expert. opinion

General 

Why Mid-Market Enterprises are Becoming Top Targets for Cyber Criminals (and What They Can Do to Prevent It)

Robert Sugrue 930 Views 0 Comments , 5 min read

In the last few years, many large businesses have overhauled their approach to cyber security. The rise of remote working forced them to bring forward long-planned upgrades to both security technology and processes, resulting in far better data security across the board.
On paper it seems like very good news, but it isn’t necessarily for everyone. Why? Because the majority of cyber criminals are opportunists looking for the quickest and easiest way to make the maximum amount of money possible from victims. Consequently, they tend to target larger businesses that have more assets for exploitation. However, as these large businesses continue to shore up their cyber defences, cyber criminals have started looking elsewhere for easier targets, and many of them are turning their attention to lesser protected mid-market enterprises instead.

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General 

Attacks on Shadow APIs Loom Large

Andy Mills 1088 Views 0 Comments , , 5 min read

Shadow APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are now the biggest threat facing API security today. Analysis of more than 20 billion transactions from the first half of 2022 found 16.7 billion of these were malicious in nature and the majority (5 billion) were against unknown, unmanaged and unprotected APIs, more commonly referred to as Shadow APIs.

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General 

IoT Regulation: The Carrot and the Stick

David Adams 1002 Views 0 Comments , , 5 min read

Security is a real concern among consumers when it comes to the Internet of Things (IoT) which have time and again succumbed to a litany of attacks due to poor protection mechanisms and vulnerabilities. Yet vendors remain slow to implement the 13 guidelines contained in the UK DCMS Secure by Design Code of Conduct published way back in 2018 and which aligns with the international standard ETSI EN 303-645.
To help boost uptake, the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport put out a tender to the industry to devise a scheme that would incentivise manufacturers to demonstrate proactive security compliance to customers. The result was the IASME scheme which offers three levels of compliance – Basic, Silver and Gold – in a bid to encourage the industry to take action. Those meeting the criteria can then display the associated badge on their products, reassuring customers. It’s the carrot, if you will, ahead of the legislation expected to be brought in next year under the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Bill.

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General 

Superintelligence Will Not Be Controlled

Roman V. Yampolskiy 1274 Views 0 Comments , , , 8 min read

The invention of Artificial Intelligence will shift the trajectory of human civilization. But to reap the benefits of such powerful technology – and to avoid the dangers – we must be able to control it. Currently we have no idea whether such control is even possible. My view is that Artificial Intelligence  – and specifically its more advanced version, Artificial Super Intelligence– could never be fully controlled.  

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Business General 

The CFO and Cybersecurity – An Essential Partnership

David Steele 473 Views 0 Comments , 4 min read

It’s time the CFO got involved in cybersecurity. Remote working has opened vast possibilities for cyber-attackers to access financial data and processes, spreading risk factors well beyond the borders of the IT department.
Everything can be done, and is, on the internet these days, thanks to the global pandemic.

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General 

Competing For Talent: How to Close the Cybersecurity Skills Gap

Jamal Elemellas 597 Views 0 Comments , , 6 min read

The cybersecurity sector is experiencing an unprecedented skills shortage and the bad news is that it is set to get worse. According to recent figures from the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS), there is an annual deficit of 14,000 entering the market which will lead to cumulative shortages. It is a situation further exacerbated by the Great Resignation which is seeing an exodus from the industry due to high stress levels and burn out rates, with more than a third tempted to quit their jobs.
There is particular demand for those in middle management or senior roles with three years of experience or more, according to the DCMS report, which is likely to cause problems for businesses over the next few years while new entrants hone their craft.

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Business 

Driving Cybersecurity Up the Corporate Agenda

Paul Farrington 298 Views 0 Comments , 5 min read

Most people know the core functions of the modern business: human resources, sales, marketing, finance, and IT all play vital roles in keeping businesses running smoothly and employees working productively. Corporate leaders have little problem focusing their attention on the needs of these departments and supporting them financially; however, there are other lesser known but equally important elements of the modern business which often go overlooked and under-resourced. Among them is one of the most important and pressing topics of today’s business agenda: cybersecurity.

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General 

The Current Intersection of Universal Design and Cybersecurity and Why It Must Expand

Luke Smith 437 Views 0 Comments , , 5 min read

Many businesses develop cybersecurity programs without considering universal design. This results in programs that fail to meet the needs of the entire workforce. Even worse, inaccessible cybersecurity programs can force workers to miss out on important security tips and insights. This can lead to data breaches that damage a company’s brand reputation and bottom line. 
A clear understanding of the relationship between cybersecurity and universal design is a must, especially as more industries become common targets for cyberattack. Cybersecurity professionals can apply universal design best practices in their everyday work. In doing so, they can develop and maintain best-in-class cybersecurity programs.

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