08 Jan Welcome to 2024
Welcome to 2024
We are officially out of the woods with the Holidays and back to business. I am super proud of our Team here at SOS. There were a few events over the holidays/days off that they jumped on – some without our clients even knowing. I believe this is a testament to the awesome culture we have.
In 2024 we expect to see a continual rise in compliance. We have now had some clients’ cyber-insurance carriers requiring 2FA/Multi-Factor Authentication just to log in to their desktop computers (not just email). We are seeing an increased need for Dark Web monitoring, to monitor jeopardized email accounts.
It was just a couple of years ago when we had to make a pivot and change with the industry to jump on the cybersecurity train to be the best IT Provider for our clients. Pre-2020 it was 90% productivity and efficiency and now it’s more like 90% cyber and network security.
Our Family Tradition
We always make blankets and take them to Primary Children’s to help keep the kids in the spirit of giving not just getting. Here are some pictures of being out and about and see how fast these kids are growing up!
Also, somehow my dream has come true and my whole family loves the 49ers 🙂
Updated Guide to IT Security to Kick-Off 2024
The latest cyber threats affecting small businesses in 2024 are increasingly sophisticated, leveraging advancements in technology such as AI and targeting vulnerabilities in new areas like direct payment systems and supply chains.
- AI-Powered Scams: AI tools are being used by scammers to create more convincing fraudulent materials, such as fake marketing emails and login screens. This makes it harder to distinguish between legitimate and malicious content.
- Ransomware and Data Theft: A notable shift is occurring in ransomware tactics, moving from data encryption to data theft and exfiltration. This change allows cybercriminals to demand higher ransoms under the threat of releasing sensitive information?.
- Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Attacks targeting global supply chains are expected to increase, causing significant disruptions and security breaches?.
- IoT Device Vulnerabilities: The proliferation of IoT devices introduces new vulnerabilities, as these often less secure devices can provide entry points into broader network systems.
- Quantum Computing Threats: With the advancement in quantum computing, traditional encryption methods may become obsolete, necessitating a shift to quantum-resistant encryption methods?.
- Nation-State Cyberattacks and Hacktivism: Geopolitical tensions are leading to increased risks of nation-state cyberattacks and politically motivated cyber threats like hacktivism?.
- Financial Threats: Fraudsters are targeting direct payment systems, and Brazilian banking trojans are filling the void left by desktop banking trojans, with attacks often starting with phishing emails.
For small businesses, the impacts of these cyberattacks can be severe, with significant financial losses and reputational damage. On average, small businesses can lose around $25,000 due to cyberattacks, with the cost of a data breach for businesses with less than 500 employees averaging $2.98 million. Many small businesses remain vulnerable due to a lack of adequate cybersecurity measures and awareness, with only 14% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) having a cybersecurity plan in place and nearly half of businesses with less than 50 employees not allocating a specific budget for cybersecurity?.
To mitigate these risks, small businesses are advised to conduct thorough security assessments, develop comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, invest in cybersecurity measures, and future-proof their security processes. Continuous employee training, updating security software, data protection, implementing strong password policies, and using data encryption and multi-factor authentication are some of the essential practices recommended for small businesses?.
We are here for you – let us know how we can help!
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Mailing Address Change:
Please send all mail correspondence to the following address and no longer to the Draper PO Box.
SOS Support
1098 W South Jordan Pkwy #106
South Jordan, UT 84095
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For the latest cyber-attacks reports, follow these links:
https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/current-activity
https://www.csis.org/programs/strategic-technologies-program/significant-cyber-incidents
Thanks,
Jason
