Organizations face unprecedented challenges from sophisticated attackers and new risks created by AI. The article, "10 Essential Insights from the Microsoft Digital Defense Report," highlights the latest research and top trends shaping today's threat landscape. Read the article for insights, and contact IT Easy for a conversation on applying these findings in your environment.
The report indicates a 2.75x increase in ransomware-linked encounters, yet attacks that reach the encryption stage have decreased threefold over the past two years. This decline is attributed to automatic attack disruption. Notably, over 90% of the attacks that did reach the ransom stage originated from unmanaged devices, highlighting the importance of managing all network-connected devices to prevent such attacks.
Techscam traffic has surged significantly since 2021, outpacing the growth of malware and phishing activities. Most techscams stem from malicious ad platforms and exploit users through various fraudulent schemes. To combat this, organizations are encouraged to implement blocklists for known malicious domains and leverage AI detection models to enhance the identification and neutralization of these threats.
Nation-State Collaboration
The report reveals that nation-state actors are increasingly collaborating with cybercriminals, utilizing criminal tools and tactics. For instance, North Korean hackers have stolen over $3 billion in cryptocurrency since 2017, funding state initiatives. Organizations are advised to enhance their defenses against both nation-state and cybercriminal threats by implementing robust cybersecurity measures and staying informed about evolving tactics.