Many organizations have a vulnerability management (VM) problem without knowing it. Vulnerability management is a crucial component of any organization’s cybersecurity program and is required by most major compliance standards because of its sink-or-swim impact on network security. One of the biggest issues in VM is that organizations aren’t testing the entirety of their networks. Could yours be...

The latest version of the CIS Controls was released in June 2024. The new version, 8.1, introduces some minor updates via design principles.ContextNew asset classes are updated to better match the specific parts of an enterprise’s infrastructure that each Safeguard applies to. New classes require new definitions, so CIS has also enhanced the descriptions of several Safeguards for greater detail,...

Last November, the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) released its Top Ten List for LLMs and Gen AI Applications 2025, making some significant updates from its 2023 iteration. These updates can tell us a great deal about how the LLM threat and vulnerability landscape is evolving - and what organizations need to do to protect themselves.Sensitive Information Disclosure Risks GrowIn 2023,...

The original NIS Directive came into force in 2016 as the EU’s first comprehensive law governing cybersecurity in member states. As part of its key policy objective to make Europe “fit for the digital age,” the European Commission proposed in December 2020 that NIS be revised, and NIS2 entered into force in January of 2023. Member states were required to transpose it into law by October 17, 2024...

The manufacturing sector has long been a favorite target for ransomware actors. However, the true scale of the issue has only recently become apparent: research published in Infosecurity Magazine last December revealed that ransomware attacks on manufacturing companies have caused an estimated $17bn in downtime since 2018. But why is the manufacturing sector so vulnerable? And what can...

Late last year, Australia’s Cyber Security Act 2024 received Royal Assent and became Law. It was a huge moment for cybersecurity legislation in Australia, serving as the country’s first-ever standalone cybersecurity law, addressing key legislative gaps, and bringing the country in line with international best practices. But what’s included in the Act? And what does it mean for businesses? Keep...

Electricity transmission and distribution are popular topics at the moment, especially as they pertain to utilities infrastructure security. These essential pillars of modern society are undergoing rapid digital transformation, with increased connectivity and technological sophistication harboring large-scale cybersecurity challenges.Electrical critical infrastructure is prone to a plethora of...

In today’s dynamic IT environments, securing and maintaining the integrity of your systems is critical. Fortra’s Tripwire Enterprise is a robust tool designed to help organizations ensure compliance and security by continuously monitoring the configuration and behavior of their IT assets.When deploying Tripwire, a common question arises: should you prioritize monitoring applications, operating...

Ransomware has evolved into one of the most devastating cyber threats of modern times, creating previously unimaginable financial and operational hardships for entities in every sector. As malicious actors employ increasingly sophisticated tools, honing their tactics and spreading their tentacles, understanding the key trends, targeted industries, and financial impact is at the heart of...

The US Coast Guard has been urged to improve the cybersecurity infrastructure of the Maritime Transportation System (MTS), which includes ports, waterways, and vessels essential for transporting over $5.4 trillion worth of goods annually.The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has warned in a report published this week that America's maritime transportation system lacks a proper cybersecurity...

Modern factories are increasingly relying on Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions. This shift is beneficial in many regards, including higher efficiency and transparency, but it also introduces unique cybersecurity concerns. Better vulnerability management for IIoT systems is essential if companies hope to make the most of this technology.The White House’s 2024 cybersecurity report named...

By now, we should all be pretty well acquainted with phishing scams. They've been around for a very long time—nearly 30 years, in fact—and are the primary focus of most security awareness training programs and initiatives. Despite this, phishing remains remarkably effective, with over 90% of successful cyberattacks beginning with a phishing email. Why? Because these scams are constantly evolving...

Today’s VERT Alert addresses Microsoft’s February 2025 Security Updates. VERT is actively working on coverage for these vulnerabilities and expects to ship ASPL-1143 as soon as coverage is completed. In-The-Wild & Disclosed CVEsCVE-2025-21391A vulnerability in Windows Storage could lead to elevation of privilege, however, it is important to note that this would not give complete access to the file...

Building a vulnerability management (VM) program from the ground up is no small feat. It requires technical expertise, organizational buy-in, and a clear roadmap. In recent months, I’ve been working with a client who had to discard their legacy approach and start afresh. We came to realize just how many components have to come together to get a decent start on a VM project while also showing value...

British legal professionals have seen a "significant surge" in data breaches, according to new research from NetDocuments, a firm that provides a cloud-based content management platform for the legal sector.The firm has described how it analysed data from the UK regulator the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), and discovered that the number of data breaches in the country's legal sector had...

The cyber threat to critical infrastructure has never been greater. The growing sophistication of cybercriminals, deteriorating geopolitical relations, and the convergence of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) have created unprecedented risks for critical infrastructure organizations. Fortunately, resources are available to help these organizations protect themselves.In...

Tripwire's January 2025 Patch Priority Index (PPI) brings together important vulnerabilities for Microsoft.First on the list are patches for the Microsoft office platform, including Word, Access, Visio, Excel, OneNote, and Outlook. These patches resolve 13 issues such as remote code execution and security feature bypass vulnerabilities.Next are patches that affect components of the core Windows...

Data breaches continue to cost organizations millions of dollars each year, with costs rising steadily. According to IBM's 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average cost of a data breach has surged to $4.88 million globally, reflecting the increasing complexity and sophistication of cyberattacks. In the United States, this figure is even higher, averaging $9.8 million per breach, and the...

It’s been a tough year for the healthcare sector. Throughout 2024, cybercriminals have unleashed a barrage of attacks on a vast number of healthcare organizations - with disconcerting levels of success. FBI research revealed that healthcare is now the US’s most targeted industry.The attack on Change Healthcare, a United Health-owned health tech company, for example, disrupted operations at...

Small businesses may think they don’t need to implement cybersecurity training programs because larger enterprises with more revenue are more profitable for bad actors. However, small businesses lacking essential security measures are prime targets due to the ease of access and fewer resources for investigation and remediation. While cybersecurity solutions can be an indispensable part of a robust...