In a digital-first world, safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring compliance with industry regulations are paramount. Enter "Continuous Compliance" – a dynamic approach reshaping the cybersecurity paradigm . As a key part of an effective compliance strategy, continuous compliance is pivotal in fortifying security measures. This modern strategy empowers organizations to stay one step ahead of...

South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPIA), also known as the PoPI Act, is a comprehensive data protection legislation designed to safeguard the privacy and information of South African citizens. While Jacob Zuma assented to PoPIA in November 2013, the act took effect in July 2020. Parliament granted all South African entities a one-year grace period, expecting them to comply by...

Technology companies are often seen as revolving doors of constantly shifting personnel. Whether they are seeking a better work environment or chasing a higher paycheck, these staff changes can hurt an organization’s progress. Worse yet, the customers are often negatively impacted by these changes in the continuity of established relationships. At Fortra, we're proud to have a higher average...

On June 22nd, 2023, the National Cyber Security Centre ( NCSC ), the UK's cybersecurity agency, released a Cyber Threat Report for the country's legal sector. Developed to update a previous iteration from 2018, the report reflects a dramatic change in the cybersecurity threat landscape, offering advice that considers the security issues inherent with remote working , new data revealing the UK...

A firewall is a security device that controls the flow of traffic across a network. A firewall may be a hardware appliance, or it may be a piece of software that runs on a third-party operating system. Firewalls operate based on a set of pre-defined, as well as customizable security rules that inspect network traffic to block or permit access to a network. Oftentimes, a firewall is logically...

In years gone by, there was a stigma attached to hiding one's browsing history. Wiping browsing history was seen as suspicious; it suggested that someone had something to hide. It was – and still is- the butt of many jokes. However, individuals might want to hide their browsing history for many reasons. They range from the relatively trivial – like concealing a surprise gift – to the essential –...

In the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, businesses face an exhaustive battle to safeguard their valuable data while complying with industry regulations. To address these challenges, innovative solutions have emerged to enhance network security. Network visibility remains a crucial focus. The profound impact of heightened visibility cannot be ignored, as it plays a crucial role in fortifying...

The Network and Information Security 2 ( NIS2 ) Directive is the European Union's (EU) second attempt at an all-encompassing cybersecurity directive. The EU introduced the legislation to update the much-misinterpreted Network and Information Security (NIS) Directive (2016) and improve the cybersecurity of all member states. It signed NIS2 into law in January 2023, expecting all relevant...

After a series of high-profile cryptocurrency heists, a state-sponsored North Korean malicious hacking group is poised to cash out millions of dollars. That's the opinion of the FBI, which this week has warned cryptocurrency companies about recent blockchain activity it has observed connected to the theft of hundreds of millions of cryptocurrency in recent months. The FBI says that the notorious...

In an era of escalating financial crimes, the spotlight shines brightly on the rising concerns in the realm of cybersecurity. According to a recent survey , a staggering 68% of UK risk experts anticipate a surge in financial crime risks over the next year. These apprehensions echo globally, with 69% of executives and risk professionals worldwide foreseeing an upswing in financial crime risks...

While the phrase sounds like the stuff of textbook jargon, the term "configuration drift" hides an extremely crucial caution. Configuration drift is important because it can lead to compliance drift. Compliance drift means that the state of compliance has changed as a result of a configuration that has been changed, which has caused your system to fall out of compliance. When your systems are...

The Importance of APIs Businesses of all sizes are increasingly relying on APIs to connect with their customers, partners, and other systems. APIs, or application programming interfaces, are the building blocks of the modern web, and they allow businesses to share data and functionality in a secure and efficient way. Without APIs, businesses are limited in their ability to innovate and grow. They...

The Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA) Triad is a crucial information security model that guides and assesses how an organization manages data during storage, transmission, and processing. Each component of the triad plays a vital role in maintaining information security: Confidentiality means that data should not be accessed without authorization. Most times, it is equivalent to...

The United States stands at a pivotal juncture for true digital and cyber security, with unlimited potential. The 2023 U.S. National Cybersecurity Strategy presents a fresh perspective on safeguarding digital territory—a perspective rooted in collaboration, innovation, and accountability. This moment poses a critical consideration of whether to invest in a future where collaboration is the norm...

Security researchers have identified that a widespread LinkedIn malicious hacking campaign has seen many users locked out of their accounts worldwide. Some users who have had their access to their LinkedIn accounts blocked by the cybercriminals changing their passwords have been pressured into paying a ransom, according to a report from Cyberint , and threatened with permanent account deletion. In...

Serverless architecture has increased in recent years, and is anticipated to grow by nearly 25% over the next decade, According to one source , the serverless architecture market was worth over $9 billion in 2022, with its compound annual growth rate projected to increase. The market could be worth over $90 billion by 2032. This indicates the immense amount of potential that this industry carries...

According to the Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market 2023 report released by the UK government, 50% of UK businesses face a fundamental cyber security skills gap, while 33% grapple with an advanced skills gap. This is just one of the challenges that the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) must face. While these figures remain similar to 2022 and 2021 , it's evident that there's...

The past three months witnessed several notable changes impacting privacy obligations for businesses. Coming into the second quarter of 2023, the privacy space was poised for action. In the US, state lawmakers worked to push through comprehensive privacy legislation on an unprecedented scale, we saw a major focus on children's data and health data as areas of concern, and AI regulation took center...

As technology advances, the battle between cyber criminals and organizations intensifies. Cyber threats have become more sophisticated, complex, and widespread, posing a significant risk to the security and integrity of sensitive data. In Q1 2023 alone, the number of global cyber attacks increased by 7% , with an average of 1,248 attacks reported per week. In a separate report by The Independent...

In cybersecurity, knowledge is everything. From APT intelligence to zero-day vulnerabilities, relevant and timely information can be the difference between a thwarted attack and a total disaster. With Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks at their zenith, there has never been a better time for a comprehensive BEC report. As such, Fortra has released its 2023 BEC Trends, Targets, and Changes in...