In today's digital landscape, where cyber threats lurk at every corner, businesses face the daunting task of defending against increasingly sophisticated attacks. According to the 2024
Comcast Business Cybersecurity Threat Report,
there’s been a marked increase in the frequency and complexity of attacks,
particularly in phishing, ransomware and the exploitation of public-facing
applications.
The landscape is
expanding with each passing year, making it easier for attackers to exploit a
growing number of security flaws in common business software applications. In
fact, Comcast Business observed a staggering 29 billion cybersecurity events
across its pool of security customers in 2023 – an increase from the 23.5
billion events detected in 2022.
As Cybersecurity
Awareness Month comes to a close, here are three things every organization,
regardless of size, should know about protecting against cyber breaches.
1)
Despite
advancements in tech, phishing reigns supreme Phishing remains the most
significant method for initial access, with over 2.6 billion interactions detected
by Comcast Business. Phishing is leveraged not only to trick users into revealing
sensitive information but has also become a major delivery mechanism for
various malware strains. Based on analysis of
activity on Comcast Business services, over 90% of the phishing interactions
blocked were designed to lead victims to sites hosting malware.
After all, it's cheap, flexible, easy to deploy and highly successful. By exploiting human nature, attackers gain the initial access needed to infiltrate further into the network. And that’s when the problem gets even bigger. After successfully gaining initial access, attackers stay hidden and compromise domain servers and databases, from which they harvest vast amounts of credentials and other confidential information.
The trend underscores the
need for robust anti-phishing technologies, comprehensive user education
programs, and email gateway platforms to mitigate an increasingly pervasive
threat.
2)
Credential
dumping is a prominent threatCredential dumping
incidents have become more prevalent. In 2023 alone, Comcast
Business observed 295 million events where attackers attempted to steal and
manipulate authentication credentials. One of the biggest challenges arises
when an adversary acquires “legitimate credentials.” Such credentials allow
attackers not only to authenticate into systems but also to bypass security
measures, escalate privileges and conduct harmful activities unchecked.
Effective countermeasures
include implementing multi-factor authentication, continuous monitoring for anomalous
authentication activities, and regular audits of credential usage.
3)
A
proactive approach is essential for effective cybersecurity In a world filled with
uncertainties, it’s crucial to concentrate on the elements within your control.
Technology teams benefit most from an integrated combination of robust security
solutions that provide comprehensive protection. This setup should include
managed security services from a reliable provider to enhance or supplement the
capabilities of internal teams. These strategies are essential not just for
preventing unauthorized network access, but also for actively detecting and
neutralizing threats should they penetrate your defenses.
To learn more about how
Comcast Business can support your team’s cybersecurity needs, visit this link, or reach out to your
local Comcast Business team at Victoria_Doran@comcast.com
or (878) 999-4373.