Increase in Cyber Attacks Expected as Year Closes

We live in an uncertain world.

As 2018 draws to a close, we look around and see a world increasingly connected, and technology advances moving at a record pace. These are positive developments, but they also have some inherent dangers. No longer do we only have to worry about cyber attacks from those in our own country, but from cybercriminals across the globe. As fast as the good guys develop something amazing, the bad guys figure out how to exploit it. So we live in the tension of incredible innovation, coupled with incredible risk.

At Alliance IT, we are dedicated to helping you to stay on top of the threats and cyber attacks so that your business does not become a victim. We routinely educate you as to how to protect your data, secure your network, and keep your systems safe. September was National Preparedness Month, and as we move into the last quarter of 2018, we would like to review and help you to prepare for some of the threats we yet expect to increase – some will affect you, some are just good to know.

Cyber Attacks & Threats on the Rise

• The “Internet of Things” is the network of physical devices which enables us to connect and exchange data. This includes the connectivity not only of phones, computers, and tablets but of other consumer items such as vehicles and home appliances. These products integrate the physical world into computer-based systems, resulting in many positive efficiencies and benefits. The bad news is that as the IoT grows more prolific, the opportunity for hackers increases- to the tune of over one million devices per month according to experts. How does this affect you? With everything so connected, cyber attacks can affect not only your phone but can infect your car or even your Smart TV.  Experts only expect these attacks to increase as more and more points of connection are established.
• The healthcare industry is going through significant changes as patient medical records are now largely stored online and medical professionals enjoy the benefits of advanced smart medical devices. However, these advancements raise concerns regarding privacy, safety, and cybersecurity.  The Engineering Institute of Carnegie Mellon University, in its 2016 Emerging Technology Domains Risk Survey, explained“As more devices are connected to hospital and clinic networks, patient data, and information will be increasingly vulnerable. Even more concerning is the risk of remote compromise of a device directly connected to a patient. An attacker could theoretically increase or decrease dosages, send electrical signals to a patient, or disable vital sign monitoring.”Similarly, online patient medical records are a prime target for hackers due to the breadth of sensitive information they contain. Concerns regarding breaches are only increasing within the healthcare industry as they race to stay HIPAA compliant yet technologically sophisticated.
• Possible state-sponsored attacks have dominated the news for the last several years, and threats are likely to continue through the 2018 midterm elections. No longer are we dealing with a lone criminal, but theoretically, an entire nation-state, using their cyber skills, may infiltrate other governments and attack on critical infrastructure. Cybercrime today is a major threat not just for the private sector and for individuals but for the government and the nation as a whole.
• Corporate third parties such as vendors, contractors, and partners pose a dangerous risk to corporations who traditionally have no dedicated team or system in place to provide oversight of them. As cybercriminals become increasingly savvy and cybersecurity threats continue to increase, organizations are becoming more and more aware of the risk third parties pose. A 2017 Ponemon Report on Data Risk in the Third-Party Ecosystem cited that 56% of businesses reported experiencing a third-party data breach in the last year, and cyber attacks only seem to be increasing.

While the above seems dire, it should be viewed as a positive motivating factor. If your company has not done so recently, we recommend you undertake a risk assessment to identify possible vulnerabilities and to put policies and procedures in place to protect both personal and professional data. Alliance IT has the expertise and experience to assist with your data security – and the manpower to continually monitor the emerging threats and to thwart them before they harm your business. As 2018 comes to a close, we’d love to partner with you to ensure your cyber security in 2019 and beyond.