. Effective VRM practices help protect sensitive data and maintain robust security postures, minimizing the potential risks introduced by vendors.

Cybersecurity threats cast an ominous shadow over organizations across all sectors. While the world often associates these risks with profit-driven businesses, non-profit organizations are equally vulnerable targets. And the stakes are alarmingly high. Recent data shows that about 6 cyber-attacks happen every 4 minutes and attacks like the 2022 one on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) send shivers across non-profits.

Data is the foundation of modern business strategies. Organisations are navigating a complex landscape to harness the power of their data effectively, from ensuring seamless integration and accessibility to upholding quality standards and compliance, all while fostering strategic data governance. In an era where data holds the key to unlocking AI capabilities and driving advanced analytics, the quest for leveraging sensitive data safely has never been more pressing.

In the first part of this blog series, we discussed the primary data security challenges identified as most significant for c-suite respondents from our executive research. In the ever-changing landscape of modern business, harnessing the full potential of data has become imperative for enterprises aiming to future-proof their operations. However, to truly unlock this potential, organisations must critically assess their approach to data security across three vital areas.

The Chinese espionage group Daggerfly, also known as Evasive Panda or Bronze Highland, has significantly upgraded its malware arsenal, allowing it to target a wide range of operating systems including Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android. This development marks a notable escalation in the group's cyber capabilities, as detailed in a recent analysis by Symantec.

In a significant development in the realm of data security, Verizon Communications has agreed to a $16 million settlement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) following a series of data breaches at its subsidiary, TracFone Wireless. The breaches, which occurred between 2021 and 2023, have led to increased scrutiny on Verizon's data protection practices and will result in mandatory improvements to its security measures.

Data backup is an important part of cybersecurity. Implementing appropriate data backup solutions may save both time and money. Understanding and adhering to current backup procedures is critical, as is partnering with IT workers. Imagine an organization experiencing a sudden hardware failure on their computer. Without proper backups, restoring critical records gets delayed or even impossible. If there is no backup policy in place, one must be created.