December 2024 Cybersecurity Roundup

With a record 170 million patient records exposed in 2024, the urgent need for stringent data protection practices is underscored, including: 

• Deploying a method that continuously checks digital health platforms for exploitable flaws and automatically flags urgent issues, reducing the chance of breaches stemming from overlooked vulnerabilities. 

• Enforcing strict control over administrator permissions on medical systems, limiting the impact of compromised accounts and curtailing the broad access attackers might gain. 

• Storing and transmitting patient data in an encrypted state, ensuring that any intercepted or exfiltrated information remains indecipherable to unauthorized parties. 

By adopting these proactive steps, healthcare organizations of all sizes can position themselves to meet stricter regulations in 2025 while safeguarding sensitive patient information.

The recent US Treasury breach demonstrates the critical need for robust authentication mechanisms to safeguard sensitive information from advanced persistent threats. To mitigate such risks, organizations should implement the following targeted security enhancements: 

• Utilize client certificate authentication to ensure that access to critical systems is granted only to verified users. This method significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access due to stolen or weak credentials. 

• Implement strict access control policies that enforce least privilege, ensuring that individuals have access only to the data and systems necessary for their roles. This limits the potential damage in the event of account compromise. 

• Regularly audit and update access permissions and security measures to address new vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with the latest security standards. 

SSL.com’s Client Authentication Certificates provide a robust layer of security by requiring cryptographic proof of identity, offering a more secure alternative to password-only authentication. These certificates can be seamlessly integrated into Single Sign-On systems, enhancing both security and user convenience.

In the wake of Krispy Kreme’s recent cyber attack—which has hampered digital sales and triggered significant recovery costs—organizations must harden their online platforms to prevent similar disruptions. 

• Implement continuous scanning that uncovers hidden flaws in e-commerce sites, ensuring malicious scripts cannot disrupt orders or capture sensitive customer details. 

• Encrypt transaction data at every stage, so compromised information remains unreadable to attackers and limits financial damage. 

• Monitor network traffic flows in real time to block suspicious connections targeting point-of-sale and online ordering systems, preventing extended downtime that leads to lost revenue.

• The sweeping cybersecurity breach orchestrated by the Salt Typhoon hacking group against US telecommunication providers underscores the critical need for fortified authentication measures and enhanced monitoring: 

  • Segment networks to contain attackers and limit their access, even if they manage to compromise an account. This prevents broad, unrestricted access across an organization’s infrastructure. 
  • Enhance monitoring of network traffic and system activities to quickly detect and respond to unusual patterns that could indicate an intrusion. Continuous surveillance is key to catching breaches early. 
  • Regularly review and update security protocols and infrastructure based on the latest threat intelligence and best practices to stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities. 

  SSL.com’s Client Authentication certificates provide a powerful tool in the arsenal against cyber espionage by ensuring that only authenticated users can access critical systems.