Author: Jane Devry

Team competitions like the European Football Championships repeatedly show that the supposed favorites do not always win. These competitions have their dynamics and often enable teams to exceed their limits and achieve excellent results. It is reasonable to ask how much we can learn from winning teams when it comes to building a good SAP Security line-up and identifying important success factors required for the journey to SAP Security excellence.

Strength in all disciplines

If you look at successful tournament teams, you will notice that they have significant strengths in many, if not all, areas of the team line-up, such as defense, midfield and attack. SAP Security also benefits greatly when organizations gain a high maturity level in multiple topics. This includes Security Monitoring and Threat Detection, as well as general system hardening through efficient Patch Management. It also involves eliminating weaknesses in the system configuration and the ABAP coding of custom applications. All these disciplines are important if you want to fend off the opponent, or in SAP’s case, cyber-attacks.

Teamwork and coordination

However, in football, having good individual players is not enough. You can only win a tournament if the players work together as a team, communicate effectively during the game and perform at a high level in a coordinated manner.  The same applies to SAP Security. Success is only possible when teams responsible for the various topics reach a high level of coherence and maturity and adopt processes that enable them to work efficiently together. For example, SAP Security managers only know whether potential vulnerabilities have been exploited if they combine Vulnerability Management with Threat Detection. For this reason, SAP Enterprise Threat Detection can be enhanced with Security & Compliance findings. Patch Management also benefits when known security gaps in the SAP standard code are monitored immediately after publication, ensuring that the SAP Basis team can promptly import the necessary SAP Security Notes.

Efficiency

The European Football Championships last several weeks, and successful teams know how to use their strengths efficiently and maintain high performance from the beginning to the finals. Efficiency is also necessary in the SAP Security process as it determines whether the security solution creates added value or simply keeps the administration busy. Today, lean processes for administering and maintaining solutions, along with automated alerts in case of critical events via email or integrations in SIEM or ITSM systems, are taken for granted. SAP Security platforms can help to pick up the low-hanging fruits and achieve the best results with minimal effort. For example, it first eliminates the most critical vulnerabilities that have the greatest impact on their SAP landscape but can be easily mitigated.  

Speed and adaptability

A successful football team can always adapt to their opponents and adjust their style of play, especially when the coach is guiding them from outside surveillance. Speed is crucial when it comes to responding to unexpected events, such as a counterattack. Cyber-attacks are always unexpected events and require quick responses from SAP Security teams. Threat Detection not only requires speed but also comprehensive data, such as through HyperLogging, to be able to assess the situation as best as possible. In addition, a comprehensive automation framework helps to respond to a wide range of events in an automated and adapted manner. 

Good preparation and strategy

The foundation for a successful European Football Championships is often laid well before the tournament begins. Good training preparation is just as essential as a deliberate game strategy. Successful defense against cyber-attacks also depends on whether SAP Security teams are well prepared and have done their hardening homework. This includes access to an always up-to-date SAP Security Online Knowledge Base, as well as the consistent implementation of SAP Security guidelines and recommendations. A successful SAP Security strategy is also long-term and emphasizes continuous improvement. An all-in-one Security Platform for SAP is the fastest and most efficient way to a mature SAP Security posture. 

The post What SAP Security Can Learn From Successful European Football (Soccer) Teams appeared first on Cybersecurity Insiders.

We’re at a defining moment in cybersecurity that will determine organizational survival. Transform or be transformed by a competitor—this isn’t a slogan, it’s a survival mandate. As organizations integrate AI into their business and security operations, they face increased identity vulnerabilities. This requires enhancing organizational visibility within networks. AI amplifies cyber threats exponentially: it makes good hackers great and great hackers scale. Organizations that fail to implement comprehensive monitoring mechanisms will face devastating attacks. It’s not a question of if, but when.

We’re seeing the first wave of attacks, and they’re already mind-blowing. Take the Wiz CEO incident—where attackers used AI to perfectly replicate an executive’s voice to authorize a fraudulent transfer, bypassing traditional security measures. This represents just the first inning of AI-enhanced cyber attacks and phishing attempts. Without robust visibility solutions that enable real-time detection of anomalies—such as unusual route updates, unexpected configuration changes, or suspicious account activities—organizations remain critically vulnerable.

Drawing from collaborative guidance by top security agencies like the CISA, NSA, and FBI, critical infrastructure and organizations across the globe must prioritize enhanced visibility and cybersecurity hardening. As AI enables cyber adversaries to scale their operations, expect nation-state actors to increasingly target critical infrastructure and organizations essential to modern life—disrupting healthcare, supply chains, and financial services.

Regulations Will Redefine “Identity” 

The evolving identity security landscape will force regulators to abandon the traditional separation between human and machine identities. At Anetac, we’re seeing a stark reality: for every human account, there are 40 connected non-human accounts. Soon, tokens, service accounts, and APIs will be treated as part of a single identity entity requiring unified protection. This shift mirrors the evolution of automotive safety—while seatbelts existed in the 1950s, mandating them came much later. We’re at that inflection point for identity security, and venture capitalists are already positioning their investments accordingly.

The New Cybersecurity Investment Landscape

The identity security market has fundamentally shifted from generic security platforms to highly specialized solutions leveraging specific AI models. The most investable solutions will demonstrate dynamic visibility strategies—including comprehensive activity chain mapping, AI-enhanced security features, the ability to establish baselines of normal network behavior, and have a consistent view on all identity entities within the network.

If you’re launching a cybersecurity company and are model-agnostic, you might as well be invisible to investors. The smart money is flowing to organizations that can demonstrate precise use cases built around specific leading AI models. Success requires more than innovative ideas—it demands practical applications of cutting-edge AI capabilities.

The most fundable companies will excel in three areas—articulating specific security challenges through advanced visibility techniques, demonstrating unique solution approaches, and leveraging AI models for return on investment. This means going beyond traditional monitoring to implementing proactive visibility measures—such as automated alerts for configuration changes, strategic management of external connections, and comprehensive packet capture capabilities. We’re not just investing in security anymore—we’re investing in intelligent, adaptive security ecosystems.

The Bottom Line

As 2025 approaches, identity security has evolved from a technical requirement to a business imperative. The convergence of AI, sophisticated cyberadversaries, and deeper regulations creates renewed risks for organizations lacking dynamic and comprehensive network visibility and monitoring capabilities. Visibility is no longer just a technical control—it’s a strategic necessity that determines an organization’s cyber resilience.

My advice is straightforward: Start with identity-based vulnerabilities and establish visibility frameworks. Integrate security into your AI transformation. Master the governance landscape. The alternative isn’t just risking a breach—it’s risking extinction.

This isn’t fear-mongering; it’s a wake-up call. The identity security revolution isn’t coming—it’s here.

The post The AI Threat: It’s Real, and It’s Here appeared first on Cybersecurity Insiders.

The cybersecurity landscape in 2025 is sure to undergo transformative shifts driven by technological advancements and evolving global threats. The integration of AI into cybercriminal operations, the growing reliance on tokenized payment systems, and the increasing intersection of geopolitics with cyber aggression will define the year ahead. As the landscape evolves, it is essential for organisations and individuals to understand and prepare for the key threats on the horizon. Stefan Tanase, Cyber Intelligence Expert as CSIS, provides his cyber security threat landscape predictions for the year ahead.

1. AI-driven cybercrime becomes pervasive

Advancements in artificial intelligence will revolutionise cybercrime. Generative AI will automate reconnaissance, develop adaptive malware, and facilitate highly targeted phishing campaigns. Deepfakes, now capable of real-time manipulation, will enable convincing impersonations for fraud, social engineering, and misinformation campaigns. These attacks will challenge both technical defences and human trust in familiar voices and faces.

2. NFC attacks on tokenised payments

The adoption of mobile payment systems like Google Wallet and Apple Pay has grown exponentially, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. In 2025, we anticipate a significant rise in NFC-based attacks, exploiting vulnerabilities in tokenised card payment systems. These platforms will face unprecedented exploitation as attackers adapt to sophisticated payment technologies.

3. Targeting the crypto industry

As cryptocurrency becomes increasingly regulated and integrated into traditional finance, cyberattacks on the crypto ecosystem will intensify. From Bitcoin wallets to DeFi (decentralised finance) platforms, attackers will exploit vulnerabilities in smart contracts and target the growing number of investors in the crypto space.

4. Evolving ransomware tactics

While organisations are becoming more resilient with better defences and backup strategies, ransomware attacks will adapt. Data leaks, once a powerful extortion tool, are becoming less impactful. However, attacks that significantly disrupt business operations (e.g., halting logistics or sales) will drive higher ransom payments. The divergence between median and average ransom payments will highlight the varying impact of these attacks.

5. Emergence of hard-to-detect malware

Cybercriminals are increasingly using modern programming languages like Go and Rust to develop malware that is harder to detect and reverse-engineer. These binaries will pose a significant challenge to traditional security solutions, marking a shift toward more resilient and evasive malware. The use of “living off the land” binaries (LOLBins) for attack execution will further complicate detection and defence.

6. Supply chain attacks proliferate

The exploitation of open-source projects and generally technological supply chains will remain a favoured tactic. Attackers will continue to insert backdoors into widely used libraries, leading to increased supply chain vulnerabilities. Enhanced scrutiny of open-source projects will be critical, but attackers will still find creative ways to evade safeguards.

7. Increased zero-day exploitation

The trend of nation-state actors using zero-day vulnerabilities aggressively will accelerate. In 2024, actors like North Korea demonstrated a willingness to “burn” zero-days for immediate impact. In 2025, expect an escalation in zero-day usage, with countries like Russia and China pushing boundaries in their cyber espionage and sabotage campaigns.

8. Shifting cybercrime underground

Law enforcement crackdowns on platforms like Telegram and Matrix will force cybercriminals to innovate. A resurgence of underground forums is expected, coupled with a fragmentation of the cybercriminal community. However, replacing Telegram’s unique “social media” model for crowdsourcing attacks will be a major challenge for these groups.

9. Expansion of Chinese-speaking cybercrime

Chinese-speaking threat actors will become global leaders in cybercrime innovation. Historically adept at intellectual property theft, these actors will broaden their focus to include Europe and Latin America. Using advanced Android banking Trojans, remote access tools (RATs), and phishing campaigns, they will efficiently target new victims on a global scale.

10. Geopolitically driven cyber aggression

Rising geopolitical tensions will drive a surge in advanced persistent threat (APT) activities. Nation-state actors, particularly from China and Russia, will persistently target critical infrastructure, telecom providers, and cloud environments. These campaigns will demonstrate advanced tactics, with some threat actors maintaining access to sensitive systems for months or even years. Hacktivism and DDoS will also be fueled by geopolitical tensions.

The post The 2025 cyber security threat landscape appeared first on Cybersecurity Insiders.

In the realm of cybersecurity, the concept of “Zero Trust” has emerged as a revolutionary approach to safeguarding our digital assets. This paradigm shift, which challenges traditional security models, has its roots in the evolving landscape of technology and the increasing sophistication of cyber threats.  

The Precursor: The Castle-and-Moat Model

Before the advent of Zero Trust, security strategies were largely based on the “castle-and-moat” model. This approach involved creating a fortified perimeter around the network, assuming that anything within the walls was safe and trustworthy. However, as the digital landscape expanded and became more interconnected, the limitations of this model became apparent.  

The Rise of Zero Trust

The seeds of Zero Trust were sown in the early 2000s, as organizations grappled with the challenges posed by remote work, cloud computing, and mobile devices. These trends eroded the traditional network perimeter, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between trusted and untrusted entities.

In 2010, John Kindervag, a Forrester Research analyst, formalized the Zero Trust concept. He proposed a security model that fundamentally challenged the notion of implicit trust. Instead, Zero Trust advocates for a “never trust, always verify” approach, where every user, device, and application is treated as a potential threat.  

The Core Principles of Zero Trust

Zero Trust is built upon several key principles:

  • Continuous Verification: Every access request, regardless of origin, must be authenticated and authorized. This involves strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), to ensure that the user is who they claim to be.  
  • Least Privilege Access: Users should only be granted the minimum level of access required to perform their specific tasks. This principle helps to limit the potential damage caused by a security breach.  
  • Micro-Segmentation: Networks should be segmented into smaller, isolated zones to contain the spread of attacks. This approach limits the impact of a successful breach by preventing lateral movement within the network.
  • Data Protection: Sensitive data should be encrypted both at rest and in transit to protect it from unauthorized access.
  • Enhanced Monitoring and Analytics: Organizations must continuously monitor their networks and applications for signs of malicious activity. Advanced analytics can help identify and respond to threats in real time.  

The Evolution of Zero Trust

Since its inception, Zero Trust has evolved significantly to address the ever-changing threat landscape. Some of the key developments include:  

  • Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): ZTNA provides secure access to applications and resources based on user identity and device posture, regardless of location. This eliminates the need for traditional VPNs, which can be vulnerable to attack.   
  • Cloud-Native Zero Trust: As organizations increasingly adopt cloud-based services, Zero Trust principles are being applied to cloud environments. This involves securing cloud workloads, data, and APIs.  
  • AI and Machine Learning: AI and ML are being used to automate security tasks, detect anomalies, and improve threat response. These technologies can help organizations stay ahead of emerging threats.  
  • Universal Zero Trust Network Access (UZTNA): UZTNA extends the principles of ZTNA to provide secure access to on-premises and remote users, regardless of their location. This allows organizations to implement a consistent security posture across their entire network.

The Future of Zero Trust

Zero Trust is not a one-time implementation but an ongoing journey. As technology continues to evolve, so too will the Zero Trust model. Some of the future trends in Zero Trust include:  

  • Increased adoption of Zero Trust in critical infrastructure: Industries such as healthcare, finance, and energy are increasingly recognizing the importance of Zero Trust in protecting their operations.  
  • Integration of Zero Trust with other security technologies: Zero Trust can be combined with other security technologies, such as endpoint detection and response (EDR) and security information and event management (SIEM), to create a comprehensive security posture.  
  • Greater emphasis on user experience: As Zero Trust becomes more widespread, organizations must focus on making it easy for users to access the resources they need while maintaining a high level of security. 

Conclusion

Zero Trust has emerged as a powerful tool for safeguarding digital assets in an increasingly complex and hostile environment. By embracing a “never trust, always verify” approach, organizations can significantly reduce their risk of cyberattacks. As technology continues to evolve, Zero Trust will remain a critical component of any effective cybersecurity strategy.

 

The post The Birth of Zero Trust: A Paradigm Shift in Security appeared first on Cybersecurity Insiders.

The digital landscape has evolved significantly over the last decade, with organizations facing increasingly complex and sophisticated cyber threats. Traditional cybersecurity models, based on perimeter defenses and implicit trust within the network, are no longer sufficient. 

Enter Zero Trust, a transformative approach that presumes nothing can be trusted by default, whether inside or outside the network. This model advocates for continuous verification, strict access controls, and comprehensive monitoring.

Zero Trust is not just a forward-thinking cybersecurity model; it is becoming a necessity, especially in light of stricter regulations such as the NIS2 Directive. 

This article delves into why Zero Trust is vital, how organizations can embark on this strategic journey, the budgeting advantages it offers, and its alignment with NIS2 compliance.

Why Zero Trust is Essential in Modern Cybersecurity

1. The Growing Cyber Threat Landscape The modern cyber threat landscape is more dangerous than ever. Cybercriminals and nation-state actors leverage advanced tactics to exploit vulnerabilities, often bypassing traditional perimeter defenses. From ransomware attacks to targeted phishing and data exfiltration, organizations must now defend against threats that can come from both outside and within.

Zero Trust operates under the principle of “never trust, always verify,” which means that every access attempt is scrutinized and verified, regardless of its origin. This model effectively addresses the current threat environment by minimizing the attack surface and ensuring that no user or device gains more access than necessary.

2. The Hybrid Work Paradigm The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a shift toward remote work that continues today. This shift has rendered the traditional network perimeter virtually obsolete. Employees now access corporate data and applications from various locations and devices, making it crucial for organizations to adapt their security models to this new reality. Zero Trust enables secure, conditional access from anywhere, ensuring that all connections to corporate resources are verified and monitored.

3. Protection of Sensitive Data Data is an organization’s most valuable asset, encompassing customer information, intellectual property, financial records, and more. With data privacy regulations becoming increasingly stringent and data now being everywhere, protecting this information is critical. Zero Trust helps enforce granular access policies and encryption to ensure that sensitive data is accessible only to authorized users.

Starting Your Zero Trust Journey

1. Conduct a Security Audit Before moving to a Zero Trust framework, organizations should first assess their current security posture. This should involve conducting an audit to identify vulnerabilities, map network assets, and understand data flow. A thorough assessment helps highlight the most critical assets and directs resources to areas that need the most attention.

2. Identify the Crown Jewels Determine which data, applications, or systems are of the highest value to your organization. These “crown jewels” should be prioritized for Zero Trust implementation. By focusing on these high-value assets, organizations can ensure that their most sensitive information is protected from the outset.

3. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) A cornerstone of Zero Trust is ensuring robust identity verification. MFA should be deployed across all applications and systems to add an extra layer of security. By requiring users to provide two or more verification factors, MFA greatly reduces the risk associated with compromised credentials, which are often the entry point for attackers.

4. Apply the Principle of Least Privilege Implementing Zero Trust involves ensuring that users only have access to the resources they need to perform their job functions. The principle of least privilege minimizes the potential damage that could occur if an account is compromised by limiting what the attacker could access.

5. Micro-Segmentation Break down your network into smaller segments, each protected with its own set of access controls. This approach, known as micro-segmentation, prevents attackers from moving laterally within the network if they breach a barrier, containing potential damage. Tools such as UZTNA and ZTNA should be considered.

6. Continuous Monitoring and Logging Zero Trust is not a “set it and forget it” strategy. Continuous monitoring and comprehensive logging are necessary to detect and respond to suspicious activities in real-time. Implement security tools that offer visibility into network activity and leverage analytics to identify anomalies and potential threats.

Budgeting for Zero Trust: The Financial Perspective

Many organizations might perceive Zero Trust as a costly endeavor, but it can lead to significant long-term savings. Here’s how a Zero Trust model can be budgeted efficiently:

1. Reducing Redundant Tools Organizations accumulate various security tools over time, leading to overlapping functionalities and increased costs. Implementing Zero Trust allows for the consolidation of these tools. For example, Zero Trust solutions often integrate features like endpoint security, identity management, and network access controls into one comprehensive platform. This streamlining reduces software licensing expenses and ongoing maintenance costs.

2. Operational Efficiency Managing a multitude of security tools requires significant time and expertise. A unified Zero Trust approach simplifies the security stack, making it easier for IT teams to manage. This reduces the time and manpower needed for operations, freeing up resources for strategic tasks like threat hunting and system improvements.

3. Cost of Prevention vs. Cost of Breach The cost of a data breach can be astronomical, often running into millions of dollars when factoring in direct costs, regulatory fines, and reputational damage. Investing in Zero Trust mitigates this risk by lowering the probability of successful attacks. For instance, robust access controls and continuous verification make it much harder for attackers to compromise systems undetected.

Zero Trust and NIS2 Compliance: A Crucial Intersection

The NIS2 Directive, an updated version of the original Network and Information Systems (NIS) Directive, reflects the growing need for robust cybersecurity measures across the EU. NIS2 is designed to strengthen the resilience of essential and digital service providers by enforcing stricter cybersecurity requirements and imposing fines for non-compliance.

Here’s how Zero Trust aligns seamlessly with NIS2 requirements:

1. Enhanced Access Control Policies NIS2 mandates that organizations implement stringent access control measures to prevent unauthorized access to critical assets. Zero Trust’s core philosophy of verifying every user and device aligns perfectly with these requirements. By enforcing policies such as MFA and least privilege access, organizations can ensure that only authenticated and authorized users can access sensitive data and systems.

2. Continuous Risk Management A significant aspect of NIS2 is the requirement for ongoing risk management. Organizations must be able to assess risks continually and update their cybersecurity measures accordingly. Zero Trust supports this by incorporating continuous monitoring and real-time analysis of user behavior. Any anomalies are flagged immediately, enabling organizations to take proactive measures to mitigate potential threats.

3. Incident Detection and Response NIS2 emphasizes the importance of having robust incident detection and response protocols. Zero Trust’s continuous monitoring capabilities make it easier for organizations to detect potential incidents early and respond swiftly. This approach reduces response times and limits the impact of a potential breach, aligning with NIS2’s emphasis on quick detection and mitigation.

4. Ensuring Data Integrity Data integrity is a key focus of NIS2, requiring organizations to implement measures that prevent unauthorized modifications. Zero Trust supports this through its robust access control mechanisms and encryption standards. Every interaction with data is authenticated and verified, ensuring that unauthorized users cannot alter critical information.

5. Compliance Reporting and Accountability Under NIS2, organizations are required to demonstrate compliance through regular reporting and auditing. Zero Trust’s comprehensive logging capabilities provide detailed records of all access attempts, user activities, and policy enforcement. These logs can be used to demonstrate adherence to NIS2 requirements during audits, making compliance a more straightforward process.

Zero Trust as a Tool for Simplification and Better Resource Allocation

Implementing Zero Trust can streamline an organization’s cybersecurity infrastructure. Here’s how Zero Trust simplifies security and optimizes resources:

1. Unified Security Management Zero Trust consolidates security processes into a single, cohesive framework, reducing the need for disparate tools that require separate management. This unified approach simplifies the workload for IT teams, allowing them to allocate their time more efficiently and focus on strategic priorities rather than juggling multiple platforms.

2. Automation of Routine Tasks Automation is a key advantage of Zero Trust. With advanced policies and AI-driven tools, many security tasks—such as user access reviews, policy enforcement, and anomaly detection—can be automated. This reduces the manual burden on IT teams, allowing them to focus on more critical aspects of security.

3. Reduced Human Error Simplified security procedures mean less room for human error. With Zero Trust, consistent application of security policies ensures fewer mistakes, helping maintain the integrity and security of the network.

The Road Ahead: How to Stay Ahead of Cyber Threats with Zero Trust and NIS2

Zero Trust is not a one-time project; it is a journey that evolves as the organization grows and as new threats emerge. Here are some final recommendations for maintaining and advancing your Zero Trust strategy in line with NIS2 requirements:

1. Regular Training and Awareness Human error is often the weakest link in cybersecurity. Regular training and awareness programs ensure that employees understand the importance of Zero Trust principles and are equipped to follow best practices. This is particularly important for meeting the training and awareness aspects of NIS2.

2. Leveraging Technology Partnerships Consider partnering with technology vendors that offer robust Zero Trust solutions tailored to your industry. The right tools can provide integrated solutions that simplify the implementation process and align with regulatory requirements like NIS2.

3. Continuous Improvement and Adaptation Cyber threats and regulatory landscapes are constantly changing. Ensure that your Zero Trust strategy includes continuous reviews and updates. This helps adapt to new regulations and emerging threats, keeping your cybersecurity posture strong and compliant.

4. Collaboration and Information Sharing NIS2 encourages organizations to collaborate and share threat intelligence to bolster collective cybersecurity defenses. Zero Trust frameworks that incorporate threat intelligence feeds can enhance the organization’s ability to identify and mitigate threats faster.

Conclusion

The journey to Zero Trust is essential for organizations seeking to secure their data, protect their assets, and comply with increasingly stringent regulations like NIS2. By implementing core Zero Trust principles such as continuous verification, least privilege access, and comprehensive monitoring, businesses can create a robust defense against today’s complex cyber threats.

Budgeting for a Zero Trust initiative can seem challenging, but the long-term benefits—ranging from reduced tool redundancy to streamlined operations and potential cost avoidance of breaches—make it a wise investment. Moreover, with the requirements set forth by NIS2, adopting a Zero Trust model positions organizations not only to meet compliance standards but to stay ahead in an evolving digital landscape.

With Zero Trust as your cybersecurity backbone, your organization can embrace change confidently, optimize resources effectively, and remain resilient against the dynamic threat landscape of tomorrow.

 

The post A Path to Enhanced Security and NIS2 Compliance appeared first on Cybersecurity Insiders.

As OT environments become more interconnected, organizations can manage operations remotely, enhancing efficiency and enabling greater oversight even from a distance. However, these advancements come with heightened security risks. A recent report from Palo Alto Networks and ABI Research found that 74% of respondents noticed an increase in remote access, creating more entry points for attackers. This expanded attack surface has made OT systems a prime target for cyber threats, underscoring the need for a robust security framework tailored to remote OT environments.

To build a resilient OT security framework, organizations need protections that go well beyond connectivity. Securing all access points, whether cloud-based, on-premises, or hybrid, ensures safe and reliable operations in any environment. This comprehensive approach is critical, as 80% of respondents in a recent report believe that cloud technology and other digital tools will be vital to OT over the next three to five years. Without strong security foundations across these access points, organizations face increased risks of operational disruptions, safety incidents, and financial losses. Three-quarters of surveyed companies have already encountered these challenges due to OT-targeted cyber-attacks.

Core Components of a Resilient OT Security Framework

Securing remote OT operations starts with building a foundation of clear visibility into both OT and IT activity so that critical traffic can be effectively monitored and understood. This visibility allows organizations to make informed security decisions, detecting anomalies and responding to potential threats with speed. However, visibility alone is not enough. To create a resilient and layered defense against evolving threats, security must be consistently integrated throughout the network.

By applying the principle of least privilege, organizations can reduce potential security risks by restricting remote access to the minimum necessary for each task. This approach minimizes exposure, limiting each user’s access to essential systems only. Additionally, defining and communicating clear remote access procedures ensures that everyone within the organization understands and follows the same security protocols. Transparent processes are critical for maintaining consistency, especially in complex OT environments where operational safety and continuous uptime are paramount. Ensuring that these protocols support secure, uninterrupted access is essential to keeping critical systems running smoothly.

Establishing secure temporary access is also crucial in OT settings, where unique credentials should be used for each session, and access should be promptly removed once tasks are complete. Temporary connections, whether through VPNs, SSH, or other secure channels like privileged remote access, must be tightly controlled to prevent unauthorized access. Layering remote access with multi-factor authentication (MFA) offers additional protection, reinforcing security by requiring multiple forms of identity verification before access is granted.

Building a Resilient Access Infrastructure

A resilient security framework for remote OT environments must address the unique conditions and constraints of OT networks, especially where legacy equipment and older operating systems are prevalent. For example, encrypting remote sessions is essential to safeguarding data confidentiality and integrity, particularly for older OT devices that may lack built-in encryption capabilities. However, regular software and firmware updates may not be feasible in systems designed for continuous uptime, safety, and availability.

In such cases, compensating controls, like time-limited access, manual authentication processes, or specific verification steps can provide additional security where standard measures are challenging to implement. These controls help maintain secure access without disrupting operational continuity. Similarly, avoiding default configurations and routinely reviewing system settings are crucial steps. Customizing configurations not only addresses specific vulnerabilities but also adapts the security framework to meet the unique demands of OT environments.

Integrating IT and OT Security Strategies

A robust security framework for remote OT operations requires thoughtful integration of IT and OT practices. Rather than simply adapting IT solutions for OT, a holistic approach that respects the unique demands of OT environments is essential. Designing dedicated workflows that prioritize OT requirements, such as just-in-time access, helps maintain security without hindering operational efficiency.

When IT and OT strategies are aligned with care, the resulting security posture becomes stronger. However, integrating IT best practices with OT networks demands sensitivity to differences, as IT’s rapid update cycles and security protocols may clash with OT’s need for continuous uptime and legacy system stability.

Involving OT personnel directly in remote access planning is also vital. With visibility into upcoming activities, OT teams can respond to incidents effectively, ensuring secure and reliable operations. Education further strengthens this framework by equipping OT teams with the knowledge needed to support security goals and avoid actions that might increase risk.

Building Resilience for the Future

Securing remote OT environments is an ongoing process that must evolve alongside technology and emerging threats. A unified security platform provides the adaptability required to meet these changing demands. Such a platform can consolidate capabilities like asset discovery, network segmentation, and advanced threat detection under one system, reducing complexity and streamlining protection across both IT and OT environments.

Automation is another key to resilience, as it allows for adaptive security policies that evolve based on traffic patterns. Automated policy recommendations lower the chance of human error and ensure that protection remains consistent across OT assets. With this framework in place, organizations can focus on creating a secure, efficient environment that enables continuous operations while managing risks in today’s interconnected world.

By prioritizing visibility, proactive threat prevention, and the thoughtful integration of IT and OT strategies, organizations can build a resilient framework for remote OT security. This approach not only safeguards critical infrastructure but also prepares companies for the cybersecurity challenges of tomorrow’s connected landscape.

The post Securing Remote OT Operations: Building a Resilient Framework for the Connected Age appeared first on Cybersecurity Insiders.

Introduction

Companies are increasingly pursuing a cloud-first strategy by developing and deploying applications with the cloud in mind. With the majority of organizations adopting a hybrid or multi-cloud approach to support various use cases and work models, the attack surface has significantly broadened, making securing today’s cloud environments more critical and increasingly complex.

The 2024 Cloud Security Report, based on a comprehensive survey of 927 cybersecurity professionals worldwide, provides critical insights into the current trends driving cloud security. It explores key challenges in protecting complex cloud environments, what solutions and strategies cybersecurity professionals are prioritizing, how they’re allocating their resources, and the best practices they’re adopting to ensure the security of cloud workloads. 

Key findings include: 

•Multi-Cloud Preference: A majority of organizations (78%) opt for hybrid and multi-cloud strategies to combine flexibility, control, and the unique benefits of various cloud services.

•Cloud Adoption Barriers: Security and compliance concerns (59%) are critical roadblocks to faster adoption of multi-cloud strategies. Technical challenges (52%) and resource constraints (49%) present substantial challenges in achieving visibility and policy control within complex multi-cloud infrastructures and emphasize the necessity for robust cloud security expertise.

•Unified Cloud Security Platform Preference: 95% of respondents advocate for a single platform to streamline security across cloud environments. The objective is to simplify and automate security management, mitigate the talent gap, and enhance security through consistent policy enforcement and visibility, addressing the inefficiencies of managing multiple disparate security systems.

We would like to thank Fortinet for the invaluable support of this important industry research project. We hope this report serves as a practical guide for cybersecurity leaders and practitioners to navigate the complexities of cloud security more effectively in your ongoing efforts to secure your organization’s cloud journey against evolving cyber threats.

Thank you,

Holger Schulze

Founder, Cybersecurity Insiders

Cloud Deployment Strategies

Choosing the right cloud deployment strategy is critical for organizations to maximize the benefits of cloud computing while minimizing associated risks.

The majority of organizations (78%) favor a hybrid or multi-cloud strategy, integrating multiple deployments into a single operating environment. A large portion of this (43%) use a hybrid of cloud and on-premises infrastructure. 35% of organizations have a multi-cloud strategy, highlighting a preference for leveraging the strengths of different cloud service providers for a variety of use cases. Just 22% rely on a single cloud provider, suggesting a focused approach that simplifies management but that may increase dependency on one vendor.

To better navigate the complexities of hybrid and multi-cloud deployments, organizations should prioritize an integrated security framework that ensures seamless protection across their entire digital footprint. This is essential to delivering the agility, scale, and security needed for robust defense against evolving cyber threats.

 

Multi-Cloud Adoption

The number of cloud providers an organization uses is crucial, impacting operational flexibility, risk management, and the complexity of security implementations. A majority of organizations (71%) use two or more cloud providers, indicating an approach that seeks to combine flexibility, control, and the unique benefits of each cloud service provider. An increase of 2 percentage points from last year’s survey reflects a growing shift towards multi-cloud strategies, driven by the need for specialized cloud services, regional availability, and redundancy.

Interestingly, only 29% of organizations rely on just one cloud provider, highlighting a preference for simplicity and perhaps a strategic partnership with a single cloud provider.

Organizations should adopt a seamless, cloud-neutral approach to securing multiple cloud environments that ensures consistent security policies and visibility across their digital footprint, reducing complexity and bolstering defense mechanisms against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Preferred Cloud Providers

Next, we asked cybersecurity professionals about their current and future use of cloud providers, to better understand the changing market dynamics within the cloud ecosystem. Microsoft Azure continues to lead the market, with 62% of organizations in our survey currently utilizing its services, followed by Amazon Web Services (AWS) at 54%. This indicates a strong preference for these established cloud giants.

The survey results also highlight a significant interest in future adoption across all providers, particularly Oracle Cloud and Google Cloud Platform, with 27% and 25% of respondents planning to adopt these services, respectively. This suggests an increasingly diverse cloud adoption.

Navigating Cloud Adoption Barriers

Identifying and understanding the barriers to faster and more widespread cloud adoption is essential for organizations to better navigate the complexities of transitioning to cloud-based solutions.

Security and compliance concerns are at the forefront, with 59% of respondents identifying it as a primary barrier. This highlights the importance of ensuring that security and compliance are an integral element of cloud adoption. Technical challenges follow closely at 52%, highlighting that the ease of cloud adoption is not without its challenges.

49% of respondents cite resource constraints, including the lack of staff expertise and budget limitations, underscoring the need for adequate investment in human and financial resources to support cloud initiatives. Organizational and operational barriers (49%) underscore that cloud computing is not just a new technology, it is also a new operating model that offers innovative working methods and requires management buy-in to address potential resistance to change.

Perceptions of Cloud Security Risks

Evaluating the risk of security breaches in public cloud environments reveals significant concerns about the risks and unique security challenges associated with cloud computing, compared to on-premises environments.

A combined 44% of respondents perceive the risk of security breaches in public cloud environments as higher than in traditional on-premises IT environments, with 30% considering it somewhat higher and 14% viewing it as significantly higher.

Conversely, 30% of participants view the risk as lower in public cloud environments, indicating confidence in cloud providers’ security measures and advancements. A notable 26% of respondents believe the risk remains the same, suggesting that while the cloud introduces new dynamics, the fundamental security challenges persist across environments.

Public cloud offers organizations the opportunity to embrace a proactive, automated approach to security. Adopting a security-by-design mindset offers organizations the ability to effectively mitigate risks and capitalize on the scalability, flexibility, and innovation that the cloud offers.

Cloud Security Concerns

The level of concern regarding public cloud security is a critical indicator of the cybersecurity community’s perception and readiness to address potential risks and threats.

Despite increasing cloud adoption, cloud security concerns show no signs of improving: a significant majority of 96% express high levels of concern, with 37% being extremely concerned and 41% very concerned about public cloud security. The high degree of cybersecurity concern, which has remained consistent over the years, acts as a significant barrier to faster cloud adoption, as organizations grapple with the perceived risks and the complexities of securing cloud environments. Only a small fraction (22%) report moderate to no concern, indicating a strong consensus on the importance of robust security measures in public cloud deployments. 

This data aligns with the previous finding where a combined 44% of respondents perceived a higher risk of security breaches in public clouds compared to traditional on-premises environments. This reinforces that while cloud computing offers numerous benefits and grows rapidly, security remains a paramount concern.

To address these concerns, organizations should not only maintain a security-by-design approach but also invest in continuous monitoring, threat intelligence, and incident response capabilities specific to cloud environments. Adopting cutting-edge security solutions and fostering strong collaborations with cloud providers can help mitigate the perceived risk and concerns associated with public cloud, ensuring a secure and resilient cloud infrastructure.

Challenges in Cloud Security Operations

The management of day-to-day cloud security operations presents a multifaceted challenge for organizations, requiring a delicate balance between technological, procedural, and human factors. Data security and privacy emerges as the top concern, with 58% of respondents highlighting the critical importance of protecting sensitive information and preventing data leaks in the cloud. This underscores the importance of robust data governance and encryption practices. Configuration management is a close second at 55%, reflecting the complexity and potential risks associated with cloud configurations—as a single misconfiguration can expose organizations to significant security risks. 

Access control and identity management is another major challenge, cited by 54% of participants, emphasizing the need for stringent control over user access and privileges to prevent unauthorized access. Threat detection and respons (50%) and endpoint security (45%) further indicate the ongoing struggle to identify and mitigate security threats in real-time and secure the myriad of devices accessing cloud services. Policy and compliance management (45%) and cloud security management (45%) highlight the difficulties in ensuring consistent security policies across environments and aligning cloud security features with on-premises solutions.

To navigate these challenges in cloud security operations, organizations should prioritize a unified security strategy that leverages automation, advanced analytics, and integrated security platforms to streamline data security, policy enforcement, access management, and threat detection and response. Emphasizing the development of cloud-native security skills within teams and fostering a culture of security awareness can further enhance an organization’s ability to manage cloud security operations effectively.

 

Multi-Cloud Security Challenges

Multi-cloud environments significantly increase the complexity and challenges of securing cloud workloads. Ensuring data protection and privacy in each environment is identified as the most significant multi-cloud security challenge, with 55% of respondents highlighting it as a concern. This aligns with the earlier emphasis on data security and privacy as critical operational issues, underscoring the increased complexity when data is dispersed across multiple cloud environments. 

Having the right skills to deploy and manage solutions across all cloud environments is a major challenge for 51% of participants, echoing the previously noted need for cloud-native security expertise to effectively navigate the multifaceted cloud security landscape. Understanding how different solutions fit together and understanding service integration options are critical challenges for 47% and 44% of respondents respectively.

These concerns spotlight the intricacies of achieving seamless integration and interoperability among diverse cloud environments, a crucial factor for maintaining robust security and operational efficiency. The challenge of managing the costs of different solutions, cited by 42% of respondents, further reflects the operational and financial balancing act required in a multi-cloud strategy.

To effectively address these challenges, organizations should leverage integrated security solutions that offer visibility and control across multi-cloud environments, supporting consistent data protection and privacy standards. Emphasizing partnerships with vendors that provide comprehensive multi-cloud security capabilities and fostering skills development can empower businesses to overcome the complexity of securing multi-cloud architectures. This approach not only mitigates the identified challenges but also harnesses the full potential of multi-cloud environments for enhanced agility, scalability, and innovation.

Cybersecurity Talent Gap

Echoing the challenges highlighted in securing multi-cloud environments, the ongoing shortage of skilled professionals capable of protecting complex multi-cloud environments stands out as an ongoing, critical industry problem.

An overwhelming 93% of respondents express concern about the industry-wide shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals. This considerable apprehension reflects the acute awareness of the gap between the growing demand for skilled cybersecurity talent and the available workforce, a gap that exacerbates security vulnerabilities and operational challenges in an increasingly complex cyber landscape. 

An emphatic 74% of respondents confirm that their organization is currently experiencing a shortage in cybersecurity talent. This finding quantifies the extent to which the skills shortage is affecting day-to-day security operations and strategic initiatives within organizations.

To mitigate the impact of the perennial cybersecurity skills shortage, organizations should consider a multifaceted approach that includes fostering partnerships with academic institutions to pipeline new talent and investing in training and development programs to cultivate internal talent and adapt to the evolving demands of cloud security. Organizations should also consider embracing unified security solutions that replace multiple-point solutions, incorporating artificial intelligence, and reducing operational complexity to bridge the skills gap while enhancing threat detection, response capabilities, and overall security posture.

Critical Cybersecurity Skills

In the context of the pronounced cybersecurity talent shortage faced by organizations, we asked about the specific cybersecurity skills deemed most critical for addressing today’s security challenges. 

Cloud and application security skills takes the top spot, with 60% of respondents highlighting its critical importance. This underscores the accelerated migration to cloud services and the necessity for robust security practices in application development and deployment. Following closely, identity and access management (IAM) is identified by 59% of organizations as essential, reflecting the growing complexity of securing user access across increasingly distributed IT environments.

Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) is recognized by 58% of respondents as an important skill, underscoring the essential role of regulatory compliance and risk management frameworks in today’s cyber threat landscape. Security monitoring and operations, threat intelligence, and advanced technical security skills—all at 57%—demonstrate a nearly equal emphasis on proactive threat detection, understanding cyber adversaries, and leveraging advanced technologies for robust security posture.

Cloud Security Budget Trends

 

The allocation of resources to cloud security is a critical indicator of organizational priorities and the perceived importance of cloud infrastructure protection in the face of evolving cyber threats and technological advancements.

A significant 61% of respondents anticipate an increase in their cloud security budget over the next 12 months. This substantial majority signals a strong recognition of the escalating cybersecurity challenges and the need for enhanced security measures in cloud environments, propelling cloud security budget to increase by 37%.

The willingness to invest up to 37% more in cloud security reflects an understanding that robust defense mechanisms are essential to safeguard sensitive data and maintain compliance with regulatory standards in the increasingly cloud-centric business landscape.

Meanwhile, a third of organizations (32%) expect their cloud security budget to remain unchanged. Only a small fraction, 7%, project a decrease in their cloud security budget. 

Given the predominant trend towards increased cloud security investment, organizations should strategically allocate additional resources to areas of highest risk and potential impact, such as advanced threat detection, identity and access management, and security automation. This approach not only prepares businesses to combat sophisticated cyber threats but also enhances their overall security posture by leveraging the latest technological innovations in cloud security.

Embracing Cloud-Based Security Solutions

The decision to adopt cloud-based security solutions is driven by a variety of factors that align with organizational goals for agility, efficiency, and enhanced protection. The need for better scalability, recognized by 56% of survey respondents, highlights the cloud’s ability to dynamically adjust to fluctuating demands. Close behind, cost savings and faster deployment, at 47% and 46% respectively, underscore the economic and operational benefits enticing organizations towards cloud security solutions. Enhanced performance (42%) and the reduction of manual efforts for patching and software upgrades (40%) further catalyze the shift to cloud-based security solutions, especially in light of the perennial cybersecurity skills shortage.

Organizations considering cloud-based security solutions should prioritize scalability, cost efficiency, and rapid deployment to capitalize on the cloud’s operational and economic advantages. Focusing on solutions that offer streamlined policy management and continuous compliance can further enhance security postures, ensuring resilience in the face of evolving threats and regulatory landscapes.

Unified Cloud Security Platform

Given the complexity, operational headaches, and skills challenges already highlighted, it comes as no surprise that organizations are looking for a unified security platform to streamline and consolidate security management across diverse cloud environments. An overwhelming 95% of respondents confirm that having such a platform would be advantageous for protecting data consistently and comprehensively across the cloud footprint. 

This demand for a single, integrated cloud security platform echoes the industry’s shift towards platform consolidation, driven by improving security effectiveness, simpler integration, and reduced management overhead. It is the only effective approach to addressing the cybersecurity talent gap and mitigating increasingly sophisticated and automated attacks. Such a unified platform alleviates the operational burden of navigating multiple security interfaces and enhances overall security posture through consistent policy enforcement and comprehensive visibility across all cloud environments.

Securely Embracing the Cloud: Essential Cloud Security Strategies

In today’s rapidly evolving cloud landscape, adopting a robust cloud security posture is imperative for organizations of all sizes. This guide outlines essential best practices for securing your cloud environments, from unifying security platforms to investing in specialized skills, designed to protect against the sophisticated threats of tomorrow.

ADOPT A UNIFIED SECURITY PLATFORM:

Centralize security control and visibility across all cloud environments to streamline operations and enhance visibility, a strategy preferred by 95% of organizations.

EMPHASIZE CLOUD-AGNOSTIC SECURITY:

With 78% using hybrid or multi-cloud environments, it’s crucial to develop strategies that address the unique challenges of these environments and ensure consistent security policies and enforcement.

AUTOMATE POLICY AND COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT:

Implement systems to automate and streamline security policies across cloud environments and consistently meet regulatory requirements. 

PRIORITIZE DATA PROTECTION:

Implement robust data governance and encryption to safeguard sensitive information across all cloud services, addressing the security challenge mentioned by 58% of organizations.

ENHANCE CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT:

Actively manage cloud configurations to prevent misconfigurations and reduce exposure to security vulnerabilities.

STRENGTHEN ACCESS CONTROL:

Employ strict identity and access management to implement Zero Trust principles and reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

BOOST THREAT DETECTION AND RESPONSE:

Leverage advanced analytics and automated response capabilities to identify and mitigate threats in real time.

INVEST IN CLOUD-NATIVE SECURITY SKILLS:

With 93% expressing great concern over the cybersecurity skills shortage, foster the development of cloud-specific security expertise within your team to navigate the complex cloud security landscape more effectively.

Methodology and Demographics

The 2024 Cloud Security Report is based on a comprehensive global survey of 927 cybersecurity professionals conducted in February 2024, to uncover how cloud user organizations are adopting the cloud, how they see cloud security evolving, and what best practices IT cybersecurity leaders are prioritizing in their move to the cloud. The respondents range from technical executives to IT security practitioners, representing a balanced cross-section of organizations of varying sizes across multiple industries.

__

Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) secures the largest enterprises, services providers, and government organizations around the world. Fortinet empowers our customers with complete visibility and control across the expanding attack surface and the power to take on ever-increasing performance requirements today and into the future. Only the Fortinet Security Fabric platform can address the most critical security challenges and protect data across the entire digital infrastructure, whether in networks, application, multi-cloud, or edge environments. Fortinet ranks #1 as the company with the most security appliances shipped worldwide and more than 730,000 customers trust Fortinet to protect their businesses. www.fortinet.com

__

Cybersecurity Insiders brings together 600,000+ IT security professionals and world-class technology vendors to facilitate smart problem-solving and collaboration in tackling today’s most critical cybersecurity challenges.

Our approach focuses on creating and curating unique content that educates and informs cybersecurity professionals about the latest cybersecurity trends, solutions, and best practices. From comprehensive research studies and unbiased product reviews to practical e-guides, engaging webinars, and educational articles – we are committed to providing resources that provide evidence-based answers to today’s complex cybersecurity challenges.

Contact us today to learn how Cybersecurity Insiders can help you stand out in a crowded market and boost demand, brand visibility, and thought leadership presence Email us at info@cybersecurity-insiders.com or visit cybersecurity-insiders.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Cloud Security Report 2024 appeared first on Cybersecurity Insiders.

Auguria, Inc., a leader in AI-driven security operations solutions, has introduced the latest enhancements to its Security Knowledge Layer™ Platform. The updated platform now integrates with major data sources, including SentinelOne, CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, and Microsoft Windows Event Logs. Additionally, the company has launched its innovative Explainability Graph, a visual tool that delivers contextualized threat data for more effective incident response.

Advanced Integrations: Leveraging Top-Tier Data Sources

Modern security teams contend with an overwhelming 78 trillion signals daily from various platforms, making it challenging to identify genuine threats amidst the noise. Auguria’s expanded integrations streamline this complexity, providing enriched insights and operational improvements through the following connections:

  • SentinelOne: By integrating with the SentinelOne Singularity™ platform, Auguria enhances endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities. Users benefit from improved alert correlation, data enrichment, and compaction, significantly reducing alert fatigue and boosting SecOps efficiency.
  • CrowdStrike: Support for CrowdStrike Falcon® platform’s EDR data enables AI-powered prioritization and actionable intelligence, facilitating quicker and more accurate incident responses.
  • Palo Alto Networks: Integration with Palo Alto Networks provides access to world-class firewall and network telemetry. Auguria’s platform contextualizes this data, reducing noise and improving prioritization for streamlined incident investigations.
  • Microsoft Windows Event Logs: High-volume Windows Event Logs are transformed into actionable insights. Auguria’s filtering and enrichment capabilities ensure critical events are highlighted for immediate review.

These integrations allow security operations (SecOps) teams to consolidate and analyze data from diverse sources within a single platform, enabling smarter, faster security decisions and reducing operational complexity.

The Explainability Graph: A Breakthrough in Visual Threat Context

Auguria’s Explainability Graph revolutionizes the way security teams interpret and respond to anomalous activity. This intuitive feature presents a clear, contextualized map of potential threats, enabling teams to:

  • Identify Root Causes: Understand the underlying reasons behind suspicious behavior or security incidents.
  • Visualize Connections: Discover relationships between seemingly unrelated events.
  • Respond Decisively: Access actionable insights to mitigate risks efficiently.

With this feature, Auguria demonstrates its strength in data science by correlating and contextualizing millions of streaming log events. Security teams gain the tools they need to address sophisticated threats with minimal disruption.

Why These Innovations Matter

“Our latest integrations and Explainability Graph reinforce Auguria’s mission to simplify security operations while amplifying outcomes,” said Chris Coulter, CTO and co-founder at Auguria. “By supporting industry leaders like CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, Microsoft, and SentinelOne, and innovating with tools like our Explainability Graph, we’re giving organizations the clarity and precision they need to succeed in today’s complex threat landscape without being overwhelmed by noise.”

Key Benefits for Security Teams

•Cost Efficiency: Reduce expenses associated with SIEM and data storage by managing less-critical telemetry intelligently.

•Focused Insights: Automatically eliminate up to 99% of non-actionable data.

•Accelerated Investigations: Enriched and prioritized data enables quicker incident resolution.

•Proactive Defense: AI-driven detection identifies anomalies and high-risk behaviors in real time.

•Customizable Outputs: Seamlessly export enriched data to SIEM, XDR, or other security tools.

To explore these updates further or to schedule a demo, visit www.auguria.io or visit booth #318 at Black Hat Europe this week.

The post Auguria Unveils Upgraded Security Knowledge Layer Platform at Black Hat Europe 2024 appeared first on Cybersecurity Insiders.

The holiday season is largely characterized by a significant rise in consumer spending, and digital deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday have advanced the continued shift from in-person to online shopping. As shoppers eagerly flood websites, applications, and digital marketplaces to search for discounts online, cybercriminals are poised to exploit these trends and behaviors for malicious purposes.

The chaos of the holiday season often leads to mistakes and oversight, and cybercriminals take advantage of heightened online activity associated with holiday shopping trends. The dramatic surge in traffic experienced by online retailers around the holidays creates a multitude of opportunities for threat actors to target consumers and execute crime such as ransomware, identity theft, financial fraud, and more. And unfortunately, individual consumers are not always the only ones impacted. 

Relevance for Businesses

It is not uncommon for employees to browse the web for personal purposes like holiday shopping while on the clock, creating safety concerns that organizations must be aware of and prepared for. Additionally, the rising trend of BYOD policies for hybrid and remote employees means that the activities that take place on personal devices, even before or after work hours, can create opportunities for cybercriminals to target their employers for larger scale results. This overlap can expose corporate networks to heightened risks, such as ransomware attacks, supply chain vulnerabilities, and fraudulent bot activity.

Factors at Play

Exclusive holiday deals and limited-time sales encourage shoppers to buy more in a smaller window of time, creating a heightened sense of urgency that makes consumers more susceptible to scams. This makes it much easier for cybercriminals to execute successful attacks. Normally, people are more likely to catch the telltale signs associated with these scenarios, such as fraudulent websites with incorrect URLs and messages with strange links. However, while scrambling to secure an item before it goes out of stock or a sale ends, people overlook these red flags.

Companies’ IT teams also often struggle to keep pace with increased traffic during the holiday shopping frenzy, and e-commerce platforms are often pushed to their limits and can become overloaded. This places pressure on retailers and their websites and applications which creates vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals.

Additionally, the attack surface continues to expand, creating a variety of entry points for threat actors. This is extrapolated by the rise of digital payment systems and wallets, IoT-enabled shopping assistants, and more.

Common Types of Attacks

In their attempts to execute successful attacks, threat actors deploy a multitude of tactics. A few popular types of scams to look out for during the holiday season include:

  • Phishing campaigns target individuals with emails and texts imitating trusted retailers, enticing them with links to fake deals or shipping notifications that redirect to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal and payment information.  
  • Malvertising describes the placement of malicious ads on legitimate websites to redirect users to harmful sites or install malware on their devices.  
  • Fake websites and applications created by cybercriminals imitate popular retailers to trick shoppers into sharing sensitive information.  
  • Credential stuffing attacks occur when cybercriminals leverage credentials that have been compromised in previous attacks to hijack user accounts and make unauthorized purchases.
  • Infostealers is a term for malware that is distributed through fake downloads or malicious links to harvest sensitive information like credit card details and passwords.

Best Practices 

To ensure that these seemingly harmless behaviors don’t lead to catastrophic security incidents, organizations must implement robust security measures to protect their infrastructure from these attempts. Taking precautions like regularly conducting vulnerability assessments, securing payment systems, implementing network segmentation, and engaging in proactive monitoring can protect critical business data and operations as well as the employees whose work relies on these systems. Partnering with a trusted managed security provider can further alleviate the burden on internal security teams, providing real-time threat intelligence and expert support to mitigate risks and maintain strong defenses during this high-stakes season. 

Additionally, to ensure safety during the online shopping experience, it is critical to share information about these risks and promote a cautious and proactive approach. Here are a few actionable tips for organizations to share with their employees:

  • If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers often lure victims with enticing ads and emails. Avoid clicking on links and visit verified retailers to confirm current deals.  
  • Slow down and stay on your toes. Always take a second to look for red flags. In emails and text messages, look closely for signs of fraud such as spelling errors, unexpected attachments, and unusual email domains. If opting to shop within an app, ensure your downloads are sourced only from trusted marketplaces like Google Play or the Apple App Store. Before entering any personal information at checkout, make sure the domain matches the official retailer’s name and that the URL starts with https://. Utilize Trust Pilot or other review sites to verify the reputation of the retailer.
  • Pay close attention to account activity. Keep a close eye on financial statements from your bank and credit card company, especially after making online purchases. Monitor for unusual charges or unauthorized transactions, and report any suspicious activity to your institution immediately. 
  • Always utilize the latest software. Whether you’re shopping on your phone, laptop, or tablet, it is important to keep up with software and application updates. Outdated operating systems and software can harbor unpatched vulnerabilities that attackers can easily exploit, increasing the likelihood of falling victim to one of these scams.
  • Keep your accounts secure. Update passwords often and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible. This extra layer of security can help prevent unauthorized access even when credentials may be compromised.

Working Together

With the heightened risk of cyberattacks during the holiday season, a collective effort is necessary. To protect both individuals and organizations as a whole, consumers, their employers, retailers, and cybersecurity professionals must all be vigilant in their efforts to encourage secure practices online. By taking proactive measures and staying informed about the risks we face online, we can promote a more secure digital landscape, even amid the chaos often associated with the holiday season.

 

The post Securing Against Shopping Scams: Cybersecurity Risks to Avoid During the Holidays appeared first on Cybersecurity Insiders.

The threat landscape continues to evolve, and companies around the world face escalating risks heading into 2025. As AI enables more malware and phishing campaigns, and attacks become even more sophisticated across enterprises and supply chains, cybersecurity teams need to enhance their strategies to keep up with the dynamic and complex threat landscape. Here are several trends to keep an eye on to help security teams prepare for the possibilities that could unfold in 2025: 

Surge in AI-Generated Malware & Phishing Campaigns

AI will enable creating malware and phishing campaigns faster, and more easily than at any other time. These stealth cyberattacks will lower the barriers for less experienced copycat bad actors, making cybercrime more accessible and widely distributed at an unprecedented pace. Ransomware and phishing cyberattacks will become much more targeted armed with strong global blocking techniques such as geo-location, bullet-proof registrars, and hosting providers. Bad actors will focus on well-examined critical services and leverage double extortion tactics—demanding payment for decrypting data to ultimately prevent data leaks to the dark web. Organizations will invest heavily in developing comprehensive security programs that include advanced ransomware defenses, backup strategies, authentication, and network segmentations.

Increasing Priority of Supply Chain Security 

Supply chain cyberattacks are growing exponentially in sophistication as seen in recent years. Cybercriminals target vulnerabilities found within interconnected supply chains at the common layers of shared communications between major cloud environments. These attacks can be extremely difficult to detect. Companies will need to prioritize comprehensive strategies over simple compliance decisions in order to address these high cyber risks effectively. Third-party vendor risks will lead to stringent supplier audits and the implementation of continuous monitoring and response frameworks.

Death of Manual Digital Certificate Management

Automation of tasks like renewal and management of SSL/TLS certificates are now practically mandatory due to shorter certificate lifespans and growing cybersecurity requirements of companies. Organizations will have to invest in automation and partner with vendors who are specialized in this sector. 

Machine Learning in Security Operation Centers (SOC)

Machine learning will help teams identify and respond to threats faster, balancing the increasing demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals thus driving higher workload efficiency in the day-to-day activities of a Security Operations Centers (SOCs). Therefore, corporations will have to invest in advanced technologies, enhancing workforce training, and adopting proactive security frameworks to navigate the evolving complex cyberthreat landscape. Organizations will shift toward proactive measures like automated threat detection and preemptive vulnerability patching. These approaches will be critical as threats become more dynamic and complex.

Cloud Security Environment Challenges

Cloud adoption will continue to keep rising exponentially as technology deployments will be in multi-cloud environments. Shared services within these various cloud environments are an attractive target for bad actors because the deployed detections for such threat vectors is challenging as the data is propagating through various networks and systems. Therefore, monitoring and securing such environments is so critical and must include preventive protection, security controls and strategies augmented with automation.

Rise of Cybersecurity-as-a-Service (CaaS) augmented with Dynamic Secure Architectures

Managed cybersecurity services will expand as companies seek scalable solutions for robust end-to-end threat management programs. CaaS vendor cloud offerings will help address the growing complexity of securing digital ecosystems found in managed data centers and cloud infrastructures. Security architectures will evolve into adaptive, dynamic security applications, systems, and networks capable of reconfiguring defenses in real-time based on threat intelligence data. This evolution will enhance response times and resilience against sophisticated blended cyberattacks.

Growth of Cyber Insurance

As cyberattacks grow in scale and complexity, cyber insurance will continue to be a critical component within enterprise risk management programs. Stricter underwriting standards and coverage limits will emerge as insurers adapt to the volatile threat landscape, and guide organizations in ways to improve their security metrics. Premiums will continue to rise as cyber attacks continue to grow in sophistication.

 

 

The post CSC 2025 Predictions: From Surges in AI-Generated Malware to Machine Learning in SOCs appeared first on Cybersecurity Insiders.