Tag Archive for: Bolster

How can the energy sector bolster its resilience to ransomware attacks?

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Since it plays a vital role in every functioning society, the energy sector has always been a prime target for state-backed cybercriminals. The cyber threats targeting this industry have grown significantly in recent years, as geopolitical tensions have fueled an increase in state-sponsored cyber espionage. According to one report on OT/ICS cyber security incidents, the energy sector recorded 39% of all attacks, with nearly 60% of these attacks attributed to state-affiliated groups.

energy sector attacks

As well as the threat of politically motivated attacks aimed at gaining a strategic advantage, threat actors are also attracted to the potential financial gains from accessing vast stores of sensitive Information. Attackers have also seized the opportunity to cause significant operational disruption as leverage in ransoms. A recent high-profile example is the ransomware attack against Schneider Electric, in which the Cactus ransomware gang claimed to have stolen 1.5 TB of data after breaching their systems.

As cyberattacks and ransomware rates continue to increase, there is a real concern among energy providers about the operational resilience of the industry, especially since the risks are compounded by the growing economic challenges and shifting regulatory demands.

So how can the sector navigate these challenges successfully?

Understanding the risk factors

The energy sector’s risks are partly driven by its reliance on outdated and legacy technologies. Many of the technologies and systems used by the industry have long life ratios, so over time they become more vulnerable and difficult to patch. Moreover, energy providers still rely on ageing OT assets like industrial control systems (ICS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

At the same time, the deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, including smart sensors within energy grids and automated systems in distribution facilities, has introduced an additional layer of complexity to security. These IoT devices are not typically designed to integrate seamlessly with conventional security protocols and often come with insufficient security protections, such as…

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Waident Selects Object First’s Ootbi to Bolster Ransomware Resilience

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Object First delivers Waident and its customers ransomware-proof, out-of-the-box immutability, mitigating loss, downtime, and financial impact from ransomware attacks

BEVERLY, Mass., January 17, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Object First, the provider of Ootbi (Out-of-the-Box-Immutability), the ransomware-proof backup storage appliance purpose-built for Veeam®, today announced its partnership with Waident Technology Solutions, a SOC2 cybersecurity and IT outsourcer that supports and manages SMB technology for clients throughout the Midwest. Waident will use Ootbi as its primary backup storage solution to ensure ransomware-proof immutability and safeguard customers from rising cyber threats.

Based in Chicago, Waident provides a range of services, including IT strategy, security, support, and secure cloud. It has built its reputation on delivering resilient IT and keeping customers’ enterprises running, productive, and secure. John Quinn, Principal of Waident, sought a likeminded partner and selected Object First’s Ootbi as the top solution to mitigate loss, downtime, and financial impact from ransomware attacks.

With nearly 3-in-4 worldwide organizations (73%) affected by ransomware in 2023, organizations have reached a critical point where it’s not if, but when, an attack will occur. Backups are a primary target of attacks, which is why Ootbi delivers a robust immutable backup storage solution that is scalable, simple, secure, and affordable. This enables Waident customers to meet Zero Trust security standards for data management and protect data with immutability within minutes — no advanced storage or security expertise required.

“Waident is highly selective in its partnerships. We choose partners that not only address current needs, but also anticipate future challenges,” said Quinn. “With Object First, we have a partner with a strong pedigree and capacity to help us deliver our trademark resilient IT. Object First understands our needs, is committed to delivering a solution aligned with our expectations, and will not leave our clients with a here-today-gone-tomorrow scenario.”

Object First and Waident are client-centric organizations, dedicated to prioritizing the…

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TD Synnex and Arrow bolster security options

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TD Synnex has cut the ribbon on its Cybersecurity Ecosystems initiative in a move designed to increase the interaction between digital security specialists.

The distributor is looking to increase communication between those with complimentary skills through the ecosystem to help partnerships and alliances form that will deliver wide-ranging solutions to customers.

Behind the launch, the firm will be leaning on its own security practice, sharing the educational tools and experiences it has picked up providing security as a service over the past few years.

The scheme has come out of a reralisation that there is a need for a more formal mechanism to link partners with different skills.

“There is a multiplicity of reseller businesses – solutions integrators, service providers and specialists in all the different areas of digital security. But few, if any, have all the knowledge and skills they need to offer a complete cybersecurity offering to their end user customers,” said Alison Nixon, security business unit director of TD Synnex, UK.

“In addition, cyber security skills can only be acquired at a huge premium right now. These are significant challenges for partners, and a good way of addressing that is through partnering.

“The Cybersecurity Ecosystems community will provide a valuable forum through which partners can explore new possibilities and the different pathways and options that we provide for them to develop their security and data protection business,” she added.

Neil Cornish, ecosystems business manager at TD Synnex, said that it had responded to feedback in the market and that the launch of an ecosystem covering security would meet a channel need. The distributor has run similar schemes elsewhere – in healthcare, for example – and saw this as another area that could benefit from that approach.

“That’s worked in other areas, and we believe it will also work in security. We’ve seen many new relationships formed through the interactions of the manufacturing, healthcare, and retail and distribution ecosystems. We’d expect to see similar results with cyber security. It’s one of the hottest areas of the market right now, but also fiendishly…

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Group-IB, sirar by stc sign agreement to bolster KSA cybersecurity benchmarks

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Dubai — Group-IB, one of the global leaders in cybersecurity, is pleased to announce that it has signed a partnership agreement with sirar by stc, a cutting-edge Saudi cybersecurity provider. The agreement was signed in the presence of Mohammad Flaifel, Group-IB’s Regional Sales Manager for Saudi Arabia, and Abdulrahman Al Manea, Chief Product and Marketing Officer of sirar by stc, in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

The agreement paves the way for Group-IB to provide its full stack of threat hunting and intelligence solutions, recognized as some of the best in class by Gartner, IDC, Frost & Sullivan, and KuppingerCole Analysts AG, to sirar by stc to bolster the cybersecurity options available to companies and organizations in Saudi Arabia. These solutions include Group-IB’s best of breed Attack Surface Management and Digital Risk Protection solutions. sirar by stc will be able to offer Group-IB’s solutions as a managed service to their customers, to ensure that they have better visibility on their attack surface. 

 

Fig 1 – Group-IB’s trailblazing Attack Surface Management solution

“Group-IB is delighted to deepen its cooperation with sirar by stc, a leading player in Saudi Arabia’s digital security transformation. Group-IB considers this to be a milestone achievement for the company. Group-IB is looking forward to offering its sector-leading expertise and extensive knowhow to sirar by stc, and we will look to enrich the services catalog that sirar by stc provides to its trusted clients. We see this partnership as a way to contribute to the continuing uptick in cybersecurity benchmarks in Saudi Arabia,” Ashraf Koheil, Group-IB’s Regional Sales Director META, said.

“Our partnership with Group-IB underscores our continued commitment towards enhancing the cybersecurity detection and protection within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This collaboration allows sirar by stc to provide best in class Attack Surface Management and Digital Risk Protection to our customers, allowing them with the confidence to identify and protect against threats that might impact their business.” Abdulrahman Al Manea. Chief Product and Marketing Officer from sirar by stc,…

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