Month: November 2024

General Security Issues Risk Analysis and Security Strategy Security

360º Protection in a perimeter-less world – A White Paper

Cyber Security – Some Facts

  • In the last year, 39% of all businesses in the UK were the victim of a cyber-attack
  • 20% of these lost money or data as a direct consequence
  • 31% of these estimated they were attacked at least once a week
  • The average financial loss to a business is £19,400
  • Phishing emails continue to be a major threat to businesses
  • Hacking of social media and email accounts to extort victims or to enable cases of fraud is increasing – over 8,000 cases in 2021/22, an increase of 23.5% on the previous year
  • Ransomware attacks are one of the most serious threats to businesses and organisations – they can prevent users accessing their devices, network, and data, and confidential information can be deliberately leaked unless a ransom is paid
  • There is a rise in Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) transactions where sophisticated ransomware programmes are leased to less technical cyber criminals so they can launch their own attacks
  • Most ransomware criminal gangs that target the UK are based in and around Russia
  • The NCSC (the National Cyber Security Centre) dealt with more than two million malicious cyber campaigns over the last 12 months
  • 63 cyber-attacks needed a national level response
  • Only 33% of businesses conduct a cyber risk assessment
  • The percentages of business which have Cyber Essentials certification is climbing but is still far too low.
  • 45% of businesses have staff using personally owned devices to carry out work related activities (BYOD – Bring Your Own Device policy)
  • Only 14% of businesses invested in threat intelligence and only 17% carried out a cyber security vulnerability audit
  • Only 23% of businesses have a formal cyber security strategy and only 38% have any kind of cyber security insurance (with only 5% having a dedicated cyber security insurance policy)
  • Only 17% of businesses have had training or awareness raising sessions on cyber security in the last 12 months

Glossary

Phishing

Fraudulent attempts to extract important information, such as passwords, from staff.

Ransomware

A type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.

Malware
Malware (short for “malicious software”) is a type of computer program designed to infiltrate and damage computers without the user’s consent (e.g. viruses, worms, Trojan horses etc).

Threat Intelligence

Threat intelligence is where an organisation may employ a staff member or contractor or purchase a product to collate information and advice around all the cyber security risks the organisation faces.

Sources

  1. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ
  2. UK Government Official Statistics – Cyber Security Breaches Survey

Hybrid Working

Welcome to the changing world of work

Whether you’re an employer or an employee, you’ll know the world of work has changed.

The global Covid-19 pandemic and national lockdowns around the world meant factories shut their gates, shops closed their doors, and offices were forced to quickly transition to remote working. And this has fundamentally changed how many businesses operate today.

According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), despite lockdown being over, a significant percentage of all UK staff now work remotely some or all of the time.

But these hybrid staff are not just working from home when they’re not in the workplace. They are also working from coffee shops, in shared working spaces, in airports and motorway service stations, and from other locations outside of most SME’s security boundaries.

What’s more, they are connecting to your network, downloading and uploading files, and sharing business sensitive information in more ways than ever before. And they’re using Cloud services and messaging apps (such as WhatsApp), and other communication systems and sharing tools, to ‘do business’ because they’re fast and easy.

But this hybrid way of working, and the speed and convenience of these systems and tools, comes at a cost. Your business information and data is now distributed like never before outside of your network and stored in locations that you may never know about.

For today’s cybercriminal, this presents a huge opportunity. They no longer need to target a company through their workplace network; instead, they can target businesses and their employees – and most importantly, their sensitive and confidential data – on the sites and in the places outside of your protected security network.

That’s why hacking of social media and email accounts to extort victims or to enable cases of fraud has increased by more than 23% over the last year.

And why the NCSC (the National Cyber Security Centre) had to deal with more than two million malicious cyber campaigns.

But with 39% of all businesses in the UK becoming the victim of a cyber-attack, the threats to SMEs in today’s hybrid world are increasing.

The Challenge for SMEs

In the UK and Europe, a business is classified as a SME (a Small to Medium-sized Enterprise) if it has fewer than 250 staff and a turnover of less than €50 million or a balance sheet of less than €43 million (although this definition has changed over the years).

And according to the DTI, 90% of UK GDP comes from SMEs including micro businesses with fewer than 10 staff.

But worryingly – but perhaps not surprisingly – the NCSC (the UK’s cyber security authority) and ENISA (the EU equivalent) are predicting a spike in cyber-attacks on SMEs, following a rise in attacks on smaller businesses in the US and Australia.

Why are SMEs the main target of cybercriminals?

There are two main reasons why cybercriminals are increasingly targeting smaller businesses, as follows:

1. Resources

Cybercriminals know that most SMEs don’t have the resources of enterprise level companies and therefore haven’t invested in the cyber protection that larger companies often do.

Many enterprise level companies use Managed Security Service Providers (MSSP’s) to provide the cyber protection they need, sometimes working alongside their own internal dedicated cyber security staff.

Most SMEs simply don’t have the ‘deep pockets’ to do this, making them an easy target for cyber attackers. 

2. Level of concern

For many smaller businesses, cyber security is simply not something they believe is a priority compared to the numerous other things they have to worry about.

And in most cases, they believe that they are already effectively protected because they use an outsourced IT partner (for things like managing their network or supplying hardware) or because they use Cloud based systems.

But cybercriminals know that things have changed since the onset of Covid and that more and more employees are now working remotely and using many different systems and online tools, outside of their traditional IT security boundary.

What’s more, many companies have adopted a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy that means staff can use their own personal devices – such as laptops and phones – for work purposes.

All of this means cybercriminals have more points of entry then ever before to launch an attack.

Zero Trust Architecture and Shadow IT

When companies have files located in different places and spread across various systems and Cloud based solutions, they need what is known as a zero trust architecture. This model assumes that security breaches will happen, particularly as important data is held on third party systems such as communication apps and third party portals, which are collectively known as shadow IT.

SMEs typically do not understand the principles of zero trust architecture and use (or fail to monitor) shadow IT, meaning they rarely truly know all the locations where their data is held and whether it is protected.

Cyber Security Principles

Despite not having the resources of enterprise level companies, the basic principles of cyber security are the same for small businesses as they are for much larger ones.

Principle 1 – Understand the value of your data

Whether you’re a multibillion pound conglomerate or a sole trader working from home, the first thing you need to know is the value of your information assets and data. This could include your customer records, financial information, your passwords and system login details, intellectual property, and much more. All data has a monetary value.

One way to calculate the value of this is to estimate what the cost would be to your business if this data and information was compromised or stolen. Would the situation be recoverable, or would it mean the end of your business, both financially and reputationally? And even if you’re one of the 5% of UK companies that has a dedicated cyber security insurance policy, would this cover you for all the losses you would experience?

Principle 2 – Understand the threats

Do you really know what cyber-attacks could threaten your business? Could cyber criminals send you or your colleagues phishing emails in an attempt to extract important information or passwords? Or could they attempt to install ransomware software on your network that could lock you and your team out of your systems until a ransom is paid? Or could a virus, worm, or a Trojan horse be installed on your network due to a malware attack aimed at damaging your systems?

It’s important you know the threats facing your business in order to understand your vulnerability to those threats.

Principle 3 – Understand your vulnerability

How exposed is your business to the possibility of a cyber-attack? To understand your vulnerability, think about any security measures you have in place, as well as gaps in your protection that may be easily exploited by a cybercriminal. 

But keep in mind that like many other companies nowadays, your staff are most likely working outside of the traditional workplace environment some (if not most) of the time, and the locations they are now working from – and the methods they use to communicate, share, and work – are likely to be outside of your traditional network boundary. This greatly increases your vulnerability to a cyber-attack.

Principle 4 – Know your risk and mitigate

Once you know the value of your information, the threats that exist, and your vulnerability to a cyber-attack, you’ll know the risk that faces your business. But rather than believing you need to eliminate all risk – which even enterprise level companies and national organisations and governments struggle to do – you need to mitigate it to a level that is acceptable for your business.

This may involve implementing new security procedures or installing new software or changing how staff work or providing cyber security training, so all staff know what to watch out for. Or it could mean you have a cyber security audit carried out on your business or hire a (on-premises or remote) Cyber Security Officer who actively monitors your systems and protects you from existing and new cyber threats.

Perimeter-less 360o Protection for SMEs

In today’s hybrid world, what’s needed is a new approach to cyber security. A solution that provides advanced shield technology (proactive protection against all known and unknown security threats) and has the following features specifically designed for SMEs:

  • Works inside and outside of traditional IT security boundaries across all devices, systems, and platforms
  • Is built for a ‘perimeter-less’ ecosystem
  • Is designed for zero trust architecture and the use of shadow IT
  • Is low cost and flexible
  • Doesn’t impose unwieldy security barriers or restrictions but rather has been created to provide protection however and wherever staff are working
  • Protects against all external threats including ransomware (which most data loss prevention solutions don’t)
  • Has the ability to block ‘zero-day’ threats (an attack that exploits a security vulnerability which a developer has zero days to fix) before a business has even identified that such a threat exists
  • Stops all attempts to write known and unknown malware onto the permanent storage of any device
  • Doesn’t require a big (and often expensive) effort setting up blocking rules or ongoing costly maintenance
  • Doesn’t cause any performance issues and has no impact on a device’s RAM or CPU
  • Is a real-time low maintenance ‘fit and forget’ solution that blocks 100% of unauthorised attempts to modify a business’s IT systems

An Innovative Solution

H2 Cyber Risk Advisory Services has developed a low cost managed cyber security solution for SMEs that is designed specifically for hybrid working and 360o perimeter-less protection.

360o Real Time Work Anywhere Cyber Protection fuses industry leading cross platform data discovery functionality with robust and innovative data flow monitoring capabilities so that you’ll know where every one of your files and all of your data is and how to protect it.

It provides both valuable insight and protection to stop you becoming the next victim of cybercrime.

Insight

  • The system analyses your cyber-attack vulnerabilities and risks factoring in every device connected on your network.
  • It quantifies the threats against your organisation’s particular appetite or tolerance for risk.
  • It prioritises responses based on factors important to your business and monitors the effects of your actions.
  • It provides clear actionable insight including security recommendations such as security patches, updates, or workarounds.

Protection

  • Advanced shield technology that provides a ‘one time’ fit security solution that prevents against malware, ransomware, zero-day attacks, and all other cyber threats, known and unknown.
  • Shield technology does not use signatures so there is no need for constant updates to add newly discovered threats and no risk of becoming a zero-day victim.
  • The system proactively scans workstations, laptops, and other devices for sensitive data using smart patterning, and assigns a financial value to the risks you’re exposed to.
  • It tracks and audits data risk in real time by continually monitoring incoming and outgoing sensitive data flows to and from your perimeter-less organisation.
  • It uses a patented encryption process to automatically secure sensitive data across all endpoints, Cloud apps, third party portals, and shadow IT.  The entire process from initial deployment through to data risk analysis and remediation by automatic encryption takes as little as 72 hours.

Benefits

H2’s 360o Real Time Work Anywhere Cyber Protection provides the following benefits:

  • Perimeter-less cyber protection for wherever you or your staff are working – at home, in a coffee shop, at an airport, or anywhere else
  • Ideal for remote and hybrid workers
  • Real time 24-hour protection inside and outside of the Cloud
  • Protects your network, your devices, and your information
  • Enterprise grade shield technology specifically developed for the growing number of SMEs being targeted by hackers and cyber criminals
  • 360o protection against data breaches and cyber-attacks and scams
  • Simple subscription-based per month pricing – pay for just what you need and cancel anytime with 30 days notice

Ask yourself, do you know with absolute certainty where your data is?  Are you sure that an employee hasn’t downloaded a piece of sensitive data onto their laptop or desktop at home to work on, before uploading it again?  Have they forgotten to remove the copy they have on their machine, resulting in there now being two copies of the sensitive data, one sitting outside of your security boundary or outside of your Cloud systems? Or have they used a shadow IT tool, such as WhatsApp or some other communication system, to share the data outside of your network?

Ask about our free no-obligation trial to see how H2’s 360o Real Time Work Anywhere Cyber Protection can protect your business however and wherever your staff are working.

The Experts in Cyber Protection

H2 Cyber Risk Advisory Services was founded by industry leading experts in cyber protection who previously worked for a number of Fortune 500 companies, national governments, and leading technology companies including Symantec, Hewlett-Packard (HP), and BAE Systems.

Their experience in the security sector goes back to the late 1980s and includes designing the first security operations centre for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), as well as leading security projects for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Passport Office.

H2 was established in 2016 to provide the same quality of cyber and data protection to mid-market businesses and SMEs in the UK.

What else can H2 do for you?

As well as providing 360o Real Time Work Anywhere Cyber Protection, H2 provides the following services, each of which can be bundled into a comprehensive managed service:

  • Managed Cyber Security Officer – dedicated remote cyber security expert who proactively monitors your systems and cyber threats to your business, offered on a number of hours a month basis to suit the client
  • Innovative anti-malware solutions – these protect against malware threats and ransomware attacks
  • Patch management across your entire network
  • Cyber maturity assessments – examines and analyses all aspects of your cyber security stance, including policies and processes
  • Cyber Awareness Training for your staff – aimed at IT users and non-technical staff, and offered on-line as well as face to face
  • Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials + certification

Contact

H2 Cyber Risk Advisory Services

T: 0800 4947478

E: hello@hah2.co.uk

W: www.hah2.co.uk

H2 Cyber Risk Advisory Services Ltd
57 High Street Somersham Huntingdon PE28 3JB  		H2 Cyber Risk Advisory Services Ltd
Unit C17 Kestrel Business Centre 2 Colwick Industrial Estate Nottingham NG4 2JR

Cyber Awareness Training Data Breaches and their consequences General Security Issues Ransomware, Phishing and other Malware Risk Analysis and Security Strategy Security Tools

HOW DO HACKERS HACK?

You’ll have to forgive me for a somewhat provocative title and allow me some poetic licence, because in fact, different hacking groups do things differently, although they have much in common.  Personally, I don’t like the term hacker, much preferring cybercriminal, because anyone who accesses a system without the owners’ permission, is by definition, a criminal.  But I suppose hacker is less of a mouthful.

So, what is hacking?  Hacking involves exploiting vulnerabilities in systems, software, or networks to gain unauthorised access or manipulate data using a variety of techniques and methods, which tend to combine technical tactics and social engineering.

One of the first things a hacker, or criminal group, will do, is to profile your organisation and your people.  Favourite open sources of information include:

  • Social media: Information about hobbies, job roles, family, and schedules shared on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.  Do you have a social media policy in your company?  Do you lay down what an employee can and cannot say about your company on their personal social media pages?  Do you have a designated person in the company who handles your company’s profile on social media?
  • Company Website:  You’ll want to give prospective clients contact information of course, but you should not give out individual email addresses and limit profiles published.  I do give my personal profile on my website but don’t give information about any other position, leaving it to a generic phone number and email address.
  • Professional Profiles: LinkedIn is a favourite for targeting businesses, as it provides details about an individual’s role, connections, and organisational structure.
  • Personal Websites or Blogs: These may reveal contact details, interests, or sensitive information inadvertently.  The same issues that appertain to social media apply here. 
  • Data Brokers: Cybercriminals can purchase detailed dossiers on individuals from data aggregator sites.

Another favourite is phishing and pretexting.

  • Phishing Emails: We all know, or at least I hope we know, what phishing is.  Attackers send emails designed to extract more information, such as login credentials, by posing as a trusted entity.  In this context, it could be as simple as the attacker wanting to verify information by perhaps sending an email to a discovered address but wanting to confirm that individuals position in the company.  That just requires a response showing a signature block, so the phishing email might seem very innocuous.
  • Fake Surveys or Job Offers: These can be used to obtain detailed personal or professional data.

There are a variety of reconnaissance tools used by attackers, including open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools, WHOIS lookups and scanning misconfigured systems using commercially available tools such as Nmap and Nessus, which identify open ports, services and weak configurations.  This is why it’s essential to regularly scan your network for these weaknesses.  Ports can be opened for a particular reason and never closed again.  It’s a common fault.

Here at H2 we scan the dark web daily looking for leaked credentials, particularly email credentials.  When we on board a new client we nearly always get hits with sometimes up to 20+ compromised email addresses including passwords.  You might ask why they’d be on the dark web – simple, they are often up for sale on dark web marketplaces.

In terms of cybercrime, who’s heard of psychological profiling?  Cybercriminals analyse:

  • Behavioural Patterns: Regularity in actions, such as times a person is online, financial habits, or common purchases.
  • Weaknesses and Triggers: Examples include a recent job loss, major life changes, or emotional vulnerabilities, which they exploit through spear-phishing or scams.

I’ve often argued on these pages, that your employees are both your first line of defence and your greatest weakness, and that a good cyber awareness programme is worth its weight in gold.  Cybercriminals often focus on employees in specific departments (like HR, finance, or IT).

  • LinkedIn and Organization Charts: Identify individuals with access to sensitive data.
  • Impersonation: Pretending to be a senior executive to trick lower-level employees (e.g., through Business Email Compromise attacks – I’ve written about the CEO scam a lot).
  • Technical Probing: Use of phishing or malware to breach a target’s employer.

In conclusion, what I’ve tried to do here is give you a flavour of what you may be up against, and I hope, I’ve shown you that for all the reasons shown above technology comes last after people and process.  All the tech in the world won’t prevent issues arising from the above and is just one part of an integrated defence in depth required to prevent disaster.

Cyber Awareness Training General Security Issues Identity and Access Management Risk Analysis and Security Strategy Uncategorized

BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE (BYOD)

This is a subject that, at one time, was pretty much confined to the larger enterprise organisations but largely because of the pandemic, it is gaining popularity within SMEs and is now getting a lot of attention from the National Cyber Security Centre.

So, what is it?  Well the idea was to allow employees to use their own devices for work purposes.  The thinking was that in this day and age, many employees have developed preferences for what they use.  So whilst many will stick to Microsoft, others may prefer an Android or Apple tablet, whilst others still may prefer a MacBook or Chromebook.  There’s a wide choice these days.

But what do we mean by work purposes?  It can mean anything from accessing your emails, which most of us do on our phones, to accessing critical services and applications.  And this makes it a potentially complex issue.

The pandemic brought with it many issues that needed swift resolutions and now, it’s not uncommon to visit companies that have allowed their staff to continue to work from home often because the cost savings in office accommodation are very beneficial, and some have allowed staff to use their own preferred devices when working, including connecting to the company network and/or cloud services, remotely. 

For just about all SMEs, this has started from a position of necessity.  But like many such events, if it seems to be working, it rapidly becomes the norm and in creeps a complacency that it’s actually all OK.

BYOD solutions need to be planned and thought through.  And pretty much the same as most things, particularly risk based assessments, what you need to do really depends on your organisation.  You need to ask some questions:

  • Is there anything that needs to be done from the office that cannot be done by home workers?
  • Are there functions which employees need to do, that requires the company to have visibility and management of, and is there anything that doesn’t?
  • What do my employees need to do?
  • How can we balance what employees do that also involves your need to protect data and their privacy (DPA2018)?  They are after all, using their own device.

Above all you need a well thought through and comprehensive strategy, which, while offering flexibility and potential cost savings, recognises and deals with several security implications that organisations must address to ensure sensitive data and systems remain secure. Below are the key concerns:

a. Data Security

  • Data Leakage: Employees’ personal devices may lack adequate protections, increasing the risk of unauthorised access or accidental data leaks.
  • Loss or Theft of Devices: Personal devices may not have encryption enabled, making sensitive corporate data vulnerable if the device is lost or stolen.
  • Uncontrolled Sharing: Employees might unknowingly share corporate data via apps or cloud services outside the organisation’s control.

b. Malware and Cyber Threats

  • Insecure Devices: Personal devices might not have up-to-date antivirus software, firewalls, or operating system patches, making them susceptible to malware or ransomware attacks.
  • Unverified Applications: Employees may install unauthorised or malicious applications that could compromise corporate networks.

c. Network Security

  • Untrusted Connections: BYOD devices may connect to public Wi-Fi networks, exposing them to man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks that could jeopardise corporate data.
  • Device Spoofing: An attacker could mimic a BYOD device to gain unauthorised access to the network.

d. Compliance Risks

  • Regulatory Violations: BYOD policies may lead to data handling practices that violate regulations like GDPR or PCI DSS if personal devices aren’t properly managed.
  • Audit Challenges: Tracking and demonstrating compliance can become difficult with non-standardised, user-managed devices.

e. Access Control

  • Weak Authentication: Personal devices may not support strong authentication mechanisms, increasing the risk of unauthorised access.
  • Lack of Segmentation: Employees’ devices may access both corporate and personal systems, creating potential crossover risks.

f. Insufficient Visibility

  • Limited Monitoring: Organisations may lack full visibility into personal devices, making it harder to detect breaches or policy violations.
  • Shadow IT: Employees might use unauthorised apps or services that bypass official security controls.

g. Employee Turnover

  • Data Retention: When an employee leaves, ensuring the removal of corporate data from their personal devices can be challenging.
  • Device Ownership: Legal and practical issues might arise when attempting to enforce data wiping on personal devices.

Mitigation Strategies

To address these risks, organisations adopting BYOD should:

  • Implement Mobile Device Management (MDM) or Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions.
  • Enforce strong authentication, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  • Require device encryption and ensure compliance through regular checks.
  • Use some form of file separation to ensure separate corporate data from personal data.
  • Deploy a zero-trust security model with conditional access controls.
  • Establish clear policies and training to educate employees on BYOD security best practices.

By proactively addressing these risks, organisations can leverage the benefits of BYOD while maintaining robust security.

General Security Issues Ransomware, Phishing and other Malware Security Tools The Dangers of WiFi

Remote Working and Encryption

This is a subject that I tend to jump on every so often, because it’s one that people just don’t seem to get.  Whether it’s working from home, from a coffee shop, airport, railway station etc, there is this perception that it’s safe because you’re connected via VPN, or perhaps some other form of application which encrypts data in transit.  Well, let’s explore this subject a bit further.

There is no doubt that the propensity for working from home, or other remote locations, since COVID has introduced some very difficult, or at least challenging, security vulnerabilities into your network.  For instance, prior to the pandemic, when you were 100% office based (except perhaps some mobile salespeople), your local IT provider will have almost certainly set up what we called the bastion security model.  Ie, like a castle, a bastion, you had a wall around you, and for belt and braces, you also had a moat.  The gateway was robust, had a drawbridge and portcullis, or let’s call it a secure firewall and anti-malware system.  Everything was locked up inside and nice and secure (in fact it probably wasn’t but that’s for another day).

Whilst Microsoft didn’t invent the term the ‘new normal’, they were the first, I believe, to apply it to IT, following the enforced change in working practices brought about by the pandemic.  Many companies have embraced this new normal and have settled into some form of hybrid working.  Of course, this is nothing new, it’s been ‘a thing’ for years now, certainly regarding corporate organisations.  The real change came about in SMEs for whom it really was quite revolutionary.  Corporate bodies will have spent a lot of money on a variety or remote access systems to keep their data secure, whilst SMEs not only had to rush unprepared because of the pandemic, but they simply didn’t have the budget to employ more secure connections.

What the pandemic has done is change that, or perhaps arguably, accelerated the change to a more distributed way of working, already underway in corporate organisations but now common amongst SMEs.  What does that mean for us?  Firstly, we have to re-think how we are going to work.  We start from a position where we still have preexisting tech, such as VPNs and whole disk encryption, to tackle modern and evolving issues.

So, what about VPNs?  What are they?  A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a service that creates a secure, encrypted connection between your device and the internet. This private “tunnel” protects your data and hides your IP address, effectively masking your online identity and activity.  It works by allowing you to connect to the internet via an encrypted tunnel to a VPN server, which then forwards your requests to the website or service you’re accessing.  The benefits are that it protects your data from being accessed by hackers or eavesdroppers, especially on public WIFI. It masks your IP address and replaces it with one from the VPN server, so it’s harder for websites, advertisers, or even your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to track your online activity.  It’s particularly useful when working from insecure public WIFI but should also be used when working from home.

VPNs are available as standalone apps and more often now, incorporated into other applications, particularly those used to connect to cloud services.

All good, right?  Well yes, anything that helps secure your data is a good thing.  But like all good things it has some downsides.  A VPN does help protect data in transit over an insecure WIFI connection by encrypting the data you send and receive over the internet. This means that if you’re connected to an insecure WIFI network (like in a coffee shop or airport), the VPN will prevent anyone from intercepting and reading your internet traffic.

However, a VPN does not protect data stored locally on your laptop. Files or personal information saved directly on your hard drive are not protected by the VPN. To secure the data on your laptop, you may want to consider using additional protections such as some sort of full disk encryption (BitLocker for Windows or FileVault for macOS are standard with the operating systems) to protect data at rest.  And you should be using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.

So, what I’m saying here is that should someone manage to gain access to your end point ie your laptop, desktop, even your phone, then your VPN is not going to protect you. 

Let’s now talk a bit more about Bitlocker and FileVault.  BitLocker, Microsoft’s disk encryption tool, provides robust security when configured properly (but I make the point here that it’s often not only incorrectly configured but isn’t even in use, making it pointless). And, like all encryption systems, its security depends on several factors, including the version of BitLocker, implementation practices, and potential vulnerabilities in the system environment. Bitlocker uses strong encryption, either AES 128 or 256 Bit, both of which are considered secure. 

FileVault is the MacOS equivalent of Bitlocker (roughly) and is considered secure and built into the MacOS and is very easy to switch on.  It too offers full disk encryption using AES 128 or 256 Bit.  Once again though it is often not in use by Mac users, many of whom don’t even know it exists.

Are there any drawbacks to whole disk encryption?  Will it protect me against things like ransomware?  Whole disk encryption is designed to secure data at rest by preventing unauthorised access to data on a physical storage device (e.g., in case the device is lost or stolen).  The problem is that once the machine is booted up, using the correct authentication, the disk is unencrypted, allowing you access to the data.  So, the answer to the specific question re ransomware is that such an attack is typically not mitigated by this kind of encryption because:

  • Ransomware Operates at the OS Level: Once a device is booted up and the encrypted disk is unlocked (usually via user login), ransomware can interact with files just like any other software. Since the operating system has access to the data, the ransomware does as well.
  • Ransomware Encrypts Data Independently: Ransomware generally works by encrypting the contents of individual files or directories (not the entire disk), effectively “locking” them within the already-decrypted environment. BitLocker, or any full disk encryption, won’t stop ransomware from doing this, as it doesn’t interfere with file operations once the system is unlocked.
  • No Version Control or Rollback: Whole disk encryption solutions don’t provide a way to revert to previous file versions or recover from ransomware encryption. This is where regular backups (stored separately from the network) play a critical role in protecting against ransomware.

You’re being careful, you have a VPN, and you have Bitlocker configured on your laptop.  You’re feeling nice and secure and have no issues using the local Coffee Shop or your home WIFI.  Your connection to your cloud service is secure and all your data in transit is encrypted.  Even your email is going via a secure tunnel.  All is good with the world.  Except of course that as soon as you logged on your whole disk encryption is switched off and your data is vulnerable even before you transmit it.  Any data you download to work on likewise becomes vulnerable as soon as it lands on your laptop.

Earlier I argued that VPNs were old tech being used to combat modern threats and a different way of working.  Does that mean that I think the VPN is no longer useful and is going out of style.  No of course not, VPNs have a very real place in our security architectures and that won’t go away anytime soon.  But they, like the vulnerabilities they are trying to mitigate, have to evolve and keep pace with present day and future realities.

VPNs, whether stand alone, or incorporated into another technology are great at securing data in transit.  What about your data at rest?  The best VPN in the world won’t protect you from someone who is determined to get in and steal your data or install ransomware.  The problem for SMEs is the same that it pretty much always has been.  Cost.  Can they afford a system that will protect their data and stop it being lost, stolen or ransomed. 

What has long been needed is a simple, flexible and intuitive security solution. We believe we have found such a system that protects your company against all known threats, and puts you firmly in control of your data, working automatically 24/7 to identify and safeguard your sensitive information.

Delivering multi-level protection, it provides real time control over all sensitive data. You can identify and solve every problem with a single click of your mouse!  Instead of whole disk encryption, which is decrypted as soon as you log on, it provides file level encryption which allows authorised users access but no one else.  But it does more, it locates all your data, allows you to decide what is, and what is not, sensitive, and provides subscription pricing for a fully managed solution. 

It’s a system that is designed specifically for SMEs and is therefore appropriate to you, and affordable.  To prove that we offer a 30-day free trial so that you can see it for yourself.  Check it out at https://hah2.co.uk/gdpr-data-protection/.

Cyber Awareness Training Data Breaches and their consequences General Security Issues Ransomware, Phishing and other Malware Risk Analysis and Security Strategy

Ransomware and the risk to SMEs

There’s a lot of FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt), going around about Ransomware, and it has to be said that a lot of it comes from cyber security companies.  But amongst the rocks there are some very real diamonds that need the publicity.  There is a very real difference between genuine information and propaganda.  I hope what I do is spread information. 

There is a prevailing feeling amongst small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that they are not a desirable target for Ransomware and it’s therefore not a problem for them.  However, that’s simply not true and they are increasingly vulnerable to ransomware attacks, with recent trends showing a notable rise in these incidents among smaller businesses. Several factors influence the likelihood of SMEs being targeted:

  • Widespread Targeting: SMEs are often viewed as “soft targets” because they may lack the advanced cybersecurity defences of larger corporations. Attackers assume that smaller businesses may have fewer resources dedicated to security, making them easier to compromise.
  • Increasing Ransomware Attacks Overall: Ransomware attacks globally have been on the rise, and attackers have shifted their focus to include not only large enterprises but also smaller organisations across various sectors. This is often due to the lower cost of launching ransomware campaigns, allowing attackers to spread wide nets with mass phishing campaigns and automated attacks.
  • Financial and Operational Impact: Many SMEs are attractive to attackers because the disruption from ransomware can be financially devastating for them. SMEs may feel greater pressure to pay the ransom to restore operations quickly, fearing the loss of business or reputation if the downtime persists.
  • Underinvestment in Cybersecurity: SMEs often underinvest in cybersecurity due to budget constraints, lack of expertise, or other business priorities. This underinvestment can lead to outdated software, limited employee training on cybersecurity best practices, and weaker defences that attackers can exploit.

Likelihood and Statistics

  • High Likelihood: Studies show that more than half of SMEs have experienced a cyberattack in the last year, with ransomware being one of the most common types of attack.
  • Small Business Victimisation: According to a 2022 survey by the Cyber Readiness Institute, nearly 60% of small businesses were targeted by cyberattacks, and a significant portion of these involved ransomware.
  • Increasing Cost: For many SMEs, the average cost of a ransomware attack, including downtime, lost revenue, and recovery expenses, can be as high as £50 to a £100K, making the financial impact severe and sometimes unmanageable without external assistance.

Key Risk Factors for SMEs

  • Lack of Security Awareness and Training: Employees at SMEs may be less well trained on cybersecurity threats, increasing the risk of phishing and social engineering attacks that lead to ransomware.
  • Lack of Backup and Recovery Plans: SMEs may not have effective data backup or disaster recovery strategies, making them more susceptible to extended downtime or paying the ransom.
  • Weak Network and Endpoint Security: Limited resources often mean that SMEs may not have enterprise-grade firewalls, intrusion detection, or antivirus solutions, leaving systems exposed to exploitation. They also struggle with the distributed work practice (office, home etc) that has happened since COVID.
  • Encryption:  Data is often unencrypted on end point machines.

Reducing the Risk

While the risk is high, SMEs can take measures to reduce the likelihood and impact of a ransomware attack:

  • Implementing Regular Backups: Ensuring data backups are frequent, secured, and tested for restoration can significantly reduce the impact of an attack.
  • Employee Training: Conducting regular training to recognize phishing and social engineering can help employees avoid common attack vectors.
  • Monitoring: No or inadequate monitoring of their data and systems, including home and other remote workers.
  • Endpoint and Network Security: Investing in antivirus software, firewalls, and network monitoring can improve defences.
  • Cyber Insurance: Purchasing cyber insurance can help mitigate financial losses associated with an attack.
  • Data encryption.

In summary, while SMEs face a high likelihood of ransomware attacks, increasing awareness, preparation, and proactive defence measures can substantially reduce both the risk and the impact of an attack.

What is the impact of a Ransomware Attack?

Ransomware can have devastating effects on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Here are some of the key impacts:

Financial Losses

  • Ransom Payment: If SMEs decide to pay the ransom (which is not generally recommended), this can result in significant, sometimes crippling, costs.
  • Operational Downtime: Even if no ransom is paid, businesses often experience significant downtime as they attempt to recover systems, which can halt revenue generation and lead to lost sales.
  • Recovery Costs: In addition to the ransom, SMEs incur expenses related to data recovery, IT support, and forensic investigation. Often, additional security solutions are needed to prevent future attacks.

Loss of Data

  • Data Encryption or Destruction: Ransomware can lead to the permanent loss of critical data if files are corrupted or remain encrypted after an attack.
  • Loss of Sensitive Information: SMEs may lose access to sensitive customer or business data, leading to gaps in operational records or strategic plans.

Reputational Damage

  • Loss of Customer Trust: Ransomware attacks, especially if customer data is exposed or operations are disrupted, can damage customer confidence. Many SMEs rely on personal relationships, and a ransomware incident can harm these relationships.
  • Brand Damage: Businesses often struggle to rebuild trust, and reputation damage may deter new clients and weaken partnerships with vendors or other business partners.

Legal and Regulatory Consequences

  • Compliance Violations: If SMEs operate in regulated sectors (like finance, healthcare, or legal services), a data breach can lead to violations of regulations like GDPR, resulting in fines and other penalties.
  • Legal Liabilities: Affected customers or vendors may pursue legal action if sensitive data is compromised, adding further financial strain.

Operational Disruptions

  • Halting of Services: For many SMEs, especially those without a strong IT infrastructure, ransomware can paralyse day-to-day operations.
  • Long Recovery Times: SMEs often lack the same level of IT resources as larger enterprises, so restoring full operational capacity after an attack can take weeks or months.

Employee Productivity and Morale

  • Reduced Productivity: During and after a ransomware attack, employees may be unable to work if they lack access to necessary files, email, or software.
  • Psychological Impact: The stress and uncertainty from a cyberattack can lead to anxiety or frustration among employees, potentially impacting morale and retention.

Increased Insurance Costs

  • Higher Cyber Insurance Premiums: Cyber insurance costs tend to increase significantly for companies that have experienced ransomware attacks. Additionally, insurers may demand proof of enhanced security measures to continue providing coverage.

Pressure to Strengthen Cybersecurity Measures

  • Increased Security Costs: Post-incident, SMEs often must invest in more robust cybersecurity infrastructure, including advanced threat detection, backup solutions, and employee training.
  • Ongoing Monitoring Needs: Ransomware may prompt SMEs to adopt more rigorous monitoring and endpoint protection tools, leading to continuous IT spending.

Ransomware attacks can be particularly harmful to SMEs because they often have fewer resources for cybersecurity, and a single attack can have a prolonged impact. Many SMEs lack a full-time IT staff or robust data backup protocols, which can compound the impact. Consequently, proactive measures, such as employee training, regular data backups, and up-to-date cybersecurity defences, are critical to reducing the likelihood and impact of ransomware attacks on SMEs.

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