Quick Intelligence Blog

One of the biggest stories of 2021 has been the big increase in ransomware attacks. While not a new phenomenon, it seems that attacks are happening more frequently, with Barracuda researchers on reporting that they’ve identified and analyzed 121 ransomware incidents so far in 2021, a 64 percent increase in attacks. The ransom demands also keep getting bigger, with Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 reporting an 82% increase in the amount of the average ransom.

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is a state statute designed to protect the personal information of California residents. Like the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), It gives residents the right to know about information being collected about them and why it’s being collected, the right to request information be deleted (with some exceptions), the right to opt-out of having their information sold, and the right to non-discrimination for exercising these rights. Only California residents have rights under the CCPA.

Has this happened to you before? Your business is about to land a big client. Everything is going well, but before they sign the deal, they want you to sign off on a Cyber Security Questionnaire. Not only that, but they have also asked you for a SOC Audit, and you don’t even know what it is.

Most business owners know they need to be protected from outside threats, but did you know you’re your employees could also be a threat? So how are your employees a risk? Is there anything you can do to mitigate that risk?

A Sophos study found that 44% of retail organisations were hit by a ransomware attack in 2020, and more than half of those affected (54%) said cyber criminals had succeeded in encrypting their data.

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the literally billions of devices vs. people that are connected to the Internet in some fashion. Rather than laptops and desktops being used by people, IOT devices are typically purpose-build devices that are performing a specific function. IoT refers to the myriad of new smart home devices like the Google Nest, Amazon’s Alexa and also your Smart TV that is connected to the Internet so you can run Netflix or Disney+ right from the TV without any set top boxes. Every one of those devices (TVs, refrigerators and other smart appliances, smart home devices like light switches, garage door openers, front door cameras, the list goes on) has an Internet address and can talk to the Internet, just like you do when you’re on your laptop or home PC surfing.

Just about everything you do online requires a password. Passwords make sense in that you don’t want someone to access, say, your bank account. But what is the best way to create a strong password?

MDR is an acronym for Managed Detection and Response. You will also hear people talk about EDR, (Endpoint Detection & Response), and XDR, (Extended/Anything Detection & Response). MDR, EDR and XDR are designed to act as an early warning system, letting you know in real time if something bad is happening against your network or systems. In some cases, MDR, EDR and XDR can be configured to automatically respond on your behalf.

When you opened your business, you knew you needed some basic insurance, like fire and theft, but have you thought about cyber insurance? Wikipedia defines cyber insurance as, “a specialty lines insurance product intended to protect businesses, and individuals providing services for such businesses, from Internet-based risks, and more generally from risks relating to information technology infrastructure, information privacy, information governance liability, and activities related thereto.”