Roxane Bohin’s Post

🔒 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐢 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐬 🔒 🚨 In a shocking discovery, Nichii Holdings and its subsidiaries were hit by a devastating ransomware attack in August 2024. The breach infected 20 company PCs and encrypted over 26,000 files, disrupting key business operations. Personal data, including that of customers, employees, and business associates, was compromised. As the investigation unfolds, the full scale of the attack underscores the urgent need for both immediate and long-term cybersecurity solutions. 🛡️ The ransomware first infiltrated Nichii Care Palace, a subsidiary, before spreading to the parent company and its affiliates. Although the infected PCs were quickly isolated from the network, preventing external data leaks, the damage was extensive. Encrypted files containing sensitive personal information raised serious concerns about potential misuse. Nichii Holdings has been now working closely with cybersecurity experts to assess the damage, bolster its defenses, and ensure compliance with regulators and affected stakeholders. 💡 This incident highlights a harsh reality: even established organizations like Nichii Holdings are vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks. As cyber threats evolve, businesses must realize that reactive strategies alone won't suffice. Proactive measures—such as regular security audits, advanced threat detection, comprehensive employee training, and robust incident response plans—are essential to staying ahead of attackers. In my experience, companies often overlook the role of human error and outdated systems, which can easily facilitate such breaches. This attack serves as a wake-up call to leadership across industries: cybersecurity is not just a technical concern, but a core element of business continuity and reputation management. Investing in resilience is the key to future-proofing your business. ❓ How prepared is your organization to withstand a ransomware attack What steps are you taking to protect sensitive data from ever-evolving cyber threats? https://lnkd.in/gH7sP2KQ #ransomware #dataprotection #cybersecurityinjapan #cybersecurity #cyberriskmanagement

The ransomware attack on Nichii Holdings serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures. Addressing the identified gaps through immediate response actions and long-term enhancements is essential for protecting against future threats and ensuring organizational resilience. By strengthening security practices, improving employee training, and adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity, organizations can better safeguard their systems and data against evolving cyber threats. Holdings faced a massive ransomware attack that likely disrupted operations, compromised sensitive data, and caused significant financial losses.The attack might have exploited weaknesses such as outdated software, unpatched systems, or weak network security.Many organizations fail to keep systems and software updated with the latest security patches, leaving them vulnerable to exploits.Inadequate access controls and poor password practices can make it easier for attackers to gain unauthorized access.Inadequate or poorly managed backup solutions can hinder the ability to recover from ransomware attacks. Quickly isolate affected systems to prevent the spread of ransomware to other parts of the network.Inform employees about the situation and provide guidance on immediate actions to take.Remove the ransomware and any associated threats from the network.Implement access controls based on the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users have only the permissions they need.Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential weaknesses. Engage in threat intelligence sharing with industry peers and cybersecurity organizations to stay informed about emerging threats and best practices.Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards, such as GDPR, CCPA, or industry-specific requirements.

Assess your organization’s IT infrastructure, systems, and processes to identify potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by ransomware. Create and document incident response protocols to follow in the event of a ransomware attack. Include roles and responsibilities, communication plans, and steps for containment and eradication. Enforce the principle of least privilege by granting users only the access necessary for their roles. Perform regular backups of critical data and ensure that backups are stored securely and separately from the main network (e.g., in the cloud or on offline storage). Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest to protect it from unauthorized access and ensure that it remains secure even if intercepted. Use advanced anti-malware and endpoint protection solutions to detect and block ransomware and other malicious software. Segment your network to limit the spread of ransomware and contain potential infections within isolated segments. Provide regular security awareness training for employees to educate them about ransomware threats, phishing attacks, and safe online practices. To withstand a ransomware attack and protect sensitive data, organizations must adopt a comprehensive and proactive approach to cybersecurity. This includes conducting thorough risk assessments, implementing strong data protection measures, deploying advanced security technologies, and fostering a culture of security awareness. Regular updates, continuous monitoring, and compliance with legal requirements are also crucial for maintaining resilience against ever-evolving cyber threats. By integrating these strategies, organizations can enhance their ability to prevent, detect, and respond to ransomware and other cyber threats effectively.

Are you responsible for cybersecurity within the organization, or are you part of a team? Which team do you belong to based on the current maturity level?? How can we achieve the highest levels of maturity? Team 1: Inexperienced Cybersecurity Specialists and Lacks in Basic Security. Teams that manage cybersecurity without maturity, consulting, and evaluations pose the biggest threat to any growing business. The absence of ransomware or breaches in a business does not necessarily imply that everything is in the right place. When nothing negative is happening, it may indicate that something is actually wrong without proper evidence, documentation, processes, and procedures in place to assess and prove maturity. Team 2: Cybersecurity Specialists but Lacks in Process and Gap Assessments. Individuals who recognize that cyberattacks can happen at any time often participate in tabletop discussions. They plan for protection, detection, defense, and recovery in the event of an attack, acknowledging the possibility of failure. While having backups in place for recovery, the process is established; however, they encounter issues in validation and continuous monitoring, as well as adapting the strategy to evolving cybersecurity threats, which are crucial. Without these elements, even those well aware of ransomware and business risks may face failures during the restoration or recovery of infrastructure. Team 3: Cybersecurity Legends and Defense Warriors. For those who have experienced ransomware attacks, after conducting forensic analysis, these teams are well aware of the gaps, understanding how attackers manipulate various types of file encryption, create dummy files, and hijack control of systems, servers, and applications. They know how to communicate with customers and restart the business with customer confidence. Such a team can be referred to as "future-ready," prepared to face any impact. These teams are always ready to acknowledge failure and still have plans for success through the 3.2.1 recovery procedure. They have plans in place, including an action item tracker for various levels of impacts for security incidents. #Cybersecurity #CyberTeams #CyberMaturity #CybersecuritAwareness

Weeks ago, I wrote an article highlighting the importance of training your Security Operations team in incident management, especially for ransomware attacks: ➟ https://lnkd.in/d4BCqBCx Preparing for fire drills (AKA Cyber Drills ➟ https://lnkd.in/dAxnSUCb) is a crucial part of incident management readiness. For instance: • 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲: This preparation involves combining people with diverse skills. • 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆: Leveraging frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK for Enterprise ➟ https://lnkd.in/dW7pSQV9 a comprehensive approach to understanding adversary behavior. • 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀: Utilizing detailed insights into Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), such as those outlined in Kroll's Black Basta Technical Analysis, ➟ https://lnkd.in/dpDCDUWg helps organizations build effective response protocols. Integrating these elements ensures that teams are better equipped to detect, contain, and recover from incidents. 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 because they prepare organizations to respond effectively and efficiently to real-life security incidents or operational disruptions. Here are some benefits: ● Cyber drills test the 𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 of IR plans, revealing weaknesses, ambiguities, or inefficiencies. They highlight areas where tools need upgrades or workflows need optimization. ● Cyber drills test build 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 with tools, processes, and roles, boosting confidence and reducing panic during actual incidents. ● Cyber drills test help ensure 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 and clear communication channels, reducing confusion and delays. ● Cyber drills test how 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 internally and externally, ensuring the right stakeholders are informed at the right time. Regular practice improves the team’s ability to identify and mitigate threats promptly. #cybersec #incident #readiness #management #blueteam #purpleteam #soc #securityoperations #cybersecurity #inforsec #informationsecurity #ciso #iso #cio #firedrill #ransomware https://lnkd.in/dGiwg-np

In today’s interconnected world, ransomware has emerged as one of the most significant cybersecurity threats, targeting businesses of all sizes and across industries. With critical data at stake and operations at risk, organizations are facing an uphill battle against these sophisticated attacks. Understanding the Threat: Ransomware attacks have surged by over 200% in the last few years, costing businesses billions in damages annually. These attacks are not limited to large corporations—small and medium enterprises are increasingly targeted due to perceived vulnerabilities. Why is ransomware on the rise? 1️⃣ The rapid expansion of remote work and cloud services has widened the attack surface. 2️⃣ Cybercriminals are leveraging advanced technologies like AI to make their attacks more targeted. 3️⃣ Human error, such as falling for phishing emails, remains a critical entry point. How Can Businesses Prepare? To stay ahead of this growing threat, proactive measures are essential: ✔️ Implement Zero Trust Security: Treat every user and device as a potential risk. ✔️ Regular Backups: Maintain offline backups to recover data without succumbing to ransom demands. ✔️ Employee Awareness: Educate teams to identify and avoid phishing schemes. ✔️ Incident Response Plans: Develop a clear strategy to contain and mitigate attacks quickly. Ransomware isn’t just a technological issue—it’s a business continuity challenge. Organizations must prioritize cybersecurity as a core part of their operations to build resilience. What measures is your business taking to safeguard against ransomware? Let’s explore solutions together. #CyberSecurity #RansomwareThreat #DataProtection #BusinessResilience #DigitalSecurity #ZeroTrust #BusinessStrategy #Growth #PrivacyAndSecurity

This week CyBiz supported Sygnia to run a Cyber Crisis Tabletop Exercise for a critical infrastructure company.  Sygnia’s Cyber Crisis Tabletop Exercises are designed to strengthen the cyber security awareness and ability of corporate leadership to guide an organisation through a major cyber crisis. They enable leadership to understand the typical flow of an incident, roles and responsibilities in a crisis, and stress test key processes while tackling complex challenges. Sygnia leverages extensive front-line experience responding to major, heavy-weight cyber-attacks, to create realistic multi-dimensional attack scenarios that generate pragmatic takeaways for its clients. Christopher Crummey, Sygnia’s Director Executive & Board Cyber Services worked with the critical infrastructure customer to create a sophisticated multidimensional scenario complete with media interviews, breaking news and some red herrings. Unlike many tabletop exercises which can be generic, the scenario was tailored to mirror the customer’s infrastructure and replicated actual attacks which have taken place against similar organisations across the globe. The customer selected Sygnia for this due to the degree of customisation and realism that Sygnia brings to its Cyber Crisis Tabletop Exercises. The customer also wanted a different party to run the exercise from the provider who prepared its cyber security playbooks, and they liked the fact that Sygnia has an in-house ransomware negotiating team, which brought a lot more realism to how the scenario played out. #CyberSecurity #CrisisManagement #TabletopExercise #IncidentResponse #CriticalInfrastructure #CyberResilience #InfrastructureSecurity #CyberDefense #SecurityAwareness #Sygnia #CyBiz #CyberCrisis #RansomwareResponse #RiskManagement #ExecutiveTraining

Ransomware attacks are still one of the most prevalent threats and it continues to paralyze businesses, organizations, and individuals by encrypting their data and demanding hefty ransoms for its release. A few days ago, a CISO in fintech called me reporting that some of their files were renamed to .reload extension and they couldn't access the information. It was encrypted.  This company  had a very poor readiness and planning for ransomware attacks and hence the impact was high. Most of the small and midsize organizations today are in the same boat. Proactively building a comprehensive strategy for ransomware threats is crucial. It should address end-to-end challenges.  We tend to focus a lot on "response and recovery" (a reactive approach) while ignoring "strategy & planning". When as an organization,  you proactively decide to not pay ransom, you would be more diligent building comprehensive security controls and in taking backups. Without a clear strategy, merely building playbooks won't help. Given the impact of ransomware on business, organizations should focus on -      Get your board/mgmt. know the impact of threat & recovery challenges. -      Deploy controls to protect devices and monitor effectiveness of these controls. -      Incident mgmt. plan – Readiness, recovery, communication, lesson learned etc -      Run cyber threat exercises with these scenarios and test effectiveness of your playbook and crisis mgmt. capabilities -      In case ransomware hits in cloud / third party integrated environments, it might require a comprehensive approach in recovery with vendor participation. -      Maintaining clean backup of critical data -      Engaging the right stakeholders and vendors to build strong resilience. I'm sharing a high level checklist for mitigating these risks. The technical controls would vary with each environment. Any suggestions or feedback is most welcome. You can connect with me to discuss to discuss your specific needs and explore potential collaborations. #ransomware #ethicalhacking #strategy #privacy CYTAD Rivedix

Ransomware stands out as one of the most insidious and disruptive attacks facing organizations today. As a security expert, I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating impact ransomware can have on businesses—crippling operations, damaging reputations, and causing financial strain. However, there’s a silver lining: Resiliency. 🛡️ Building a resilient organization is not just about having the latest technology but also about fostering a culture of preparedness and agility. Here are some key strategies to enhance your resilience against ransomware attacks: 1. Robust Backup Solutions: Regularly updated and tested backups are your safety net. Ensure that backups are stored securely offline and can be quickly restored in the event of an attack. 2. Comprehensive Employee Training: Your team is your first line of defense. Regular training on recognizing phishing attempts and safe cyber practices can significantly reduce the risk of a successful attack. 3. Advanced Threat Detection: Implementing next-generation antivirus, endpoint detection, and response solutions can help identify and mitigate threats before they cause damage. 4. Incident Response Plan: Have a well-defined incident response plan that outlines roles, responsibilities, and procedures. Regularly update and test the plan to ensure its effectiveness. 5. Zero Trust Architecture: Adopt a Zero Trust approach to security, assuming that threats could be both external and internal. This involves strict access controls and continuous monitoring. 6. Collaboration and Information Sharing: Engage with industry groups and share insights on emerging threats and best practices. Collective intelligence can strengthen our defenses and response strategies. Resilience isn’t built overnight, but with a proactive approach and a commitment to continuous improvement, we can better protect our organizations and mitigate the impacts of ransomware. Stay vigilant, stay prepared, and let’s work together to build a more secure future. 💪🔐 Register for our webinar: Resiliency in the Face of Ransomware https://buff.ly/3za6dUQ #CyberSecurity #Ransomware #Resilience #DataProtection #IncidentResponse #ZeroTrust #CyberAwareness