During the summer months, many look forward to unwind and take a well-deserved break. However, as KYND, notes, it’s a prime time for cybercriminals to strike.
But for cybercriminals, it’s a prime time for them to strike. As businesses and individuals prepare to relax, cyber attackers get busier, exploiting the weekends, public holidays, and particularly the summer period to mount their attacks. Their tactic is simple: target the times when people are most distracted and least vigilant.
It’s a proven strategy, with some of the most significant cyber attacks in recent history taking place during holiday times. The MOVEit vulnerability exposed during a spring bank holiday weekend is a stark reminder of this, where unauthorised access led to stolen data held for ransom.
The NHS wasn’t spared either. In early August, an attack disrupted services across several NHS organisations. Similarly, the Colonial Pipeline faced a major setback during the Memorial Day weekend, causing fuel shortages in the southeastern US. The summer of vulnerabilities continued with the BlackBerry QNX ransomware attack over the 4th of July weekend, temporarily stalling production for automotive giants like Ford and Toyota.
With an astonishing 408m breached records in 2022, summer emerged as a peak period for cybercrime. The reasons are straightforward. With staff on holidays, accessing unsecured public Wi-Fi, and organisations operating below full capacity, vulnerabilities multiply. During such times, many companies in regions like the UK, EU, and US operate below 50% capacity, providing cybercriminals with ample opportunities.
With such heightened risks, the value of robust security measures becomes clear. Going beyond the standard defences, continuous monitoring emerges as a critical tool to keep portfolio companies safe. By tracking and assessing potential vulnerabilities in real-time, businesses can anticipate, mitigate, and respond to threats more effectively.
In our rapidly evolving digital landscape, a one-off cyber risk assessment isn’t enough. New threats emerge daily, and without a vigilant eye, changes in an organisation’s infrastructure can slip through the cracks, compromising their cybersecurity. Continuous monitoring acts as that vigilant eye, always surveying and analysing potential threats and ensuring that portfolio companies are equipped to respond promptly.
For portfolio companies, continuous monitoring offers an array of benefits. It provides clarity on the cyber threats they face, enabling better attack surface management. With the insights gained, resources can be allocated more intelligently to tackle the most pressing vulnerabilities. And with an increased dependence on digital technologies, ensuring business continuity becomes paramount. Through real-time monitoring, potential threats are identified and neutralised in time. Other benefits include simpler ESG compliance, signifying a commitment to good governance, and effective third-party risk management, ensuring that the entire supply chain remains secure.
As the summer months beckon, the importance of vigilance can’t be stressed enough. Continuous monitoring provides the insights and tools necessary for portfolio organisations to identify vulnerabilities and bolster their cyber defences.
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