Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 95 | Page 69

t cht lk centres . This shift toward sustainability centres on making sure this mission-critical architecture is more efficient and cost-effective .

t cht lk centres . This shift toward sustainability centres on making sure this mission-critical architecture is more efficient and cost-effective .

As we head toward 2025 , cloud adoption will continue to evolve , driven by the need for speed , scalability , and sustainability . However , businesses must approach this shift with a deep understanding of their unique organisational requirements and remain cognisant of the cultural and operational changes required . By embracing these shifts and leveraging the right technologies , we can ensure that the cloud becomes a strategic enabler for growth in the years to come .
Obsidian Systems is an established supplier of Open Source software solutions . The company was started in 1995 as a modest services provider targeting businesses and organisations looking to integrate and leverage off Linux infrastructure . Subsequently , the organisation has expanded by partnering with Autumn Leaf and RadixTrie . The expansion of skills has seen the establishment of a formidable team finding smarter ways to align with Enterprise Open Source solutions . p
Arctic Wolf recommends investing in robust SecOps strategy
One of the most effective ways to mitigate cyber risk is through vulnerability remediation . Attackers continue to exploit core business applications like Windows 10 , MS Outlook , and Cisco IOS , with many vulnerabilities remaining unpatched for months or even years . Organisations are urged to prioritise remediation efforts , as known vulnerabilities outnumber zero-day threats by 7.5 to 1 .
The 2024 Arctic Wolf Security Operations Report emphasises the critical importance of around-the-clock monitoring and a robust SecOps strategy . Organisations that can effectively operationalise their cybersecurity investments , respond swiftly to alerts , and build resilience through vulnerability management and identity protection will be far better equipped to defend against modern cyber threats .
Effective security operations is your best defence against today ’ s financially motivated attacks and government-backed espionage .
One of the dominant themes in this year ’ s report is the evolving nature of cyber threats . Despite the rapid advances in technology , tried-and-true methods like social engineering and exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities remain incredibly effective . Arctic Wolf ’ s observations indicate that exploitation of known vulnerabilities with available patches outnumber the exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities by 7.5 times .
Kurt Goodall , Technical Director , Troye
The report highlights a disturbing trend of increased phishing activity , with a notable 500 % spike observed in just one month . Attackers continue to exploit world events , political upheavals , and natural disasters to lure unsuspecting victims . In April 2024 alone , phishing attempts surged by 150 %, coinciding with major political announcements and occurrences as well as ongoing conflicts Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts .
Arctic Wolf ’ s 2024 SOC report highlights the critical need for 24x7 security operations , with 45 % of the security alerts issued by their SOC being generated outside of regular working hours and 20 % occurring on weekends .
Identity and access management telemetry has emerged as the most common source of early threat detection , responsible for seven of the top 10 indicators of compromise leading to security investigations by the Arctic Wolf SOC .
Unauthorised credential usage and account takeovers , remain a significant concern , with infostealers like the Win32 . Zbot trojan appearing in over 2,000 weekly instances . These findings underscore the need for businesses to implement robust IAM systems and continuous monitoring to mitigate identitybased attacks .
Manufacturers are increasingly becoming targets of cyber espionage and intellectual property theft . More than 26 % of alerts in this year ’ s report were related to threats targeting manufacturers , a staggering 2.6x higher than expected . This finding aligns with growing concerns about industrial espionage , particularly as certain countries push for industrial modernisation .
www . intelligentcio . com INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA 69