Wazzup Pilipinas!
Fujitsu Philippines, a global leader in providing information and communications technology solutions, urges enterprises in the country to step up their cyber security measures against cybercrime as it recently releases its latest Threat Predictions report for 2017, identifying 10 of the greatest security risks to enterprises.
Based on the real-world intelligence in monitoring ongoing threats, Fujitsu noted that the most significant of these cybercrime threats is the failure to keep up with the basic IT security processes.
“While this [problem] is the easiest to remedy, lax security will continue leading to breaches that can be easily avoided. However, a number of enterprises in the Philippines don't carry out simple, yet vital housekeeping tasks that cut down on risks," said Cricket Santiago, Fujitsu Philippines Chief Executive Officer.
The country also has a high number of cybercrime cases as of last year. The latest report of the Philippine National Police-Anti Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) [P1] noted that 1,865 cases were filed with them in 2016. Thirty-six percent of them are internet threats and scams that may lead to data loss, data theft or external disruption of their systems.
Fujitsu urges businesses to take immediate measures to better protect themselves through more effective vulnerability patching and ensuring that only current users have access to critical systems. It is due to Fujitsu’s findings that show many organizations are too generous when it comes to system access privileges for regular users.
Another particular weakness identified by the Fujitsu security experts relates to encrypted channels that provide external access to the heart of critical computing systems. These are designed to give remote workers easier access to networks, but when taken over by a cybercriminal, can mean suspicious activities are largely undetectable. This is described as a blind spot, with attacks over encrypted channels being missed due to the lack of SSL inspection capabilities.
Meanwhile, companies should also be more vigilant in managing banking applications, another favorite for cybercriminals. PNP-ACG also reports that it comprises 12 percent or 215 cases of cybercrime last year. Fujitsu predicts that 2017 will see more attacks in banking payment systems and expects further growth in banking Trojans targeting older, more vulnerable back office applications. Although international banking networks are moving to establish mandatory controls, Fujitsu states that it still presents a window of opportunity for cybercriminals.
Smart cities will also find themselves targeted. Many of the protocols designed for smart connected devices have their own potential flaws and vulnerabilities. Fujitsu warns that implications could include allowing hackers to disable smart lighting grids in entire cities.
The state-of-the-art Fujitsu Security Operations Center (SOC), which protects customers by detecting, analyzing and neutralizing threats, also foresees that the increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities will become game changers in enterprise security since it can immediately identify anomalies like web traffic patterns. Such early warning systems allow security professionals to take a proactive approach to risk mitigation, aiming to eliminate threats before they become problems. However, Fujitsu also warns that cybercriminals will also be turning to these technologies to launch previously unseen types of attack.
Santiago further noted, “Stepping up cyber security is a matter of reducing your business’ vulnerability to cyberattacks. The latest report from the Fujitsu SOC ensures that your company has the essential steps to take so that you will not be needlessly exposed to potential risks of data loss, data theft or external disruption of its systems.”
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
