VMware Releases Global Incident Response Threat Report Detailing Surge in Sophisticated Cyberattacks as eCrime Groups Grow Mo...
October 20 2020 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
New Research Uncovers Cybercrime Capitalizing
on the Convergence of COVID-19 and 2020 Election
VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), a leading innovator in enterprise
software, today released the results of its sixth Global Incident
Response Threat Report, entitled: “The Cybersecurity Tipping Point:
Election, COVID-19 Create Perfect Storm for Increasingly
Sophisticated Cyberattacks.”
The research found the cybersecurity challenges of the global
pandemic are now colliding with the 2020 U.S. presidential election
resulting in a surge of cyberattacks. As eCrime groups grow more
powerful, these attacks have grown increasingly sophisticated and
destructive – respondents reported that 82 percent of attacks now
involve instances of counter incident response (IR), and 55 percent
involve island hopping, where an attacker infiltrates an
organization’s network to launch attacks on others within the
supply chain.
“The disruption caused by COVID-19 has created a massive
opportunity for criminals to restructure their businesses,” said
Tom Kellermann, Head of Cybersecurity Strategy, VMware Carbon
Black. “The rapid shift to a remote world combined with the power
and scale of the dark web has fueled the expansion of eCrime
groups. And now ahead of the election, we are at cybersecurity
tipping point, cybercriminals have become dramatically more
sophisticated and punitive focused on destructive attacks.”
Data for the report is based on an online survey of eighty-three
incident response (IR) and cybersecurity professionals from around
the world in September 2020. The key survey findings from IR and
cybersecurity professionals include:
- Incidents of counter IR are at an all-time high, occurring
in 82% of IR engagements – suggesting the prevalence of
increasingly sophisticated, often nation-state attackers, who have
the resources and cyber savvy to colonize victims’ networks.
Destructive attacks, which are often the final stage of counter IR
have also surged, with respondents estimating victims experience
them 54% of the time.
- 55% of cyberattacks target the victim's digital
infrastructure for the purpose of island hopping. The pandemic
has left organizations increasingly vulnerable to such attacks as
their employees shift to remote work – and less secure home
networks and devices.
- Custom malware is now being used in 50% of attacks reported
by respondents. This demonstrates the scale of the dark web,
where such malware and malware services can be purchased to empower
traditional criminals, spies and terrorists, many of whom do not
have the sophisticated resources to execute these attacks.
- As we approach the presidential election, cybersecurity
remains a top concern and nation-state attackers pose a significant
threat. Drawing upon their security expertise – and in line
with recent advisories from Cybersecurity & Infrastructure
Security Agency (CISA)1 – 73% of respondents believe there will be
foreign influence on the 2020 U.S. presidential election, and 60%
believe it will be influenced by a cyberattack.
For more on the evolving threat landscape and best practices for
IR and security teams looking to fight back, download the full
report here.
To continue the conversation, join VMware Carbon Black for a
live webcast on the state of election security: Cyber Insecurity:
Securing the Vote in the 2020 Election, Tuesday, October 20 at 2
p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. The webcast will feature:
- Kelvin Coleman, Executive Director, NCSA
- Tom Kellermann, Head of Cybersecurity Strategy, VMware Carbon
Black
- Eric O’Neill, National Security Strategist, VMware Carbon
Black
- Lauren Harrington, Partner Solutions Manager, VMware Carbon
Black
About VMware
VMware software powers the world’s complex digital
infrastructure. The company’s cloud, app modernization, networking,
security, and digital workspace offerings help customers deliver
any application on any cloud across any device. Headquartered in
Palo Alto, California, VMware is committed to being a force for
good, from its breakthrough technology innovations to its global
impact. For more information, please visit
https://www.vmware.com/company.html.
VMware and Carbon Black are registered trademarks or trademarks
of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other
jurisdictions.
VMware September 2020 Survey Methodology
VMware Carbon Black conducted an online survey about trends in
incident response and election security in September 2020.
Eighty-three Incident Response (IR)and cybersecurity professionals
from around the world participated. Percentages in certain
questions exceed 100% because respondents were asked to check all
that apply. Due to rounding, percentages used in all questions may
not add up to 100%.
This press release may contain hyperlinks to non-VMware websites
that are created and maintained by third parties who are solely
responsible for the content on such websites.
- Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, “Protect
#2020 Countering Foreign Influence Task,” February 2020
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201020005460/en/
Samantha Mayowa VMware Global Communications smayowa@vmware.com
(781) 552-3062
Jessica Bettencourt InkHouse jbettencourt@inkhouse.com (774)
451-5142
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