It seems as though there was always another cybersecurity development around every corner in the past year, and cyber threats in 2022 are already looking to take it up a notch. The US government strongly urges organizations to begin preparations for potential Russia-sponsored cyberattacks in a joint advisory from the FBI, NSA, and CISA. Network security in Boston should be a top priority for you and your business, along with employee education programs and other types of ongoing support. Knowledge is power, and sometimes the best way to strengthen your company’s cybersecurity is by ensuring that every member of your team is aware of the latest potential threats and knows how to overcome them.
Russia-Sponsored Cyberattacks
Business owners and managers need to understand that threats of cyberattacks by hostile nations and groups are always a big concern. There is a wide range of variations in the type of attack, ranging from minor incidents and complications to widespread and serious threats that can cause a lot of damage. Having a solid backup and recovery plan for your organization’s essential data is crucial to recovery, whether the attack comes from an outside entity, a weather-related incident, or a simple human error. Preparation is key when it comes to network security in Boston and the surrounding area, particularly in light of these new cyber threats in 2022. The government advisory provides IT professionals and security experts with details and advice on how to address potential issues during this heightened state of awareness about Russia-sponsored cyberattacks.
Increased political tension between Russia, NATO and concerns about Ukrainian invasions have only escalated situations. While you might not think that your small or medium-sized business in New England could be a possible target, think again. Cyberspace has become a weapon of countries and organizations that seek to show their ability to cripple and damage their enemies. Even if you aren’t directly tied to anything related to other cyber threats in 2022, that doesn’t mean that your company couldn’t become collateral damage. The government urges US-based businesses to be prepared, have a plan of action for reporting cyber incidents, and strengthen the abilities of their IT department to handle security threats. The use of best practices for identity and access management and increased vigilance for potential cyber threats will make it easier to address small issues before they become big problems.
Specific Cyber Threats in 2022
In addition to the advisory and list of things that businesses can do to prepare and plan for potential attacks, the US government also provided a list of specific vulnerabilities that have been targeted or exploited by Russian-sponsored cyberattacks in the past. This can be a helpful way to get ahead of possible issues and tighten up security as needed. Some of the threats included in the advisory from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) include Cisco routers, Oracle WebLogic servers, Microsoft Exchange, VMWare, Exim Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, and FortiGate VPNs. You can view the complete list online to determine any risks that may be posed to your organization.
Other issues that the government warned about include compromised third-party infrastructures and software, as well as the development or deployment of custom malware. The ability of these Russian state-sponsored individuals to maintain persistent, undetected, long-term access in a compromised environment through the use of legitimate credentials can be extremely dangerous. Specific targets in the past have included operational technology (OT), information technology (IT), and industrial control systems (ICS) networks that have been attacked through the use of destructive malware. A list of previous advisories and alerts concerning historical technology attacks by Russian-backed individuals and groups is also included in the CISA alert. Industries recently impacted by these activities include global Energy Sector businesses, as well as state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments, aviation networks, and anyone involved in Ukrainian infrastructure-related industries.
Reduce Vulnerabilities with Synivate
If you would like to learn more about how you can enhance network security in Boston to address common issues that could increase your risk of cyber threats in 2022, contact Synivate. We offer a wide range of innovative technology solutions, monitoring and management services, employee education programs, and other support programs designed to help organizations like yours protect themselves from Russia-sponsored cyberattacks or anything else that might come in the future. Give us a call at 617-848-1248 to speak with one of our technicians about your immediate concerns or needs for the future.