Attackers Are Hitting Harder and Faster, Resulting In Higher Costs
The May 7, 2021, ransomware attack on U.S. fuel network Colonial Pipeline left millions afraid they couldn’t fill their fuel tanks and caused long lines of panic-buying at gas stations along the East Coast. The FBI subsequently attributed the attack to the DarkSide threat group.
A week later, a Conti ransomware attack took place on May 14. Hospitals were impacted in their ability to deliver care, causing patients to be diverted to available nearby hospitals and potentially endangering lives. Another major attack, this time by REvil ransomware, swiftly followed on May 30. It managed to shut down production at several plants operated by JBS, the world’s largest meat producer.
As financial incentives for cybercriminals continue to grow, the impact of these attacks is increasing at an astounding rate. A recent ZDNet report revealed that between January and April of 2021, more than 290 enterprises were hit by just six ransomware groups. The collective ransoms for these enterprises totaled over US$45 million, and these figures are a drop in the bucket considering the widespread underreporting of ransomware and the sheer scope of industrial, corporate and even governmental targeting. This white paper provides 10 key preventative steps every organization can take to avoid becoming the next victim and another unfortunate headline on the nightly news.