Outsourcing, digitization, and globalization are three of the largest trends in the last 30 years. They've brought new products and services, increased specialization, lower costs, and improved access. But they've also introduced significant cyber risk. Particularly the risk of data breaches and data leaks. For perspective, a recent study by the Ponemon Institute put the average cost of a data breach at $3.92 million. The unfortunate truth is third-parties cause a lot of data breaches.

Outsourcing, digitization, and globalization have brought us new products and services, allowed for increased specialization, lowered costs, and improved access but they've also introduced significant cyber risk. Particularly the risk of data breaches and data leaks. And with the average cost of a data breach reaching close to $4 million dollars according to a recent study by the Ponemon Institute, it pays to prevent them. The unfortunate truth is third-parties cause a lot of data breaches.

This blog post is part twenty-four of the "Hunting with Splunk: The Basics" series. I've been dealing with viruses for years, but this is the first time I've written a blog post where we are dealing with actual viruses. Ever since the 2004 tsunami, I have witnessed cyber-baddies using current events to trick users into opening documents or clicking on links. The COVID-19 breakout is no different.

The amount of cyber risk the average organization is taking on has never been higher, a big part of it in the form of third-party and fourth-party risk. A household name reporting a data breach or data leak feels like a daily occurrence. And with the average cost of a data breach reaching close to $4 million dollars according to a recent study by the Ponemon Institute, organizations are looking for new ways to prevent them. The unfortunate truth is third-parties cause a lot of data breaches.

Organizations are taking on more cyber risk than ever before and a large part comes in the form of third-party and fourth-party risk. The news is inundated with data breaches and data leaks and the average cost of a data breach has reached nearly $4 million globally. It's safe to say that the financial cost alone is enough proof to start investing in tools to prevent data breaches. The unfortunate truth is third-parties cause data breaches.

What a world! In February, everyone was busy minding their own business, but since March, the entire globe suddenly focused on the same challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken our businesses and private lives by storm. The outbreak surprised everyone - a surprise hardly any business was prepared for. It brought country-wide lockdowns for quarantine, office closures and enforced teleworking, which are now commonplace.

The cybersecurity threat landscape is quickly changing. Administrators have become more cautious when it comes to security and governing access, end users have become tech-savvy and security-aware, and attackers have also raised their game. Living-off-the-land attacks, or LOTL, is one clear trend today, with attackers exploiting preinstalled features and default tools built into system.

In times when a majority of employees are working from home due to the global coronavirus pandemic, enterprises are extensively relying on collaboration tools like Zoom to keep their employees productive and engaged. Only in March, the daily usage of Zoom Videos increased over 5 times. The platform made it easy for company employees and clients to hop on meetings whenever needed and for schools and students to continue education online.

Admittedly, we are in uncharted territory – what seemed routine a few short weeks ago – commuting to work, going to the gym, or gathering with friends – is now either a daunting task or a non-existent option. This shift has impacted our technology, our workforce, and our business environments almost overnight and with minimal warning.

Over the past 12 months, INETCO’s flagship product, INETCO Insight 7, has gained recognition as the go-to solution for acquiring a level of detail within payment transaction data sets that is unprecedented, and extremely useful. Recently, INETCO caught the attention of Bank Director, an information resource to the financial community with a focus on the strategic issues most fundamental to a bank’s CEO, senior leadership team, chairman and independent directors.