Cloud IT Week in Review: Gigabit Geek, Intermedia, More

By Rory J. Thompson
Web Editor

The combination of Information Technology and the Cloud was all over the news in the past week, and we have some of the stories worth a second look.

To start, a recent survey from cloud backup and restoration experts Intermedia (News - Alert) revealed that 72 percent of business users infected with ransomware lost access to their data for at least two days, with 32 percent losing access for five days or more. That amounts to a worrying trend and one that isn’t easily combated. IT consultants Gigabit Geek discovered that firsthand earlier this year, when the company was hit with a ransomware attack via a Cryptowall breach. In this case, the ransomware encrypted files on various company computers and threatened to keep them locked until the company forked over a ransom. Go HERE to see how it all played out.

In other news, when it comes to safeguarding sensitive business information, passwords are often a company’s primary line of defense. But, since employees need to remember a growing number of different login credentials, these defenses become prone to human error and consequently vulnerable to attacks. A recent study conducted by Intermedia  found that the average employee relies on 13 different Web applications at work, each requiring a different password. Some 89 percent of working adults retained access (i.e., a valid login and password) to at least one application from a former employer. More concerning, 45 percent retained access to “confidential” or “highly confidential” data and 49 percent logged into an account after leaving the company. How safe are you? Click HERE to find out.

In the same vein, more than ever, businesses are assessing their vulnerabilities in order to mitigate future breaches and cyberattacks. As we’ve seen from recent incidents, cyberattacks can have a devastating impact on both reputation and customer trust. However, as Intermedia’s latest survey showed, the greatest threat to your business may be lurking within. Some 97 percent of employees have access to some form of sensitive or confidential information, and 1 in 3 employees said they would access, download, share, delete or alter company information after leaving a job. While insider risks aren’t new, they rarely receive the attention they deserve. Again, data deserves protection.

For other updates on Cloud IT, click HERE during the week to see the latest stories posted.