Introduction
Technology Source, a technology advisory firm in Southern CA, interviewed executives from Blue Team Alpha, a comprehensive cybersecurity force headquartered in St. Paul, MN. The ever-evolving landscape of cyberthreats presents ongoing challenges for organizations of all sizes. A virtual roundtable discussion was held with cybersecurity experts to shed light on the latest trends and provide valuable insights. This article will delve into the key points raised during the discussion, focusing on emerging threats and the necessary protections organizations should consider.
Evolving Threats
Joe Kingland, CEO of Blue Team Alpha, highlighted how threat actors are “continuously improving their attack techniques to gain better access, increase potency, and expedite their attacks. Ransomware attacks, in particular, have become more sophisticated, with the inclusion of worms to reduce reliance on traditional propagation methods,” he said. “Additionally, the extortion side of cyberthreats has witnessed a significant increase in ransom demands, posing a greater risk to organizations of all sizes.”
Impact of Human Error
The panelists emphasized that human error plays a major role in cybersecurity incidents, with statistics indicating that as high as 90% of attacks can be attributed to it. They shared real-life examples where employees fell victim to phishing emails and inadvertently compromised their organizations’ security. It was emphasized that organizations need to focus on creating a strong human firewall by implementing robust security awareness training programs and conducting regular phishing tests to educate employees and reinforce safe cybersecurity practices.
The Role of SOC as a Service
The discussion then shifted to the significance of a Security Operations Center as a Service (SOCaaS) in managing the evolving threat landscape. The panelists highlighted that a SOC provides round-the-clock monitoring, rapid incident response, and access to a collective intelligence pool, enabling organizations to proactively identify and address potential threats. They emphasized that outsourcing to a SOC service provider allows businesses to benefit from specialized expertise and dedicated resources that would be challenging to replicate in-house.
The Pitfalls of Relying Solely on Cyber Insurance
The panelists cautioned against relying solely on cyber insurance as a security strategy. While insurance can provide financial protection in the event of a cybersecurity incident, it does not replace the need for a proactive cybersecurity approach. Joe Kingland emphasized, “Waiting until an incident occurs before engaging an incident response firm can result in significant delays, making it crucial to have a retainer in place with a trusted incident response provider.”
Benefits of Proactive Cybersecurity:
The panelists shared their experiences and highlighted the importance of being proactive in cybersecurity. They emphasized that investing in a proactive cybersecurity strategy, including employee training, incident response planning, and retaining an incident response firm, leads to faster response times, quicker containment of threats, and overall cost savings in the event of a cyber incident.
Conclusion
The roundtable discussion provided valuable insights into the evolving cyberthreat landscape, the impact of human error, and the benefits of proactive cybersecurity measures. It highlighted the importance of employee awareness and training, the role of SOC as a Service, and the risks associated with relying solely on cyber insurance. By adopting a proactive cybersecurity approach, organizations can better protect themselves against evolving threats and minimize the potential damage caused by cyber incidents.
About Blue Team Alpha
Blue Team Alpha is a veteran-owned, comprehensive cybersecurity force on a mission to defend America in cyberspace. It offers offensive, advisory, technical and incident response services fortified by unparalleled experience in incident response and management. Blue Team Alpha comprises the cybersecurity industry’s highest-caliber talent, boasting decades of experience handling breach investigations across all 16 critical infrastructure sectors. Over 65% of the firm’s experts hail from esteemed roles in the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and other government entities, where they honed their skills under the world’s finest cyber command.
About Technology Source
Sourcing as a Service company with 500+ best-in-class business solutions and over two decades of earning trust around the globe. Technology Source pairs with midsize and enterprise organizations to modernize IT. As a trusted business advisor, Technology Source’s mission is to help our customers and advisors to win by unleashing the elements of enterprise technology solutions.
