With COVID-19, cybercriminals ramped up their attacks. The number of ransomware attacks in 2Q 2020 (April through June) more than tripled from the previous quarter, representing nearly one-third of the attacks remediated by the IBM Security X-Force this year, says one report.

At 2:00am on September 27, 2020, computers at a large hospital system, like a rolling blackout, began shutting down. One computer screen ominously displayed "Shadow of the Universe" before slowly fading to black.

An increasing number of small and medium-sized businesses are coming under attack. Yet even as the numbers rise, many SMBs are still unprepared (or under-prepared) at a time when the costs associated with a breach can sink a business. And there are new risks.

Last year at our inaugural Security Enforce conference, we showed our partners how to wield the shield of collaboration. We provided partners with the community, offerings and strategies needed to assist in shielding your customers from the evolving threat landscape. We also introduced the first ever, state-of-the-art cyber range offered by an IT distributor.

In 1736, Benjamin Franklin, advising Philadelphians on the threat of fire, cited the now infamous axiom, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Often used in the context of health & wellness, the statement is as true today as it was nearly 300 years ago.  Today however, its validity extends well beyond the health of one, or even the safety of thousands. Because digital transformation has elevated the importance of -and accelerated the need for- a robust cybersecurity program, its implications are global; potentially affecting every single person on the planet. 

Just because cybersecurity awareness month ends doesn’t mean we can stop being diligent in protecting our companies against cyber attacks.Especially with these compelling stats:.

The following article written by Alex Ryals, Tech Data’s vice president Security Solutions, originally appeared on Tech Data’s LinkedIn page on January 25, 2019. It is the third article in his three-part discussion on cybersecurity.

A comprehensive cybersecurity plan is no longer installing the best anti-virus software on the market. With today’s environment, this singular approach is not enough to keep a business (or individual) safe from cybercriminals. Understanding the basics and the building blocks for a comprehensive security strategy is the best defense. 

It’s been more than a year since the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) breach that exposed the personal information of millions of U.S. Federal workers. You’ve probably seen the news – the breach exposed personal information from a jaw-dropping 22 million people including finger prints, social security numbers and other private information. Victims included current and former Federal employees, retirees, contractors and others who had undergone Federal background checks. It brought to light the need for extreme vigilance in today’s cyber world.