ProServeIT
By ProServeIT on March 28, 2018

Three Major Cybersecurity Trends 2018

 

What are the major cybersecurity trends for 2018 that you need to be aware of? From the WannaCry and NotPetya ransomware attacks that affected millions of computers, to major hacks that affected large companies like Verizon (14 million customers) and Equifax (143 million customers), it’s clear that 2017 was a year that was dominated by cybersecurity attacks. It’s no wonder, therefore, that Gartner predicts worldwide security spending will reach $96 billion in 2018.

Here are three major cybersecurity trends that will be a factor in 2018, and the tools we recommend for you to help keep your organization secure.
 


Gartner predicts worldwide #Cybersecurity spending will reach $96 billion in 2018. In this blog, we talk about 3 major #CybersecurityTrends that you should be aware of this year & in the future. 


 

Cybersecurity Trend 2018 – #1. A Shift to Real-Time Threat Detection

One of the major cybersecurity trends that we’ll see in 2018 is a shift to real-time threat detection. Rather than reacting when a breach occurs, there’s been a major increase in demand for products and technology that can monitor an organization’s environment in real-time.

Microsoft Azure Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) is one such product - it gives organizations the ability to monitor their environment in real-time. Using machine learning to uncover abnormal behaviours or questionable activities, Azure ATP can detect unknown threats, password sharing, modification of sensitive groups, anomalous logins, or lateral movements within your organization. It can also determine malicious attacks, and security issues and risks, too.

 


Many industries are seeing a shift to real-time #ThreatDetection, with demand for products & #Technology that can monitor an organization’s environment in real-time. #AzureATP is one such product. #CybersecurityTrends2018


 

Cybersecurity Trend 2018 – #2. Ransomware Attacks – Have a Backup Plan

A second cybersecurity trend that we’ll see in 2018 is an increase in ransomware attacks. As the recent ransomware attack on two Ontario Children’s Aid societies shows, it doesn’t matter what industry you’re in. Any organization – large or small – could be a target for those cybercriminals intent on doing harm. Ransomware is one of the fastest growing types of security breaches out there. It’s a type of malware that infects your computer and either locks you out completely, encrypts your files so you can’t get access to them, or threatens to publish your confidential information if you don’t pay a ransom.

Unfortunately, ransomware is very profitable for hackers – in early 2017, it was reported to be a billion dollar industry. So, it’s unlikely to go away any time soon.

One highly effective way to protect yourself from ransomware threats is to have a backup of all your files that is kept separate from your main system. A backup solution, like Microsoft Azure Site Recovery, provides peace of mind by ensuring that you have a complete set of files available, should a hacker encrypt your files, or threaten to delete them unless you pay a ransom. With minimal downtime and just a few clicks of the mouse, Azure Site Recovery could fail over to your backup environment.

The reason we recommend Azure Site Recovery over other products out there is because Azure Site Recovery protects both physical and virtual servers and backs up your system on a constant basis.

Would you like to explore if Azure Site Recovery is the right solution for your organization? Contact us for a complimentary consultation.

 


A billion dollar industry, #Ransomware is very profitable for hackers. Keep your files separate from your main system & use a backup solution, like #AzureSiteRecovery to give you peace of mind. #CybersecurityTrends2018


 

Cybersecurity Trend 2018 – #3. Guard Your Inbox

Phishing attacks, malicious links, attachments with malware embedded in them – these are just a few types of attacks that come into your inbox on a regular basis. Sometimes daily. But there are ways that you can protect yourself by detecting the threat before it becomes a threat.

Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) is one way that you can guard your inbox from cybersecurity threats. It’s a tool that ProServeIT uses, and it especially proved its worth during a recent phishing attempt that took place within our organization. In ProServeIT’s case, our VP of Sales & Marketing received an email that was supposedly sent from the President (who was on vacation at the time), asking the VP to send a wire transfer for the company. Although the email looked like it was coming from the President’s email address, Office 365 ATP alerted the VP that the email’s sender had failed their fraud detection checks. Further analysis revealed a completely different email address in the back end.

Because the VP declined to engage further, the attacker sent the same email to three other people in the organization within the same week. Each time, Office 365 ATP alerted the team member to the phishing attempt.

Had Office 365 ATP not flagged these emails as fraudulent and alerted our team that there was something suspicious about them, ProServeIT may have been a victim of this phishing attempt.

Office 365 ATP can be added to select Exchange or Office 365 licenses at a minimal charge of $2.40 per user. Interested in learning more about how you can guard your Inbox from malicious attacks and phishing attempts? Contact our experts today!

 

Published by ProServeIT March 28, 2018
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