Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

Cyber incidents are always going to be present. Regardless of whether you’re working for a startup or a corporation, malicious software can target you and your business. This is why it’s important to work closely with cybersecurity incident response teams and have such protocols in place. The lifecycle of a cybersecurity incident starts way before it happens with good preparation. However, the right actions should be taken if such a problem unfolds.

According to the 2024 State of Ransomware report by Sophos, there was a 500% increase in ransom bills in the last 12 months. Moreover, an analysis by Comparitech revealed 181 confirmed ransomware incidents targeting healthcare providers in 2024, with 25.6 million records compromised. Meanwhile, there were 42 more confirmed attacks on healthcare organizations not involved in direct care provision. These additional attacks amounted to over 115 million compromised records.

Ransomware has evolved from a distant “I hope it doesn’t happen to us” threat to an insidious, worldwide crisis. Among the sectors most affected is manufacturing, which has found itself more and more in attackers’ crosshairs. Manufacturing has long viewed itself as immune to digital crime, but ransomware attackers have belied this belief.

The FBI is set to report that ransomware was the most pervasive cybersecurity threat to US critical infrastructure during the year of 2024. As Reuters reports, complaints of ransomware attacks against critical sectors have jumped 9% over the previous year.

New cybersecurity legislation is coming thick and fast. And for good reason: cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, systems are becoming more connected, and geopolitical relationships are becoming more fraught. One of the most recent bipartisan legislations – the US Federal Contractor Cybersecurity Vulnerability Reduction Act of 2025 – is designed to modernize cybersecurity standards in the US and protect the country from threats.

Technology is transforming the way financial scams operate, making them more sophisticated, automated, and harder to detect. From deepfake impersonations to cryptocurrency fraud and tech support scams, bad actors are leaving no stone unturned and are leveraging every advanced tool at their disposal to manipulate victims and steal their assets.

The recent Bybit hack, in which bad actors swooped in and made off with $1.5 billion worth of Ethereum, has sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency industry. As one of the largest digital heists in history, it lays bare the vulnerabilities in crypto exchange security and the persistent threats from sophisticated actors. And yes, Bybit has assured its customers that their funds will be covered; the question is how these incidents happen in the first place.

Africa has made huge strides in digital transformation in the past few years. For example, over 160 million Africans gained broadband internet access between 2019 and 2022. As the continent embraces digitalization, cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly pressing concern.

The healthcare industry is a prime target for cyberattacks due to the significant value of medical data and the critical nature of patient care. Unlike other sectors, healthcare organizations must balance cybersecurity with the need for immediate access to life-saving information. Ransomware attacks, in particular, have surged, with cybercriminals exploiting outdated systems, unpatched vulnerabilities, and human error to disrupt operations.

Third parties have long been the hidden heroes of the payment card industry, providing specialized, streamlined support to merchants looking to host a website or spin up an app. But that convenience is not without a cost. According to PCI DSS 4.0 compliance standards, although merchants are free to use third parties, the responsibility for any incurred security liability will be all theirs. When a merchant takes on an outside provider, they are taking on their cybersecurity risk as well.