Here at Corsica Technologies, we have the privilege of partnering with Affiliated Distributors (AD), a member-owned trade organization that brings together best-in-class distributors and suppliers to facilitate dynamic business partnerships. We attended AD’s recent event for their PHCP division (plumping, heating, cooling, and piping companies). It was great to meet many of you there in person!
I had the pleasure of introducing renowned cybersecurity expert Rachel Wilson. With her experience as Head of Data Security at Morgan Stanley and Senior Executive at the NSA, Rachel offered AD members an insider view into the state of cybersecurity today. She outlined some of the threats facing manufacturers and distributors—as well as solutions that are more achievable than you might think.
Here are my top five takeaways from her cybersecurity presentation.
1. The Importance of Cyber Resilience
The cyber threat landscape is getting more complex all the time, and businesses should assume they’re already compromised. Rachel emphasized the critical need for businesses to build resilience so they can bounce back when—not if—a cyberattack occurs.
How can organizations do this? Keeping systems fully patched and up to date is a great starting point. But Rachel also stressed the need for a robust backup strategy, recommending the three-two-one backup rule: three copies of your data, in two geographically dispersed locations, one of which is off-network.
2. Nation-State Threats: North Korea and Iran
If you think private US organizations are safe from nation-state threats—think again.
Rachel provided an eye-opening overview of the cyber threats posed by nation-states like North Korea and Iran. She explained how North Korea has made hacking banks a major plank of their national strategy to fund their government, while Iran uses cyberattacks as an asymmetric threat to disrupt Western businesses. Rachel’s insights into the motivations and tactics of these nation-states were both alarming and enlightening.
For US businesses, the call is clear: Engage an expert cybersecurity partner who stays on top of the latest threats.
Watch Rachel Wilson’s cybersecurity presentation at the 2024 AD PHCP conference.
3. The Rise of AI-Enabled Cyberattacks
One of the most captivating parts of Rachel’s presentation was her discussion on the rise of AI-enabled cyberattacks. She provided a detailed example of how hackers can use AI to automate and scale their attacks, making them more sophisticated and harder to defend against. Rachel’s example of an AI-enabled attack involving a botnet of smart refrigerators was particularly striking.
While the rise of AI attacks is alarming, it’s important to remember that cybersecurity solutions are evolving even faster. AI is now playing a critical role in sophisticated cybersecurity technologies. When you work with a top-tier MSSP (managed cybersecurity services provider), you get protection from the latest solutions on the market.
4. The Triple Extortion Ransomware Threat
Rachel highlighted the growing threat of ransomware attacks, describing them as triple extortion scams. She explained how hackers not only demand a ransom to restore systems but also threaten to sell stolen data on the dark web—then offer “protection” against future attacks for a continuous fee.
While that’s terrifying, Rachel’s advice was clear: Never pay the ransom, as it only encourages more attacks.
Believe it or not, the best defense against ransomware attacks is cybersecurity training for your employees. You want comprehensive, engaging training, which is what we provide here at Corsica Technologies.
5. Practical Cybersecurity Expert Tips
Rachel’s presentation was filled with practical advice for improving cybersecurity. She recommended using password managers to create and store complex passwords securely, avoiding the use of personal checks and paper statements, and ensuring that employees are well-trained in cybersecurity awareness. Rachel’s emphasis on simple, actionable steps resonated with AD’s manufacturing and distributor audience, encouraging everyone to take proactive measures to protect their businesses and personal information.
The Main Takeaway
Rachel Wilson’s presentation was a powerful reminder of the ever-evolving cybersecurity threats we face and the importance of staying vigilant. Her experiences and insights provided valuable lessons for all AD members. We’re thankful to Rachel for providing her deep insight and leadership perspective on the current cyber threat landscape.
Learn more about our cybersecurity and IT services for AD members.
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