Thanksgiving in Cybersecurity
Thanksgiving is just a week away in the U.S., though in Canada, it has already passed, celebrated in October alongside countries like Germany with their Erntedankfest. Despite the time difference, the spirit of giving thanks is essential, especially in cybersecurity where avoiding disasters is a daily victory.
Cybersecurity Challenges
The average enterprise faces nearly 2,000 cyberattacks weekly, making it a tough environment for SOC analysts. Simply reaching the end of the week without a major incident is cause for celebration and gratitude.
“This American Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for the incomparable teams playing defense while the rest of us sink into the couch for a tryptophan-induced nap, college football, or a bit of both.”
Marketing and Events
At conferences and trade shows, the marketing team attracts attention with the “Legends Never Die” campaign. Their booth highlights the creative strength of Symantec and Carbon Black, giving attendees a chance to experience their own music idol moments.
Additional Insights on Cybersecurity During Holidays
- Cybercrime often spikes during the holiday season, exploiting distractions and reduced IT staffing.
- Attackers commonly use phishing and ransomware disguised as holiday deals or urgent messages.
- Key tips for staying safe include scrutinizing emails, ensuring offline backups, applying software patches, and using strong passwords with two-factor authentication.
Holiday Cybersecurity Best Practices
- Identify and prioritize critical systems and contacts well before the holidays.
- Patch vulnerabilities and enforce multi-factor authentication, disabling unused remote access.
- Prepare an incident response playbook with on-call and escalation contacts.
“Run a tabletop exercise answering, ‘What would we do if a ransomware happened on the Sunday after Thanksgiving?’”
Author's Summary
Thanksgiving is a moment to appreciate the cybersecurity teams defending against relentless attacks, highlighting the importance of vigilance and preparation during the holiday season.