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Identity is Security: Starting with Identity

This week in security headlines, we saw a few more “bright spots” of awareness. For example, Miami Dade College added its name to that list this week by opening up The Cybersecurity Center of the Americas. The proactive, mass dedication of space and resources to addressing today’s cybersecurity challenges is reassuring when so much else hangs in the balance.

But, this week’s headlines also remind us that collectively, we have a lot of work to do. Take research from Ponemon released this week. Only 32% of IT pros in the UK know their web applications’ infrastructure and lack the ability to know if many of their apps had been breached. This poor visibility only becomes more rampant, and more dangerous, as the volume of users, applications and data grows.

We also got a snapshot of how hard the healthcare industry is being hit with cybersecurity incidents. The numbers are staggering, though no longer shocking, with 229 data breaches affecting 6.1 million individuals. While the causes of those breaches are numerous, one of our recent surveys found that insider breaches are a major source of worry for healthcare IT professionals.

If that weren’t enough, we now have evidence that ransomware is costing organizations a collective $1 million a minute. It’s a tough and expensive problem to address, as it just keeps growing. However, there is a place for identity in the fight against ransomware, allowing businesses to move quickly and reduce the damage done in the event of a ransomware attack.

We repeat it often, but it’s worth mentioning again: cybersecurity needs to be at the top of the agenda for every organization. And a modern security program begins with identity. That means knowing who has access to what systems, applications and data, and ensuring complete visibility across the organization.

Until next week, stay secure!


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