This episode is a reminder that even minor vulnerabilities can have extensive consequences. In this case, accessing just a few email accounts compromised thousands of patient records, creating serious problems for both the victims and the company. Since healthcare organizations are explicitly charged with protecting this information, they need to take every precaution to make sure that their systems are secure. By monitoring where and how hackers use patient and employee information on the Dark Web, providers can offer lasting protection. (Read more about the week in breach)

Securing passwords has become more necessary than ever, as they are the last line of defense against various threats and risks. Sadly, many people have horrible password habits, as evidenced by the rise of “credential stuffing” cases in 2018, a form of cyberattack wherein a hacker tries to take advantage of the fact that most people use the same passwords across multiple devices and accounts.

Office 365, the cloud-based version of Office, is one of the most popular software suites used by small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) today. With an ever-increasing number of companies migrating to this solution, it’s not surprising that many others are considering making the move.

This incident is a reminder of the difficulty of managing and maintaining an international IT infrastructure. Fortunately, Verint’s security software immediately detected the breach and made employees aware of best practices for combating a ransomware attack, but a lot more could have been done. Companies should invest in solutions that can proactively and continuously monitor hacker marketplaces for compromised employee or customer data. Especially in the case of companies conducting business in cybersecurity and IT infrastructure, the risk associated with damaged brand quality is too high.

Being able to rule out a credential stuffing attack is crucial to identifying the source of a breach. Without the help of an MSP or an MSSP that offers Dark Web monitoring solutions, it becomes incredibly difficult to track how compromised data is being leveraged by hackers. When developing digital platforms, companies of all sizes need to plan to protect their customer data by taking every precaution to ensure that their information is never compromised. (Read more about the week in breach)