If the SolarWinds cyber-attack has taught us anything it is that cyber security issues continue to grow in number and complexity. And that your business supply chain needs serious scrutiny – as does your business data backup strategy.
The SolarWinds hack
Last year, the US company that develops business software to manage IT networks, systems and infrastructure was targeted by Russian cyber-criminals. Around 18,000 of a potential 33,000 customers were hit by the cyber-attack when they downloaded a routine update to their software. It contained hidden malicious code that lay dormant for weeks before kicking into action. Businesses and governments worldwide were compromised by this supply chain attack that reached them indirectly through the SolarWinds software. Read more here.
Cyber security risks 2020-2021
As reported on the Infosecurity website, VMware Security Business Unit’s 2021 Global Cybersecurity Outlook study of 180 IT professionals revealed some interesting finds about ransomware attacks.
It seems COVID-19 has played its part in the state of our cyber security – namely giving cyber-criminals more time and opportunities to attack and advance. But ransomware and the supply chain are what really need to be observed under our digital forensics’ microscope.
In the Global Cybersecurity Outlook, more than 60% of respondents were targeted by ransomware in 2020 with almost 40% observing double-extortion ransomware attempts. Also, almost 50% reported instances of supply chain attacks, like the SolarWinds incident, in more than a quarter of Incident Response (IR) engagements.
The effects of the SolarWinds hack
Switch2IT’s cyber security expert and Managing Director Daniel Piggott must agree with VMware Security Business Unit’s, head of cybersecurity strategy, Tom Kellermann, who said:
“This [SolarWinds] is not an isolated event. With COVID-19 catalyzing digital transformation and a shift to cloud services, these sorts of attacks will only increase in frequency. Organizations have to realize that it’s no longer simply about whether breaches along their supply chains can be leveraged to attack them, but whether they themselves can be used to attack their customers.”
When a vendor, who signs up lots of customers, suffers a data breach that vendor, their staff, their customers and their associates at all stages of the supply chain could be at risk of ransomware or other cyber security threats. If they are in your contacts list, or you hold private data on them, they could be targeted.
Has there ever sounded like a better time to check you have the best data backup strategy money can buy? Bring it up with colleagues on LinkedIn, infiltrate your network – as it were. The more we spread the word about the importance of secure data backups at all levels and links, the more chance there is of us beating the cyber-criminals at their own game.
Is your data backup strategy wind-resistant?
Here are five simple things for you to consider when choosing a data backup strategy and/or location. Your decisions could help make or break your business:
- Secure – Is your business data stored offline at a secure location?
- UK-based – Is your business data stored in the UK?
- Access – Who has access to your data? Team members? IT consultants?
- Trust – Is your IT service provider quality-assured?
- Recovery – How quickly will data recovery take?
Switch2IT for a secure data backup strategy today
Protect your business from the storm of possible cyber security threats with a data backup strategy to a secure UK location with Switch2IT. We are both ISO 9001 certified and Cyber Essentials accredited for your peace of mind. Contact us and we will help your business, and your supply chain, stay safe and sound – come wind, rain or shine.