Recently, hackers deployed ransomware into Florida-based information technology firm Kaseya. The threat actors also stole troves of data and demanded $70M to get it back. To date, it’s called the largest ransomware attack in history affecting around 2,000 businesses with 145 in the U.S. Affiliates of the Russian hacker group REvil have claimed responsibility, and even President Biden is working with his administration to determine an adequate response. The breach is scary because the cyber criminals targeted systems that were designed to protect customers from malware.
Thus, Kaseya is a wake up call for all businesses to focus on proactively stopping cyber attacks. Patch-and-pray cyber security will no longer cut it. Cyber attacks happen consistently, within microseconds, and hackers are using more sophisticated technologies to breach systems. Companies need to get ahead of the threats, ASAP.
Further, security sprawl is another obstacle many organizations face. Often, organizations employ a mixed stack of perimeter defenses that work in isolation. Perhaps you update your antivirus and antimalware systems, and try to stay current on persistent threats. Maybe you even have filters and tools designed to detect unauthorized infiltrators. Also, if something happens, you may have a plan in place to manage it. Is this a proactive approach? In a word, no. This is a truly reactionary approach to cyber security since it depends on shoring up your endpoints before cyber criminals can attack or setting up alerts for a breach.
If you want to implement a proactive solution, then you have to be in front of cyber attacks, not just analyzing breaches historically. What does a proactive solution look like? Well, it incorporates identifying and addressing any scenario that can increase the risk of a cyber attack. For instance, a proactive approach to an insider attack would be to know when behaviors have changed, when threat actors are taking a different approach or noticing when your data is moving in unplanned ways. Taking a proactive approach to cyber security isn’t easy, and it requires a new paradigm, but it must be done.
Final thought
Get out of the vicious cycle of reactive cyber security. It’s time to rethink your strategy by implementing behavioral analytics tools, anticipating attacks, and installing a more robust security perimeter that collaborates by gathering and sharing data within a unified system. Contact us today to learn more about how your organization can implement proactive cyber security solutions.