People are the weakest link
This sounds like a nightmare too impossible to happen. US soldiers putting sensitive information online in non-secure third party websites. It defies belief, yet we’re reading that it happened. The story popped up on ‘Gizmodo’
It is alleged that US Soldiers were saving sensitive information on a couple of common flashcard sites, presumably of things they were trying to memorise and learn. Even worse, their settings were on ‘public’ not ‘private’
It’s a classic warning about the risk of people, however well intentioned, saving critical data online in places the organisation is unaware of, and can’t control. That’s why our new KARE for Security S2 plan helps identify use of these sites in your organisation.
US Soldiers Accidentally Leaked Nuclear Weapons Secrets: Report (gizmodo.com)
Shadow IT
Shadow IT is one of the largest threats to data privacy in organisations today.
It’s not necessarily because these sites are going to be hacked, although that’s always possible, but just because if you don’t know the tools are in use, then there is no way that you can manage them!
The first step to maintaining this data is to identify it! That’s why you need new tools that are cloud focused. If you’re still using the same old security tools that you used to use prior to the cloud, then you are not keeping up and we need to talk!
When QR codes go bad
Thanks to Covid, we’re all familiar with QR codes. Of course, with Covid, we were using the official tracer app to scan them, but in normal use, you can just use your phone’s camera to open the link. It’s a great way to make it easy to visit a website without having...
Is nothing safe? Fake logins!
Every day, there is a new cyber-threat to watch out for, and to warn friends and colleagues about. I’m frequently stunned when talking to friends and colleagues that these threats are abstract and academic. For the sake of absolute clarity, these cyber risks...
What is Kinetics ITMAAS? Customer Stories.
IT is critical to the operation of almost every organisation. If your IT is more than computers and mobiles then WATCH THIS WEBINAR. If IT is a critical asset to your organisation, then WATCH THIS WEBINAR. If what IT does matters more than what IT is, then WATCH THIS...
What? An update to Windows 11 already?
We’ve previously posted about Windows 11. You won’t believe it, but there is an updated version to it, already! There are over a billion Windows 10 users, and many of those can’t upgrade to 11 simply because their current machines don’t have the horsepower, but that’s...
Hot off the press – we have just received CERT NZ’s report for the last quarter of 2021
So, just a quick reminder of who CERT NZ are – it’s the official NZ Government Cyber-Security agency. So, first up – 13% increase in reported incidents on the previous year and a big spike into the last quarter. 9% more phishing attacks. 24% more malware, based on the...
Are your staff or volunteers your organisation’s biggest security risk?
Despite the best technology defenses (next-gen firewalls and antivirus, advanced threat protection, mail washing, web filtering, regular patching) infections and security events can still occur due to what is often the biggest risk – your people People-risk is harder...
Is your IT strategy meeting the business needs of your community?
There’s a saying that goes “A goal without a plan is a wish." With that in mind, does your organisation have an IT Strategy? Is it aligned with your board's business plan? The reason this is important is that it allows you to make better decisions and be more...
Is the board doing enough to get the cyber-security cost/risk balance right?
Is your organisation doing enough to get the cyber-security cost/risk balance right? Cyber-security protection can feel like an unending cost. Is your board aware of their obligations to your not-for-profit? Are they aware of the unique risks that most NFP's...
Does your NFP have the right relationship with your IT provider?
Do you have the right relationship with your IT provider? Regardless of whether your IT provider is your in-house IT team or a trusted business provider, do you have the right relationship with them? The right IT provider will ask "WHY" long before they ask "WHAT" and...
Does your Not-For-Profit have the right data privacy policy?
Data privacy is now a hot topic in NZ. This was driven by three main factors: 1. The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) which came into effect in Europe in May 2018. This introduced strict regulations on what private information is, how to get consent from...