The top cyber security threats your organization may encounter in 2019

 The cyber threat environment is becoming more dangerous every day. A recent survey by the World Economic Forum revealed that cyber-attacks were the number-one concern of executives in Europe and other advanced economies. As we approach the winter holidays and the end of the year, let’s examine the top cyber security threats enterprises can expect to grapple with in 2019.

Phishing Schemes

Nearly all successful cyber-attacks begin with a phishing scheme. Business email compromise (BEC), a highly targeted spear phishing technique, is responsible for over $12 billion in losses globally. Although many people still equate phishing with emails, this cyber security threat has evolved, with hackers employing text messages, phone calls, and even social media “quizzes” to trick unwitting victims.

Cloud Cyber Security Threats

Cloud computing has transformed the ways in which we live and conduct business, but it has also given hackers a broader attack surface and created a host of brand-new cyber security threats and vulnerabilities, from cloud malware to misconfigured AWS buckets. Cloud security must be addressed differently than on-premises security, and solid cloud security starts with a secure cloud migration.

Shadow IT

Over 80% of employees admit to using shadow IT apps at work. Most of the time, their motivations are not malicious or negligent; they’re just trying to do their jobs better. However, shadow IT usage is a serious compliance and cyber security threat. These rogue apps may have security or compliance issues that users are unaware of, and since internal IT departments aren’t even aware of the apps, they cannot monitor access logs, ensure that regular backups are performed, or apply important software updates.

Cryptojacking

Cryptojacking malware, which allows hackers to hijack enterprise computer equipment for the purpose of “mining” cryptocurrencies, is now more common than ransomware. Once a minor annoyance that primarily targeted small consumer devices, modern cryptojacking malware is designed to go after enterprise networks, where it poses a very serious cyber security threat, crashing applications and even damaging hardware.

Ransomware

Cryptojacking malware may be more common, but that doesn’t mean ransomware is any less of a cyber security threat. Healthcare and critical infrastructure systems are particularly at risk. One-quarter of SamSam ransomware victims are in the healthcare sector, and SamSam was the culprit in the City of Atlanta ransomware attack. Authorities believe the SamSam hackers have earned over $6 million from their malware.

Unsecured IoT Devices

Smart devices are proliferating like rabbits, but a lack of common security standards means many devices suffer from serious security vulnerabilities. Forty-five percent of enterprise IoT buyers cite cyber security as a significant barrier to purchase, and as cases of everything from baby monitors to home security cameras being hacked hit the news, cyber security threats loom large over consumer purchases as well. Both the public and private sector are scrambling to secure the Internet of Things. In recent weeks, NIST released guidelines for securing for medical IoT devices, and Microsoft launched a public preview of its new solution for developing secure smart devices.

Attacks on Operational Technology (OT) Systems

Cyber-attacks on operational technology (OT) – the “behind-the-scenes” systems and equipment that power factories, mining operations, and critical infrastructure –don’t just cripple business operations. They present threats to the health and lives of employees and the general public, and they are increasing in frequency. OT systems face vulnerabilities and cyber security threats that are starkly different from those that threaten IT systems, and air-gapping, a common fix, cannot be depended on as a standalone solution.

The cyber security experts at Lazarus Alliance have deep knowledge of the cyber security field, are continually monitoring the latest information security threats, and are committed to protecting organizations of all sizes from security breaches. Our full-service risk assessment services and Continuum GRC RegTech software will help protect your organization from data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cyber threats.

Lazarus Alliance is proactive cyber security®. Call 1-888-896-7580 to discuss your organization’s cyber security needs and find out how we can help your organization adhere to cyber security regulations, maintain compliance, and secure your systems.

Cyber Security Travel Tips for Business & Leisure

The holiday season is fast approaching, but hackers don’t take vacations. Whether you’re planning to go home for the holidays or travel for business on a regular basis, make sure to protect yourself from cyber crime with these cyber security travel tips.

Cyber Security Travel Tip #1: Update Your OS & Software

Before you leave, make sure your operating systems and software are up-to-date.

Cyber Security Travel Tip #2: Take Only What You Need

Do you really need to pack 15 different electronic devices? The more devices you take, the more you’ll have to keep safe from hacking, theft, or accidents.

Cyber Security Travel Tip #3: Lock Down Your Devices

Make sure that all the devices you are taking are protected with strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, or a biometric lock, and disable any file-sharing capabilities. Avoid taking devices that contain sensitive data. If you are a business traveler, ask your organization about lending you a disposable phone or laptop for use while traveling. If you cannot avoid traveling with a device that contains sensitive data, consider encrypting it using encryption software.

Cyber Security Travel Tip #4: Beware of Public WiFi

Many airports, hotels, and restaurants offer free, unsecured public WiFi, which poses a multitude of cyber security risks. Avoid using these networks; tethering to your phone is a much safer option. If you absolutely must connect to a public WiFi network, follow these best practices from Continuum GRC.

Cyber Security Travel Tip #5: Don’t Leave Devices Unattended

Lock up any devices left in hotel rooms, and never leave your devices unattended in public areas, not even for a moment. For example, never set your phone down on a counter while you reach into your purse or wallet. When using your devices in public areas – especially crowded ones – conceal your devices as much as possible. Keep them tucked inside interior pockets or hidden inside zippered bags, and make sure those bags never leave your possession.

Cyber Security Travel Tip #6: Don’t Share Your Location on Social Media

Many social media sites have an option to “check in” to your current locale so that your followers can track you on your trip. The dark side is that hackers can also track your movements and use them to their advantage; for example, breaking into your home, office, or hotel room when they know you’re not there.

Cyber Security Travel Tip #7: Don’t Share Your Phone

You may be approached by strangers with sob stories about losing their phone (or having it stolen) and needing to borrow yours to call for help. Never let strangers “borrow” your phone or any other device. It takes only a few moments for a skilled cyber criminal to use the occasion to install malware – or to simply run away and disappear into a crowd.

Cyber Security Travel Tip #8: Don’t Use Bluetooth

Many rental cars allow travelers to connect their smartphones using Bluetooth. However, some vehicles store your personal information, such as your contact list, even after you’ve terminated the connection. Enabling Bluetooth connectivity also leaves your device vulnerable to hackers. Turn off Bluetooth before you leave for your trip, and don’t turn it back on until you get home.

Cyber Security Travel Tip #9: Turn Off Network Auto-Connect

Many cell phones include a feature that enables them to automatically connect to available WiFi networks. Turn this feature off, not only when you travel but permanently. Telling your phone to automatically connect to any available network leaves you vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks.

Cyber Security Travel Tip #10: Use Credit Cards, Not Debit Cards

Always use a credit card, not a debit card, when paying for hotel rooms or meals or making any other purchases on the road. Point-of-sale systems are major targets for hackers, and if your credit card data is stolen, you have far more recourse to get fraudulent charges refunded than you do with a debit card. This also prevents hackers from getting access to your bank account.

The cyber security experts at Lazarus Alliance have deep knowledge of the cyber security field, are continually monitoring the latest information security threats, and are committed to protecting organizations of all sizes from security breaches. Our full-service risk assessment services and Continuum GRC RegTech software will help protect your organization from data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cyber threats.

Lazarus Alliance is proactive cyber security®. Call 1-888-896-7580 to discuss your organization’s cyber security needs and find out how we can help your organization adhere to cyber security regulations, maintain compliance, and secure your systems.

Shadow IT can be managed through solid governance

Shadow IT is a very serious and growing threat to IT compliance and cyber security, and most organizations have no idea how common it really is. This article will examine some of the risks of shadow IT and discuss ways in which organizations can curb it.

What Is Shadow IT?

Shadow IT refers to any software, cloud services, or even hardware that employees are using on your enterprise network without the consent or knowledge of your IT department. Prior to the proliferation of cloud computing, it usually involved isolated incidents where individual employees, generally those with at least some degree of technical acumen, would install unauthorized software applications onto their desktop computers.

Then came the cloud, which brought easy access to a dizzying array of free or very low-cost apps to every employee with a computer and an internet connection. These days, shadow IT nearly exclusively refers to the unsanctioned use of SaaS applications and other cloud services, and incidents are no longer isolated; over 80% of respondents to a survey by McAfee admitted to using rogue SaaS applications on the job. In some cases, entire teams or departments are discovered using the same shadow app.

Yet most organizations have no grasp of the scope of shadow IT usage among their employees. Respondents to a Cisco survey of CIOs estimated that their organizations were using an average of 51 cloud services. The actual average was 730.

The Road to Cyber Attacks Is Paved with Good Intentions

Most of the time, employees’ motivations for using shadow IT apps are not malicious or negligent; in their view, they are using tools that allow them to do their jobs better. When asked why they chose shadow apps over enterprise-approved alternatives, respondents to the McAfee survey largely cited productivity reasons.

Unfortunately, despite employees’ best intentions, shadow IT poses serious risks to enterprise cyber security and compliance. Shadow apps that haven’t been vetted by the security team may have security or compliance issues that users are unaware of, especially in highly regulated industries such as finance and healthcare or in any organization that must comply with the GDPR. The IT department also has no oversight of the application; they cannot monitor access logs or ensure that regular backups are performed or that important software updates are applied.

Additionally, shadow IT usage is not confined to SaaS applications. Individual employees or groups may set up their own cloud servers and use them to store and process enterprise data, opening up the organization to data breaches and compliance violations.

Tips for Managing Shadow IT

Visibility into shadow IT usage is the first step to controlling it. While discovery of shadow IT apps and services remains a challenge, a number of technical tools have emerged to make the task easier. At MSIgnite 2018, for example, Microsoft announced a number of updates to its Productivity App Discovery Tool in Office 365 to help enterprises identify which shadow IT apps are in use and which employees are using them.

However, effective management of shadow IT usage doesn’t end with deploying a visibility tool. Organizations must develop solid policies and governance that address the security and compliance issues of shadow apps without quashing employee innovation:

• Develop a clear, consistent set of policies on the use of unauthorized apps and services, and make sure your employees understand why these policies are in place. Provide real-world examples of the dangers of using rogue apps.
• Be willing to train new employees on enterprise-approved apps as part of the onboarding process. Many employees who use shadow IT apps do so because of their comfort level with the shadow app; they may have used it at a previous job and are unfamiliar with the enterprise-approved alternative.
• Open the lines of communication with your employees. Keep apprised of the apps they are using to do their jobs, what they like about them, and what they feel could be improved. If enough employees bring up the same issue or complaint, make it a priority to deliver an enterprise-approved solution. In some cases, your organization may wish to work with the shadow app developer to create a version of the software that meets your enterprise’s security and compliance requirements.

The cyber security experts at Lazarus Alliance have deep knowledge of the cyber security field, are continually monitoring the latest information security threats, and are committed to protecting organizations of all sizes from security breaches. Our full-service risk assessment services and Continuum GRC RegTech software will help protect your organization from data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cyber threats.

Lazarus Alliance is proactive cyber security®. Call 1-888-896-7580 to discuss your organization’s cyber security needs and find out how we can help your organization adhere to cyber security regulations, maintain compliance, and secure your systems.