Late last year, the Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine (CERT-UA) released an advisory that reported cyberattacks targeting Ukrainian state organizations attributed to the Kremlin-backed nation-state group APT28, aka Fancy Bear/Sofacy. The advisory listed the use of a new backdoor named “OCEANMAP,” detailed in this whitepaper.

Initial access brokers (IABs) form a key part of the cybercriminal ecosystem. They facilitate access for ransomware groups, data leakers, and advanced persistent threat groups (APTs) into corporate networks. They are highly specialised, and professional, and operate in an established, lucrative market often characterised by rigid rules and conventions. Every ransomware attack or data breach begins with initial access, following the reconnaissance phase of an attack.

Digitalization has revolutionized bureaucratic processes as a whole. Like other sectors, public bodies across the world have adopted web-based software and support to increase the efficiency of their operations.

Organizations should implement the principle of least privilege to protect their sensitive data from unauthorized access. To implement the principle of least privilege, organizations need to define roles and permissions, invest in a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution, enforce MFA, automatically rotate credentials for privileged accounts, segment networks and regularly audit network privileges.

Professionals in the cybersecurity industry have much to consider regarding the various approaches and types of tooling required to keep their organizations secure. There are significant known cybersecurity threats and a constant danger of new “zero-day” vulnerabilities. One comprehensive strategy growing in popularity for mitigating the associated risks generated by these threats and vulnerabilities is Attack Surface Management (ASM).

By now, you are likely aware that the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program Proposed Rule was published in the Federal Register on December 26, 2023. This set into motion a series of deadlines, which will culminate in the full implementation of CMMC 2.0. It also set into motion a flurry of activity within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and the realization that a deadline for compliance looms large.