In recent years, the term ‘quantum computer’ has appeared frequently in the news. Quantum computers are an innovative technology with computational power that differs fundamentally from conventional computers, but they are also causing great concern because they pose a serious threat to the Internet security systems we use today. Post-Quantum Cryptography
Most digital services such as financial services, email, and messaging applications that we use daily are secured using public key encryption technologies such as RSA and ECC. Unlike conventional computers, quantum computers can easily solve the mathematical problems (including prime factorization of large numbers) that these encryption systems rely on by using a special algorithm called Shor’s algorithm. In other words, the possibility of the Internet’s current security foundation collapsing increases once quantum computers become commercially viable. As a result, governments and companies around the world are focusing on a new encryption technology that can replace existing encryption systems to protect information safely even in the post-quantum era—post-quantum cryptography (PQC).
What Is Post-Quantum Cryptography?
Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) literally refers to cryptographic techniques that are resistant to quantum computer attacks. While existing cryptographic systems have structures that can be easily compromised by the computational power of quantum computers, post-quantum cryptography is designed based on mathematical problems that remain difficult to solve even with quantum computers.
Based on different mathematical foundations, post-quantum cryptography typically includes ‘lattice-based cryptography’, ‘code-based cryptography’, ‘multivariate-based cryptography’, and ‘hash-based signatures’. Lattice-based cryptography is particularly popular due to its combination of strong security and efficiency, and many countries and companies are already transitioning to adopt it as their next-generation security technology.
Post-Quantum Cryptography Types
Lattice-based cryptography: The most prominent approach, recognized for being both secure and efficient
Code-based cryptography: Established and reliable, based on well-studied mathematical foundations
Multivariate-based cryptography: Provides security by leveraging the difficulty of solving polynomial equation systems, though it suffers from large key sizes
Hash-based signatures: Offer strong security, but have the disadvantage of large key and signature sizes
Major Countries’ Adoption of Post-Quantum Cryptography
Post-quantum cryptography is now being actively implemented at the level of national security and industrial strategy, extending beyond lab-level technology. The movements of major countries demonstrate their recognition of its importance.
The United States is leading the response. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been collaborating with cryptographers around the world on the “Post**-**Quantum Cryptography Standardization Project” since 2016. The U.S. Department of Defense and the NSA have also begun implementing quantum-resistant cryptography in military and national security systems. The European Union is also moving rapidly. The EU Cybersecurity Agency (ENISA) has published guidelines for the adoption of quantum-resistant cryptography and has prepared a roadmap for its implementation across both public and private sectors within member states. Germany and France are developing strategies to strengthen their companies’ competitiveness by allocating significant budgets to research and development of related technologies at the national level.
South Korea is also moving quickly. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) announced “National Standards for Post-Quantum Cryptography” in 2022 and began implementation primarily in the financial sector and public institutions. The Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) is also supporting related workforce development and industry growth, making quantum-resistant cryptography-based services likely to proliferate in Korea in the future. China aims to secure indigenous technology in all areas including quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum-resistant cryptography through its ‘Quantum Information Science 2030 Plan’. Its intention to implement proprietary quantum-resistant cryptography standards across Internet infrastructure is clear, positioning it as an active participant in global security standard development.
Post-Quantum Cryptography Technology’s Impact Across Industries
Post-quantum cryptography is not just a technology to replace current cryptosystems. It is considered a key technology that will bring about fundamental changes across digital infrastructure. Its impact is expected to be particularly noticeable in several industries.
In the financial industry, banks, securities companies, and insurance companies rely on public key cryptography for customer authentication, wire transfers, and payment systems. The adoption of quantum-resistant cryptography requires substantial system overhauls, and several global banks are currently in testing phases. IoT and 5G/6G network environments are also considered major application areas for quantum-resistant cryptography. Since IoT environments connecting billions of devices are highly vulnerable to quantum attacks, active development is underway for quantum-resistant cryptographic solutions that can operate efficiently with low power consumption.
In the cloud industry, a next-generation security competition has already begun focused on protecting customer data. Global cloud service providers such as Google Cloud and AWS are experimenting with quantum-resistant cryptography-based secure data transfer protocols, and specialized quantum security service packages are likely to emerge. The defense and aerospace industries are no exception. Satellite communications, military networks, and weapon systems are considered priority areas for quantum-resistant cryptography implementation, as they are directly tied to national security. The United States has already announced plans to implement quantum-resistant cryptography in next-generation military satellites.
Widespread quantum computer commercialization could still be years or decades away. However, one fact is clear: the encryption technology we use today is not quantum-secure. This is why governments and major companies are urgently adopting quantum-resistant cryptography. Governments and businesses are developing rapid transition strategies to prepare for the ‘quantum threat’ to existing encryption systems, fundamentally changing the cybersecurity technology paradigm. Post-quantum cryptography will become the new security standard, and companies and countries that proactively adopt it will gain competitive advantages in the digital society overall. Rapid changes are expected across industries including finance, telecommunications, cloud computing, and defense, and end-user impacts are expected to materialize soon. Post-quantum cryptography is now a critical strategic necessity, not an option, when discussing the future of security.
About Penta Security
Penta Security takes a holistic approach to cover all the bases for information security. The company has worked and is constantly working to ensure the safety of its customers behind the scenes through the wide range of IT-security offerings. As a result, with its headquarters in Korea, the company has expanded globally as a market share leader in the Asia-Pacific region.
As one of the first to make headway into information security in Korea, Penta Security has developed a wide range of fundamental technologies. Linking science, engineering, and management together to expand our technological capacity, we then make our critical decisions from a technological standpoint.
About Version 2 Limited Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
Enhancing P2V/V2V Conversion Stability and Performance
Actiphy Inc. is pleased to announce the availability of a new maintenance build for the **ReZoom it!** utility, bringing the version number to **3.0.4.1151**. ReZoom it! is an essential tool for instant disaster recovery, allowing users to quickly convert ActiveImage Protector backup images into ready-to-use virtual machines (VMs). This update focuses on enhancing the overall stability of the conversion process and ensuring compatibility with the latest hypervisor environments.
Why This Update Is Essential
This version provides fixes crucial for environments using specific Hyper-V or VMware configurations, ensuring the converted virtual systems boot successfully and retain all necessary drivers and settings. Maintaining the latest build minimizes the risk of recovery failures during critical P2V (Physical-to-Virtual) or V2V (Virtual-to-Virtual) operations.
Key Improvements in Build 3.0.4.1151
Stability and Hypervisor Support:
Improved Hypervisor Compatibility: Enhanced support for recent versions of Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware ESXi, ensuring that VM configuration files are created optimally during the conversion process.
Conversion Wizard Stability: Resolved a known issue that could cause the conversion process to stop or fail when handling complex disk partitioning schemes or large-capacity backup images.
Driver Injection Refinement: Improved the driver injection logic to ensure necessary network and storage drivers are correctly provisioned in the converted VM, reducing “blue screen” or boot failure risks.
User Experience Enhancements:
Resource Allocation Handling: Better management of system memory and CPU resources during the conversion task, preventing high load on the host system.
Log Detailing: Enhanced log files to provide more granular detail on the conversion process steps, making it easier to diagnose rare conversion failures.
Action Required
All users of the ReZoom it! utility should download and install the new build **3.0.4.1151** immediately to benefit from these stability and compatibility enhancements and ensure the fastest, most reliable virtual machine recovery experience.
About Version 2 Limited Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About Actiphy Actiphy founded in 2007, focuses on developing and offering innovative backup and disaster recovery solutions for complete protection of all your systems and data. ActiveImage Protector backs up Windows, Linux machines on physical and virtual environments and restore systems and data fast for you to be up and running with minimal downtime and data loss. Today Actiphy hold 20% of the image backup market in Japan and are expanding our services in the Asia/Pacific and North American regions, as well as in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
If you have ever built a LEGO set, then you have a general idea of how telemetry works. Telemetry starts with individual data points, just like your LEGO build starts with a box of bricks. In complex IT environments, your security telemetry is spread across different technologies and monitoring tools, just like in a large build your LEGO bricks come separated into smaller, individually numbered bags. In both cases, the individual bricks or data points aren’t special. However, as you follow the LEGO instructions or incorporate analytics into your monitoring, the individual pieces combine to form the overall structure you need.
By understanding what telemetry is and how to use it for security, IT and security teams can use the data that their environments generate to create proactive security programs.
What is telemetry?
Telemetry is the science of measuring something, transmitting the results to a remote location, and then interpreting the results. In cybersecurity, telemetry refers to the security data that an organization’s systems, networks, applications, and devices generate. Security telemetry is often derived from log data, the information technologies create about activities impacting them.
Security telemetry comes from IT and cybersecurity technologies across the environment, including:
Web applications and application programming interfaces (APIs), like user and performance data
Network devices, like routers and firewalls
Identity and access management (IAM) tools
Databases, including on-premises and cloud locations
Workstations and mobile devices, like laptops, smartphones, and tablets
Why is telemetry important?
On its own, telemetry is nothing more than raw data. When you collect, parse, normalize, aggregate, and analyze telemetry, the whole becomes greater than the sum of its individual parts. Telemetry enables IT and security teams to improve:
Performance and efficiency: using analytics for proactive identification of security vulnerabilities or prediction of system maintenance activities
Risk management: monitoring for security or operational abnormalities that can lead to business interruption and service outages
Decision-making: using insights to understand current security and operations posture to find areas of improvement and determine future investments
Threat hunting: aggregating data points to identify indicators of compromise (IoC’s) that could detect potential advanced persistent threats (APTs) hiding in systems
Compliance: aggregating and analyzing data to document and report on whether controls function as intended
What are the types of security telemetry?
Security telemetry refers to the continuous monitoring and analysis of security events within information systems. By collecting detailed information on network traffic, user activities, and system logs, security telemetry enables you to create baselines that define normal behaviors and alert you to anomalous activities that might indicate a potential security incident.
Network Telemetry
Network telemetry helps your network monitoring by aggregating data from sources like:
These technologies generate data that provides insight into:
Misconfigurations: settings that attackers can exploit to achieve their objectives
Resource and usage costs: memory, CPU, and execution times to understand resource allocation, scaling, and optimization
Reliability: application’s design and architecture to maintain availability
Performance: bottlenecks, latency issues, or resource constraints
Vulnerabilities: programming errors that create exploitable weaknesses
Why is security telemetry challenging?
Many companies struggle to manage and correlate security telemetry because their technologies generate overwhelming amounts of data.
High Storage Costs
The high volumes of data that your environment generates can become prohibitively expensive. Many organizations struggle with high-security information and event management (SIEM) costs, especially as they adopt more cloud-native technologies that generate more data. However, you likely need to retain some data to meet compliance and retention requirements. This can leave you struggling to find multiple storage locations.
Data Ingestion Decisions
Additionally, all data is not equally valuable. For example, you may need packet data for a forensics investigation but not your everyday monitoring. The high storage costs often mean you have to make difficult decisions around the data you send to your security solution. You may need to make difficult decisions about the data that you forward to your security monitoring solution which could create blind spots.
Different Log Formats
Logs don’t have a standard format, creating challenges when correlating security telemetry to gain insights. Some examples of log formats include:
javaScript Object Notation (JSON): highly readable format, often used for structured logging
Common Event Format (CEF): text-based, extensible open logging and auditing format
To correlate the data that your technologies generate, you need to parse and normalize the logs before you can correlate and analyze them.
Graylog for Security and Operations: Using Telemetry and Managing Data Effectively
Graylog ensures scalability as your data grows to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO). Our platform’s innovative data tiering and data pipeline management capability facilitates efficient data storage management by automatically organizing data to optimize access and minimize costs without compromising performance.
With frequently accessed data kept on high-performance systems and less active data in more cost-effective storage solutions, you can leverage Graylog Security’s built-in content to uplevel your threat detection and response (TDIR) processes. Our solution combines MITRE ATT&CK’s knowledge base of adversary behavior and vendor-agnostic sigma rules so you can rapidly respond to incidents, improving key cybersecurity metrics. By combining the power of MITRE ATT&CK and sigma rules, you can spend less time developing custom cyber content and more time focusing on more critical tasks.
About Graylog At Graylog, our vision is a secure digital world where organizations of all sizes can effectively guard against cyber threats. We’re committed to turning this vision into reality by providing Threat Detection & Response that sets the standard for excellence. Our cloud-native architecture delivers SIEM, API Security, and Enterprise Log Management solutions that are not just efficient and effective—whether hosted by us, on-premises, or in your cloud—but also deliver a fantastic Analyst Experience at the lowest total cost of ownership. We aim to equip security analysts with the best tools for the job, empowering every organization to stand resilient in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.
About Version 2 Limited Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
Known for its encrypted messaging, file sharing, and private channels, Telegram has become a go-to app for both personal and business communication. However, as the platform’s popularity increases, so do the online threats associated with it. From phishing schemes to malware as a service, cybercriminals take advantage of Telegram’s anonymity and huge user base.
Understanding how these Telegram app scams work becomes inevitable for protecting sensitive data — whether personal or business.
In this article, we’ll look into what scams on Telegram are, how cybercriminals use the platform in their attack strategies, and how to spot and prevent the most common types of scams.
What is a Telegram scam?
Telegram scam is a type of fraud that can occur on the Telegram platform. Scammers exploit the platform’s most popular features (think of encrypted messaging, private channels, and anonymous user profiles) to deceive individuals and businesses.
While Telegram’s focus on privacy and security is appealing to legitimate users, it unfortunately creates endless opportunities for Telegram fraudsters looking to exploit its users.
In fact, the platform’s anonymity is one of the key reasons the number of scams using Telegram is growing. These days, Telegram scammers can create fake Telegram accounts, impersonate businesses, or operate within private groups to avoid detection. They can then distribute malicious files or phishing links, adding yet another layer of risk.
Businesses are especially vulnerable as cybercriminals increasingly leverage Telegram for cyberattacks. From impersonating C-level executives to delivering malware disguised as legitimate business files, Telegram scams can lead to severe consequences, ranging from data breaches and financial losses to hard-to-recover reputational damage.
How do Telegram scams work?
Telegram scams usually begin with cybercriminals abusing the platform’s unique features to commit fraud and trick users. Scammers often employ social engineering tactics, such as impersonation scams, to trick victims into sharing personal information or clicking on malicious links.
For example, scammers may impersonate top-level executives, act as customer support and perform tech support scams, or promote fake investment opportunities. In some cases, they distribute malware via Telegram bots or channels, infecting devices and stealing both personal and corporate data.
By taking advantage of Telegram’s anonymity and wide-reaching capabilities, scammers can execute the full chain of attack to infect devices and steal data without being noticed.
How do cybercriminals use Telegram in the attack chain?
Cybercriminals use Telegram at various stages of the attack chain to maximize their reach and avoid detection. The main stages include:
Reconnaissance
The attack chain often begins with cybercriminals gathering information on their targets. They may join public groups, analyze conversations, or research publicly available data about individuals or businesses.
Attackers often look for clues that reveal organizational structures, employee roles, or ongoing projects. They may also monitor discussions related to specific industries to identify potential targets. By lurking in relevant Telegram channels or forums, scammers can quietly collect valuable insights without drawing attention.
Doing so helps them identify potential victims and gather insights, such as the names of key employees or business details, to make their attacks more convincing.
Social engineering
Once attackers have gathered sufficient information, they may engage in social engineering tactics. Impersonating trusted figures, like executives or IT support, cybercriminals use Telegram to deceive victims into sharing personal information or financial details.
To make their approach more convincing, attackers may create fake group chats that appear to involve multiple colleagues, increasing the sense of legitimacy. They may also send unsolicited direct messages marked as urgent or confidential, pressuring the victim to act quickly without verifying the request.
In some cases, cybercriminals use voice messages or video calls to further establish trust, making it even harder for victims to detect the scam and making it easier for fraudsters to steal personal data.
Malware distribution
At this stage, cybercriminals use Telegram bots or fake channels to distribute malicious files or phishing links. These links can lead to the installation of malware on the victim’s device, allowing scammers to steal data or gain unauthorized access to systems.
Attackers often disguise these malicious files as legitimate documents, software updates, or even fake job listings to increase the chances of victims downloading them.
Some bots are programmed to automatically send harmful attachments or links when triggered by specific keywords in chat groups. Once installed, the malware can harvest credentials, track user activity, or even grant remote control to the attacker, putting personal or business data at risk.
Exploitation and sale of stolen data
After compromising the victim, cybercriminals can use Telegram to sell stolen data, such as corporate credentials or sensitive files. The anonymity provided by Telegram allows criminals to carry out these transactions without fear of being easily traced.
Coordination and collaboration among Telegram scammers
Scammers on Telegram can also use the platform to coordinate and collaborate with other cybercriminals. Telegram groups and channels can be used to provide a semi-private space for sharing attack strategies, discussing vulnerabilities, or even offering cybercrime as a service.
Within these groups, criminals may exchange tips on social engineering techniques, share phishing kits, or pool resources to target larger organizations. This collective knowledge and resource-sharing make cyberattacks more sophisticated and harder to detect.
In some cases, attackers even auction off stolen credentials or offer hacking services, increasing the potential for account takeover and data breaches.
Why is Telegram a growing threat vector for businesses?
Telegram is becoming a preferred tool for cybercriminals targeting businesses, and several factors contribute to its rise as a threat vector:
Anonymity and encryption. Two of the platform’s key features (strong end-to-end encryption and anonymous Telegram accounts) make it difficult for authorities to spot malicious activities. Cybercriminals can create scam accounts, impersonate employees or executives, and operate in private channels or groups, making their actions harder to monitor and shut down.
Large user base. The platform’s popularity with individuals and businesses alike provides attackers with a wide pool of potential targets, ranging from unsuspecting employees to legitimate companies with valuable data.
Malware delivery and phishing. Telegram’s ability to host channels and bots makes it a convenient platform for distributing malicious links, phishing schemes, and malware. Telegram scammers can send targeted messages with harmful attachments or direct users to fake login pages, stealing login credentials or installing malware.
Ease of scalability. Telegram’s group chat and channel features allow attackers to scale their operations quickly. They can carry out large-scale phishing campaigns or distribute stolen data to numerous buyers in one go. All of this makes it a high-risk platform for businesses, as cybercriminals can launch coordinated attacks targeting many users at once.
Integration with other attacks. Telegram is often used as a part of a broader attack strategy. Whether it’s to distribute infostealer malware, track data breaches, or coordinate with other actors on dark web markets and forums, Telegram provides a flexible environment for cybercriminals to enhance the effectiveness and reach of their operations.
Due to these features, businesses need to be more vigilant in recognizing potential risks associated with Telegram and implement proactive measures to safeguard sensitive data from being compromised.
Common Telegram app scams
Telegram has become a prominent platform for various types of fraud, with scammers continuously finding new ways to exploit its features. From impersonation schemes to malware distribution, Telegram scams target businesses in multiple ways.
Executive impersonation and social engineering
One of the most common scams involves cybercriminals impersonating top-level executives like CEOs or CFOs. These scams often use social engineering techniques to deceive employees into acting quickly — whether it’s transferring money or providing sensitive information (bank details, payment details, personal or financial information, etc.).
Scammers create fake accounts, pose as trusted individuals, and send urgent messages that prompt victims to act without verifying the source, leading to potential financial or data loss.
Fake support channels and brand impersonation
In this type of scam, cybercriminals tend to mimic your company’s name, logo, other branding details, or official messaging style to create fake support channels and commit tech support scams.
Naturally, these scam accounts are used to deceive customers or business partners into providing personal information, making payments, pressing fake links, or downloading malicious files.
Since these fake Telegram channels may look legitimate at first glance, victims are often tricked into interacting with the attackers, unaware they’re being targeted.
Malware delivery via Telegram bots or messages
Telegram bots and direct messages are commonly used to deliver malware disguised as fake job listings, business files, or legitimate links. These links or attachments often appear to come from trustworthy sources but lead to malicious sites or harmful files.
Once clicked, these suspicious links can install malware on the victim’s device, steal sensitive information, or give attackers remote access to business networks.
Sale of stealer logs and internal credentials
Cybercriminals can also use Telegram as a marketplace to sell stolen corporate credentials. After malware is deployed to harvest internal credentials from infected devices, the attackers may sell these stealer logs in Telegram groups.
All this allows them to monetize stolen data, which can lead to further attacks or even data breaches. Businesses may find themselves at risk of severe financial loss if these credentials are misused.
Phishing campaigns using cloned business pages
Phishing campaigns through Telegram often involve creating cloned business pages that mimic legitimate brands or login portals. These fake pages are designed to deceive Telegram users into entering their login credentials, which are then harvested by cybercriminals.
The cloned pages may appear nearly identical to the real sites, making it difficult for victims to distinguish them from the official ones. These phishing domains pose a significant threat to personal information because unsuspecting users may share their credentials, putting both personal and business data at risk.
How do you detect scams on Telegram?
Detecting scams on Telegram can be quite challenging, but there are key red flags to look out for:
Suspicious usernames or profiles. Don’t trust Telegram accounts that have suspicious usernames, seem unusual or incomplete, or look similar to well-known brands or individuals yet somehow feel off.
Unsolicited messages or offers. If you receive unexpected messages or offers that sound too good to be true (think investment opportunities or outrageous job offers), be cautious.
Links to unknown websites. Scammers often send links to phishing domains or suspicious fake websites. Always verify the URL before clicking on any link.
Requests for personal information or credentials. Legitimate businesses will never ask for sensitive personal information via Telegram. Be suspicious of any request for credentials or financial details.
Unusual activity in channels or groups. If you’re part of a Telegram group and notice strange behavior, such as unrequested promotional messages or suspicious file sharing, it could be a sign of a scam.
By staying alert and educating your team about these warning signs, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to Telegram bot scams.
What do you do if you get scammed on Telegram?
If you got scammed on Telegram, taking quick action is important to minimize the damage. Here are the steps you should follow:
Disconnect from the scammer. Immediately block and report the suspicious account to Telegram. Doing so will help prevent further interaction.
Change your passwords. If you have shared login credentials or financial information, change your passwords right away. Consider using a password manager to create strong, unique passwords for each account.
Alert your team or organization. If the scam targets your business, inform your colleagues or employees about the breach. Taking this step will help prevent further incidents and ensure everyone is aware of the risk.
Monitor your accounts and financial transactions. Regularly check your accounts for any unusual activity or unauthorized transactions to prevent scammers from taking advantage of your bank account logins and other data. If needed, contact your bank or financial institution to flag any suspicious behavior.
Report the scam. Reporting the incident to Telegram can help prevent future scams and protect other users. Additionally, you may want to file a report with local authorities or cybersecurity organizations if sensitive data is compromised.
Taking these steps quickly can help you regain control and minimize the long-term impact of a Telegram app scam.
How to prevent common Telegram scams?
Preventing scammers on Telegram from taking advantage of your most sensitive information requires a proactive approach combining a set of tactics — from employee awareness and technical safeguards to ongoing monitoring. By implementing these strategies, you can reduce the likelihood of falling victim to scams.
Train employees
Educating your team is one of the most effective ways to prevent Telegram scams. Train employees to recognize suspicious Telegram profiles, messages, and scam links. Encourage them to verify the authenticity of any unexpected requests, especially if they involve sensitive information, financial transactions, or clicking on links.
Regular phishing awareness training can help teams stay alert to increasingly smarter scam tactics and avoid falling for common social engineering attacks. This type of training also mitigates the risk of account takeover, which can later result in identity theft.
Monitor Telegram for brand and credential abuse
Use threat exposure management solutions to regularly scan Telegram for any misuse of your company’s name or employee credentials. Scammers often impersonate businesses or use stolen data to trick victims. By monitoring for brand abuse or suspicious activity on fake Telegram channels, you can identify threats before they escalate. Solutions like data breach monitoring can help catch these issues early and protect your reputation. Don’t forget to monitor the Telegram dark web for any leaked data that may be sold to malicious actors, exposing your organization to even greater risk.
Secure accounts with MFA and password managers
Implement two-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts, especially those tied to sensitive business data. Ensuring this step adds an extra layer of security if credentials are stolen or leaked via Telegram channels.
Additionally, encourage employees to use password managers to generate strong, unique passwords for each account. Doing so helps limit the potential damage if an account is compromised, particularly when dealing with threat exposure, account takeover, or even identity theft incidents.
Regularly monitor the dark web and stealer logs
Monitor the dark web and stealer log databases for any signs of compromised credentials. Telegram scammers often sell stolen credentials in Telegram groups, which could be used to launch attacks against your organization.
By staying ahead of these threats, you can take action before exposed data is used in phishing campaigns or other malicious activities. Keeping an eye on threat exposure ensures you stay one step ahead in protecting your personal information.
Use NordStellar to monitor Telegram-based threats
NordStellar is an excellent platform for monitoring Telegram-based threats. It detects various domain manipulations and provides real-time dark web and data breach monitoring. With NordStellar, you can monitor potential threats, including credential abuse, before they cause significant damage to your business. The platform provides actionable alerts and detailed reports to help security teams respond quickly and reduce potential damage from Telegram scams.
Detect Telegram-based threats before they compromise your business and your personal information. Contact NordStellar to learn how our solutions can help your organization stay ahead of Telegram scams and cyberattacks.
About NordStellar NordStellar is a threat exposure management platform that enables enterprises to detect and respond to network threats before they escalate. As a platform and API provider, NordStellar can provide insight into threat actors’ activities and their handling of compromised data. Designed by Nord Security, the company renowned for its globally acclaimed digital privacy tool NordVPN.
About Version 2 Limited Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
The findings from the “OTRS Spotlight: Corporate Security 2024” survey* reveal a significant shift in how organizations approach IT and cybersecurity. IT security is slowly but surely reaching a strategic level. Companies re cognize the growing threat landscape. They are re-evaluating their strategies, adapting their internal structures, assessing priorities, and considering investments to better address threats and to enhance their cybersecurity measures. In 2025, IT security is no longer just a technical concern. It’s a critical element of business resilience and leadership responsibility. Below are the most relevant insights from the survey results – and what they mean for your organization.
Cybersecurity Is Becoming a Leadership Priority
The survey results show that IT security has gained more visibility at the highest levels of organizations. The share of respondents who are satisfied with the funding that IT and cybersecurity receive at their organization has increased by 20% compared to 2023. This is an important signal that companies are beginning to treat security as a strategic priority rather than just an operational task. This shift is significant. Involving leadership brings several advantages:
faster decision-making,
better budget allocation, and closer
alignment between security measures and business goals.
It also ensures that security risks are considered when entering new markets, launching digital services, or managing third-party relationships. As cyber threats become more complex and costly, leadership involvement is no longer optional – it’s a competitive necessity.
Real-World Security Incidents Are Driving Action
Concrete events often trigger concrete action – and the CrowdStrike case is a prime example. According to the survey, 93% of organizations took additional precautions to strengthen their IT security in response to this event. Notably, this includes organizations that were directly affected by the incident and those that were not. This high level of responsiveness illustrates how external events can act as accelerators for internal change. It reflects a growing awareness that threat scenarios affecting other companies can serve as valuable early warning signals. The most common measures companies implemented include:
Diversifying the IT and software landscape to reduce dependency on single providers
Implementing advanced real-time monitoring and alerting systems
Introducing additional testing for new patches and updates
These actions show that companies are learning from real-world incidents and adjusting their security posture accordingly. Instead of simply implementing reactive fixes, they are becoming more proactive in how they prepare for and respond to future security incidents. Rather than waiting for an incident to occur within their own environment, security teams are increasingly learning from industry-wide events and making forward-looking changes. At the same time, the response to this high-profile incident highlights a continued shift in mindset: IT and cybersecurity are no longer isolated technical disciplines. They are central to risk management and business continuity. Being prepared to respond quickly is just as important as prevention. Organizations that can react swiftly to breaches minimize damage and downtime – a capability that increasingly defines resilience in the digital age.
Resource Gaps Are Slowing Down Progress
Despite the increased focus on IT and cybersecurity, many organizations remain under-resourced in key areas. For most of those who are not satisfied with their organization’s IT and cybersecurity funding, the top issues are insufficient investments in software and security awareness training (27% each). Nearly as many (26%) cite a need for more investment in infrastructure, while 21% see a need for more staff. Just under half of respondents consider their organization to be optimally prepared for security incidents. Also, 82% confirm that they have seen an increase in security incidents over the past twelve months. Knowing this, organizations are well advised to heed the call for greater investment from their IT and cybersecurity teams. This rapidly evolving threat landscape is also cited by just over a third of security teams as the top challenge they face in incident response
Device Management Is a Major IT Security Concern
Remote work and a growing number of IT devices have added another layer of complexity. These require broader and more flexible security measures that many organizations are still struggling to implement. The main pain points for security teams in enforcing security policies across devices are:
A lack of IT staff and resources (39%)
Scalability issues due to the growing number of devices and the diversity of devices and operating systems (33% each)
Managing devices in remote or hybrid work environments (32%)
On top of this, another layer of complexity is rapidly growing and compounding the challenge for security teams: Almost all organizations surveyed are already using AI-enabled devices (92%). Managing these devices requires additional expertise and technical infrastructure to protect sensitive information, mitigate risk and ensure compliance with privacy regulations. IT security teams are already taking action to accomplish this by training employees in the secure handling of data (46%), using secure servers for data processing (43%) and implementing strict usage policies (40%), among other measures.
Software Tools Reduce the Workload of IT Security Teams
Organizations need to address:
the increasing number of cyber threats
the additional attack surface created by the increasing number of devices and
AI-enabled devices
To do this, they must provide resources to their IT security teams. This includes hiring or training additional staff and investing in software tools that can ease the burden on their teams.
1. Mobile Device Management (MDM)
Mobile device management(MDM) or unified endpoint management (UEM) tools can help IT security teams:
track and manage devices,
ensure the timely rollout of updates and patches, and
disable or restrict AI capabilities.
Almost two thirds of the organizations surveyed are currently using MDM (64%), and 56% are using UEM. However, only 21% currently use such tools specifically to disable or restrict AI features on corporate devices. This could either be because the specific tools they are using do not support this functionality, or IT security teams are not yet making full use of their tools.
2. Vulnerability management
Vulnerability management is an essential part of IT security and risk management. At 38% each, respondents report that vulnerabilities or corrupted files in corporate systems and devices as well as vulnerabilities, data breaches, or misuse of AI tools or services have caused extreme or significant damage or risk to their organization in the past. Vulnerability management tools help IT security teams prevent this. Just above two thirds are already using such tools, a 12% increase compared to 2023. Another 23% are planning to introduce it. When choosing a solution for vulnerability management, security teams need to make sure that it enables them to scan for, detect, track and respond to vulnerabilities in the organization’s entire IT supply chain. It should also automate and orchestrate critical tasks. With staff stretched thin and the number of incidents and vulnerabilities on the rise, being able to act fast and effectively is crucial. Therefore, the software solution also needs to integrate well with other tools in the teams’ stacks to empower seamless workflows and communication.
3. Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR)
Effective incident response is crucial in mitigating the impact of cyber threats. IT security teams need to be able to rapidly identify, assess, prioritize and resolve security incidents to minimize downtime. A robust and comprehensive security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) software solution enables just that. It provides seamless integration with existing security tools for a unified defense strategy and facilitates clear organized communication. Both are essential for rapid response as well as for meeting compliance and regulatory requirements. Teams that already use SOAR software say its biggest benefits are that it
makes it easier to work with IT,
increases the automation of their incident response processes, and
improves incident tracking and reporting.
Despite these advantages, only 58% are currently using SOAR software.
Keeping Your IT Security Tool Stack Under Control
The number of tools that IT security teams have in their stack has increased since last year. According to their plans, it will increase only further. On the one hand, this is a positive development because these tools enable them to better protect their organization from cyber threats. On the other hand, managing and maintaining multiple security tools brings new challenges.
Tool complexity (46%) and integration difficulties (45%) are the main difficulties that IT security teams encounter in doing so. Software solution providers appear to be aware of these challenges. Even though integration difficulties persist, slightly more than three quarters are either satisfied or very satisfied with the integration and interoperability of their current security tools. New tools also often require additional training to leverage them, which is another major challenge for more than a third. When it comes to selecting new software solutions for their IT and cybersecurity organizations, these challenges are only partially reflected in the most important criteria that security teams look for. While integration capabilities rank in the top five criteria at 38%, post-sale support and training rank a distant ninth at 26%. Teams are also looking for compliance and security features as well as integrated AI functionalities – an indication that trends such as artificial intelligence and regulations such as NIS-2 or DORA substantially influence IT and cybersecurity teams’ agenda and way of working. Timely security updates and patches as well as functionality follow in second place.
To keep their IT security stack under control , security teams need to carefully evaluate what is really important to them, both in the short and long term. For example: If a software solution offers all the latest AI functionalities but is difficult to integrate, it may be wise to reassess whether these features are must-haves or nice-to-haves.How much value do they actually add? In the long run, better integration capabilities or ongoing support and training may outweigh the benefits of potentially immature AI capabilities that only marginally help the team work more effectively and efficiently.
Key Takeaways: Top IT Security Trends 2025
The results of the survey outline a clear picture of what’s ahead. IT and cybersecurity are undergoing a fundamental transformation from back-office functions to boardroom priorities. In today’s dynamic cybersecurity landscape shaped by shifting priorities, external pressures, and internal challenges, the top five trends organizations should act on in 2025 and beyond can be summarized as follows:
1. Make incident preparedness a top priority
Real-world events like the CrowdStrike incident show that fast, well-coordinated responses matter. Keep incident response plans updated and tested.Ensure they’re integrated into your broader security strategy.
2. Secure leadership commitment and strategic funding
As cybersecurity becomes a board-level issue, IT and cybersecurity leaders must engage decision-makers with clear risk and ROI narratives to secure long-term investment.
3. Close critical resource and skills gaps
Budget alone isn’t enough. Address staffing shortages and invest in ongoing training to maintain operational readiness amid rising incident volumes.
4. Treat AI and device management as core risk areas
The rapid spread of AI-enabled and mobile devices is expanding the attack surface. Implement scalable controls, usage policies, and focused employee training to stay ahead.
5. Streamline and integrate your security tool stack
More tools don’t always mean better protection. Prioritize solutions that reduce complexity, integrate easily, and support automation to relieve pressure on your teams. Organizations that understand and act on these trends will be better positioned to navigate the evolving threat landscape. Now is the time to connect leadership, invest in the right capabilities, and treat security as a core business function – not just a technical one.
Be Ready When It Counts: Strengthen Your Incident Response Capabilities
As the complexity and frequency of cyber threats continue to rise, organizations must ensure that their security teams are equipped with the right tools — not just to detect issues, but to act quickly and effectively when incidents occur. A robust incident response solution is a critical component of any modern IT security strategy. Implementing comprehensive incident response software can help:
Facilitate structured, traceable communication across teams and stakeholders
Integrate seamlessly with your existing security software stack
Ensure fast and efficient response to limit damage and downtime
With staffing and integration challenges on the rise, the right solution doesn’t just add functionality — it reduces friction, enhances coordination, and strengthens your organization’s overall cyber resilience. Investing in incident response software that fits your environment and scales with your needs is a strategic step toward staying secure and responsive in 2025.
About OTRS
OTRS (originally Open-Source Ticket Request System) is a service management suite. The suite contains an agent portal, admin dashboard and customer portal. In the agent portal, teams process tickets and requests from customers (internal or external). There are various ways in which this information, as well as customer and related data can be viewed. As the name implies, the admin dashboard allows system administrators to manage the system: Options are many, but include roles and groups, process automation, channel integration, and CMDB/database options. The third component, the customer portal, is much like a customizable webpage where information can be shared with customers and requests can be tracked on the customer side.
About Version 2 Limited Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
Understanding the impact of data breaches on businesses is crucial for managing both financial and reputational risks effectively. Recent statistics demonstrate the severe repercussions these security incidents can have. According to IBM’s 204 Cost of a Data Breach Report, businesses face an average cost of $4.88 million per incident, marking the highest level in 19 years. This rising trend underlines the escalating challenges and sophisticated nature of cyber threats. Moreover, the Verizon 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report provides additional insights, indicating that 68% of breaches have a human element involved, such as phishing or misuse of privileges, which highlights the critical need for comprehensive employee training and robust cybersecurity measures.
Additionally, the recovery time from these incidents is substantial, with businesses often taking months, if not years, to fully recover their operations and reputation. For example, breaches involving high-value data such as personal identification information or proprietary secrets not only escalate immediate costs but also lead to long-term losses in customer trust and potential legal repercussions. These insights underscore the importance of developing and maintaining an effective data breach response plan to mitigate risks, ensure compliance, and protect corporate assets. Reflecting upon the high-profile breaches at Equifax and Marriott, one sees vividly the tremors of neglecting an efficient response plan—extended legal battles, staggering financial losses, and a tarnished reputation that takes years to mend.
A Data Breach Response Plan is your company’s strategic playbook—think of it as a fire drill for cybersecurity. It’s your step-by-step guide to tackle and recover from data emergencies. Just as a captain has a plan for stormy seas, this plan is your guide through the tumult of digital crises. When Adobe suffered a major breach impacting 38 million users, their well-orchestrated response plan was immediately activated. They were quick to secure compromised accounts, notify affected users and provide clear instructions on how to protect themselves, effectively minimizing potential fallout.
A Data Breach Response Plan isn’t just a safety net; it’s an essential blueprint, where data breaches are not a matter of if, but when. Championed fervently by critical bodies like the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and underscored by a consortium of cybersecurity experts worldwide, crafting a meticulous response strategy is the linchpin in securing digital fortifications.
Consider this: The Ponemon Institute’s 2021 report found that companies equipped with robust incident response teams and a well-orchestrated plan curbed their financial bleeding by approximately $1.2 million compared to their less-prepared peers. Moreover, stringent regulations such as Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2), or Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)… don’t just advise but mandate a swift response following data breaches.
Creating a comprehensive Data Breach Response Plan involves a multi-faceted approach, meticulously designed to protect not just data, but the very integrity of your organization. Key entities like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) offer robust guidelines to craft a plan tailored for resilience. We know that the role of the CISO, faced with the daunting task of creating a data breach response plan, can seem like navigating a maze without a map. Let’s simplify this journey with a roadmap to build the plan, ensuring each step is clear and actionable:
Data Mapping: Understand where your data resides and how it flows through your organisation. This knowledge is critical to identifying potential vulnerabilities and planning containment strategies. Then determine what data you need to protect. Inventory digital assets to understand where vulnerabilities may exist. Watch the webinar we recorded to help address this issue and identify the data most at risk.
Defining the Output Format: Your plan should be easily accessible and understandable. Opt for a format that can be dynamically updated and shared across your organization. Tools like Microsoft Word or Google Docs are universally accessible and allow for collaborative editing. However, some prefer specialized software or Microsoft Teams for more integrated incident response functionalities.
Assembling Your Team: Crafting a comprehensive plan is not a solo mission. You’ll need a task force that includes, but is not limited to IT Staff for managing technical containment and eradication. Legal Counsel: To address compliance and regulatory matters. Human Resources: To handle communication with affected employees. Public Relations: To manage external communication and protect the company’s brand. Engaging with external consultants, especially if your enterprise lacks in-house expertise, can fortify your strategy with seasoned insights.
Notification Channels: Pre-plan how to communicate in the event of a breach. This includes internal notifications to executives and teams, and external communications to affected customers and regulatory bodies.
Here’s a breakdown of the 5 key components that should shape your plan:
Preparation: The cornerstone of any response plan. This involves identifying your critical assets, understanding potential threats, and training your response team.
Detection and Analysis: Implementing tools and procedures to detect breaches quickly and accurately assess their impact.
Containment, Eradication, and Recovery: Steps to limit the breach’s spread, eliminate the threat, and restore systems to normal operations.
Post-Incident Activity: Reviewing and learning from the incident to bolster future defenses.
Communication Plan: Establishing protocols for internal and external communication, including regulatory bodies and affected parties.
Preparation is the bedrock of an effective Data Breach Response Plan, requiring a multifaceted approach to ensure readiness for a cybersecurity incident. It encompasses understanding your organization’s unique risks, assets, and capabilities to respond effectively to data breaches. Key aspects to cover:
Risk Assessment: Begin by identifying and evaluating the risks that pose the greatest threat to your organization. This includes understanding the types of data you hold, how it’s used, and the potential impact of a breach on your operations.
Asset Inventory: Create a comprehensive inventory of all your information assets across the organization. Knowing where sensitive data resides and how it’s protected is crucial for rapid response.
Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly define the roles and responsibilities within your response team. This should include internal stakeholders from IT, HR, legal, and communications departments, as well as external partners like cybersecurity firms and legal counsel.
Training and Awareness: Conduct regular training sessions and simulations for your incident response team and staff members. Familiarity with the response plan and understanding their role in a breach scenario is key to a successful response.
Response Toolkit: Assemble a toolkit that includes contact lists for key team members and external partners, templates for breach notifications, and checklists for response actions. This ensures that necessary tools are readily available during an incident.
Detection and Analysis are critical to swiftly identifying and understanding the extent of a data breach, which directly impacts your organization’s ability to respond effectively. Key aspects to cover:
Detection Tools and Technologies: Invest in advanced cybersecurity tools that offer real-time monitoring and detection capabilities. These include Data-centric Solutions with monitoring controls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), security information and event management (SIEM) systems, and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions. Ensure these tools are properly configured to recognize threats relevant to your organizational context.
Threat Intelligence: Utilize threat intelligence services to stay informed about the latest cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. This information can help you adjust your detection systems to new threats and reduce false positives.
Analysis Procedures: Develop a structured approach for analyzing detected threats. This should include initial assessment criteria to determine the scope and severity of an incident, and detailed procedures for further investigation. Ensure your team knows how to quickly gather and analyze data from various sources within your network.
Training and Simulations: Regularly train your analysis capabilities on current threats and practice incident analysis through simulations. This ensures that when a real incident occurs, your team can efficiently assess and escalate the situation based on a well-understood set of indicators and procedures.
Communication Protocols: Establish clear communication lines within your response team and with external stakeholders. Quick and accurate communication is key to effective analysis and subsequent response.
Focusing on Detection and Analysis allows your organization to minimize the time between breach occurrence and detection, significantly reducing potential damages. This phase requires ongoing investment in tools, training, and processes to adapt to the evolving cybersecurity landscape.
Containment, Eradication, and Recovery are crucial phases for controlling the impact of a breach, removing threats, and restoring normal operations. Key aspects to cover:
Containment Strategies: Firstly, devise short-term and long-term containment strategies. The immediate goal is to isolate affected systems to prevent further damage while maintaining business operations. This could involve disconnecting infected machines, applying emergency patches, or adjusting access controls.
Eradication Measures: Once the breach is contained, focus on completely removing the threat from your environment. This involves thorough malware removal, system cleanups, and security gap closures. Ensure all malware is eradicated and vulnerabilities are patched to prevent re-entry.
Recovery Plans: Develop comprehensive plans for returning to normal operations. This includes restoring data from backups, reinstating network operations, and ensuring all systems are clean before reconnecting to the network. Validate the integrity of your data and systems before bringing them back online.
Post-Incident Review: After recovery, conduct a detailed review of the incident to identify lessons learned and areas for improvement. Adjust your incident response plan based on these insights to strengthen your defenses against future attacks.
Communication: Throughout these phases, maintain transparent communication with stakeholders. Inform them of the breach’s impact, what steps are being taken, and expected recovery timelines.
A well-structured approach to Containment, Eradication, and Recovery minimizes downtime and mitigates the impact of a breach. It necessitates detailed planning, including the establishment of clear procedures, roles, and communication protocols to ensure a coordinated and effective response.
Post-Incident Activity is the final phase in incident response, focusing on learning from the incident and refining future defenses. Key aspects to cover:
Incident Documentation: Fully document each incident, detailing the nature of the breach, how it was detected, the steps taken during containment, eradication, and recovery, and the effectiveness of the response. This documentation is crucial for legal, regulatory, and improvement purposes.
Root Cause Analysis: Perform a thorough analysis to determine the underlying cause of the incident. This will help in identifying and fixing systemic issues that may not be apparent at first glance.
Lessons Learned Meeting: Hold a meeting with all key stakeholders involved in the incident to discuss what was done effectively and what could be improved. This session should be constructive, focusing on enhancing the security posture and response processes.
Update Incident Response Plan: Based on insights gained from the incident review and lessons learned, update the incident response plan. This should include adjustments to policies, procedures, and security measures.
Training and Awareness Programs: Use the details of the incident to update training and awareness programs. This helps in educating employees about new threats or errors that led to the recent breach, effectively turning the incident into a learning opportunity.
Review and Test: Regularly review and test the updated incident response plan to ensure its effectiveness. Simulated attacks can be very useful in keeping the response team ready and alert.
Post-Incident Activity not only aims to rectify faults that led to the incident but also strengthens the organization’s overall security stance. It is an opportunity for growth and enhancement of security measures and protocols, ensuring better preparedness for any future incidents.
The Communication Plan is a vital component of incident response, dictating how information about an incident is conveyed within the organization and to external parties. Key aspects to cover:
Internal Communication Protocol: Define who needs to be notified within the organization, how to contact them, and the information to be communicated. This includes setting up a chain of command and specifying roles.
External Communication Strategy: Prepare templates and protocols for external communication. This includes stakeholders, customers, partners, media, and regulatory bodies. Being transparent and prompt in your communications can help manage the narrative and maintain trust.
Regulatory Compliance: Be aware of legal and regulatory requirements regarding breach notification. Different jurisdictions may require different information to be shared at specific times.
Spokesperson Appointment: Designate official spokesperson(s) trained in dealing with the public and media to ensure a consistent, controlled message.
Sensitive Information Protection: Establish guidelines to prevent unauthorized disclosure of sensitive incident details that may exacerbate the situation or reveal too much to potential attackers. → Learn Best Practices for protecting sensitive information here.
Status Updates Schedule: Plan for regular updates to affected parties to keep them informed about progress and resolution.
The Communication Plan should be clear, concise, and adaptable, accounting for various scenarios and audiences. Effective communication is crucial for managing an incident smoothly and maintaining the organization’s reputation.
Crafting a meticulously detailed response strategy should not merely be considered a compliance obligation but a proactive measure to shield your organization’s assets and reputation. Let’s explore, shall we?
Immediate Identification and Analysis: The early moments following the discovery of a breach are critical. For example, when Equifax was hit in 2017, rapid identification helped them scope the enormity, affecting 147 million individuals, and underscored the urgency of quick action.
Decisive Containment: This dual-phase effort entails short-term actions to stop the breach’s spread, followed by a longer-term strategy to ensure stability. Recall how Target, back in 2013, swiftly removed the malware infecting their POS systems to halt further data loss affecting millions.
Thorough Eradication: After containment, it’s imperative to find and fix the root cause. Sony’s 2014 encounter with a massive cybersecurity attack prompted an exhaustive eradication of the infiltrating malware.
Careful Recovery: Reinstating functional integrity and securing breached systems is critical. Post its 2016 breach, Yahoo! revamped their security measures significantly, deploying advanced encryption across user accounts.
Transparent Notification: Trust is the lifeblood of customer relations. Compliance with laws such as GDPR, which mandates breach notification within 72 hours, is not just about legality; it’s about maintaining customer trust and transparency.
Insightful Post-Incident Analysis: After addressing immediate threats, it’s vital to analyze the breach comprehensively to prevent future occurrences. Marriott’s creation of a dedicated resource center in response to their 2018 breach played a crucial role in restoring customer confidence.
Each of these steps, woven into your incident response plan, acts as a critical defense mechanism and learning tool. Review your existing plans, consider these principles, and fortify your organization’s preparedness. Let’s turn each incident into a stepping stone toward stronger, more robust cybersecurity defenses. Shedding light on vulnerabilities can transform them into powerful lessons in safeguarding our digital frontiers.
Embarking on the journey to craft a Data Breach Response Plan? Let’s navigate this path together, outlining a step-by-step checklist. Remember, it’s not just about having a plan; it’s about having a smart, comprehensive strategy.
Initial Analysis and Preparations:
Assess Your Data Landscape: Understand where your critical data resides.
Risk Assessment: Evaluate potential vulnerabilities and threat vectors.
Team Assembly: Form your Data Breach Response Team (DBRT), a mix of IT, legal, PR, and HR.
Plan Development:
Define Procedures for Identification and Analysis: Establish protocols for detecting breaches.
Containment Strategies: Develop short-term and long-term containment plans.
Eradication and Recovery Tactics: Clearly outline how to eliminate threats and recover systems.
Notification Framework: Determine how and when to communicate the breach.
Post-Incident Review Plan: Set up a debriefing procedure to learn from the breach.
Practical Steps toward Completion:
Document Everything: From your planning steps to the actual procedures, make sure it’s all written down..
Train and Drill Your Team: Regularly drill your response plan with your team to ensure everyone knows their role inside out.
Review and Update Regularly: Make it a living document that grows with your organization.
Engage with External Partners: Consider involving cybersecurity experts to review your plan.
Imagine this: following a security breach, a financial institution implements a data breach response plan but soon discovers gaps due to overlooked employee feedback during simulations. By integrating this feedback, they significantly reduce their incident response time in future breaches. This story underscores a core truth—every incident, simulation, and feedback session is gold dust. It provides invaluable insights that, when woven into your existing plan, fortify your defenses and enhance your team’s operation readiness. Actionable steps:
Establish Regular Review Sessions: Schedule quarterly or bi-annual sessions to solicit feedback from all stakeholders involved in the breach response.
Create a Feedback Loop: Encourage continuous communication within your team to report any practical challenges or suggestions for improvements.
Simulate to Innovate: Regularly test your plan under varied simulated breach scenarios to ensure all team members’ inputs lead to real-time improvements.
Now, pivoting to technology—your commitment must not waver here either. Consider data-centric security solutions; these are designed not just to protect perimeters but to shield the data itself, regardless of where it resides. As threats evolve, so too should your technology stack. For instance, incorporating advanced encryption methods and adopting stricter access controls can effectively secure sensitive documents at rest, in motion and in use, making data unreadable to unauthorized users.
We can look to industries such as healthcare or finance, where data-centric security protocols are not just enhancements but necessities. Technologies like Enterprise Digital Rights Management, Data Loss Prevention and Cloud Access Security Brokers tools serve as testaments to how embracing new technologies can provide not only defense but also a competitive edge. You can carry out some actions such as:
Regular Technology Audits: Conduct these audits to evaluate the effectiveness of current tools and identify areas for technological adoption or upgrades.
Partnerships with Tech Pioneers: Collaborate with tech firms and security innovators to stay ahead of the curve and integrate cutting-edge solutions.
Staff Training on New Technologies: Ensure that your team is not just equipped with the best tools but also trained to utilize them effectively.
Each step in refining your Data Breach Response Plan, each integration of fresh technological solutions, adds a layer of strength to your organizational safety net.
In the realm of data security, identifying which information is your ‘crown jewels’ is paramount. These critical data sets – be it personal customer information, proprietary technologies, or financial records – demand heightened security measures to shield them from cyber threats.
Therefore, an up-front analysis of all data assets, their lifecycle, where they are stored, how they are shared, what type of data they are, their level of sensitivity and with whom they are shared, will greatly facilitate the task of establishing appropriate protocols and policies. Once we get down to implementing what we have planned, it is time to look for the right technology to make it easier to follow the protocols, and one of the options that does this best is SealPath.
SealPath is the ultimate solution for identity and access management and encryption. It offers unparalleled flexibility and advanced protection that travels with the files wherever they go. Data is encrypted in three states: at rest, in transit, and in use. Its granular permissions allow you to block unauthorised users or actions with precision.
This solution provides complete visibility over your data, the power to detect unauthorised access. It offers monitoring and rapid response to ensure you comply with your data breach response plan. Imagine SealPath as your digital sentinel, vigilantly monitoring data flows and user interactions to detect anomalies that signal potential breaches. SealPath equips you with the tools needed for a rapid response, minimizing impact and swiftly remediating threats. Moreover, it plays a crucial part in continuity planning, ensuring that your business remains resilient, bouncing back with minimal downtime in the aftermath of an attack.
Here is how the solution stands out:
Permanent Access Control: Restrict access to files by controlling which users can access, what they can do, and When and from where.
Automatic and Transparent Protection: Enable a protection applied to files every time they are copied, moved, or uploaded to folders, without requiring continuous manual actions.
Threat Detection and Identification: View which users access information and their activity for full traceability. Receive alerts with suspicious accesses and analyze detailed reports.
Immediate Response and Remediation: Revoke access to users at any time or block a specific document in the event of suspicious actions. Change permissions on the fly.
In wrapping up our discourse on the imperative of sculpting a meticulously crafted data breach response plan, let’s not forget this is more than just a box-checking exercise. It’s akin to mapping the blueprints for a fortress; every wall, tower, and gate designed not just for strength but for resilience in the wake of an attack. Crafting such a plan should be a dynamic journey, one that continually evolves as new threats emerge and old ones adapt.
It’s about creating a culture of security mindfulness within your organization, where each member becomes a vigilant guardian. Imagine instilling such a robust defense mechanism that, when threats loom, your team responds with precision and confidence, mitigating risks and minimizing damage. This is the true essence of a powerful data breach response plan.
Threats can be relentless and rapidly evolving in their complexity, but with SealPath you’ll be prepared, equipped with an arsenal of cutting-edge tools designed to protect your data against these threats, and easily aligned with the protocols of your data breach response plan.
Contact SealPath here for a personalized consultation and see SealPath in action. Together, we will explore the depths of its capabilities, tailor a data protection strategy to your specific needs, and demonstrate how SealPath operates in the real world.
About SealPath SealPath is the European leader in Data-Centric Security and Enterprise Digital Rights Management, working with significant companies in more than 25 countries. SealPath has been helping organizations from different business verticals such as Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Retail, Finance, Health, and Public Administration, to protect their data for over a decade. SealPath’s client portfolio includes organizations within the Fortune 500 and Eurostoxx 50 indices. SealPath facilitates the prevention of costly mistakes, reducing the risk of data leakage, ensuring the security of confidential information, and protecting data assets.
About Version 2 Limited Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
Every organization generates and manages, to a greater or lesser extent, sensitive information stored in different locations: User computers, document managers, cloud storage, file servers, etc.
On the one hand, organizations need to prevent internal threats: Information extracted by employees leaving the organization, loss of information through suppliers or the supply chain, etc. Many organizations believe that this problem only affects large government agencies and other entities that manage very sensitive information, but this type of leakage is a bigger problem than most companies believe and a one of the type of leaks that generates more costs to organizations according to the Ponemon Institute.
In addition, organizations are subject to data protection regulations such as the EU-GDPR, PCI in the financial sector, etc. Suffering a data leak or a breach of one of these regulations can be very costly for an organization, as demonstrated by the recent examples of British Airways (£183M) and Marriott (£ 99M) involving the loss/theft of data of millions of users.
Faced with this problem, many CISOs or CIOs have to decide which technologies to use in order to avoid or mitigate a potential sensitive date leak.
Two of the technologies that are usually considered are DLP (Context-Aware Data Loss Prevention) and IRM (Information Rights Management).
This article explains how both technologies can help prevent data leaks, their differences and how they can complement each other.
What is DLP? – Data Loss Prevention / Data Leak Prevention
A DLP solution tries to prevent the leakage or loss of sensitive data in different ways. On the one hand, when data is in storage, by scanning the file servers, endpoints, etc. and locating or classifying sensitive data. Also in transit, when documentation or sensitive data is moving through the network, to removable devices, etc. And finally while the data is in use, controlling whether or not a user of the corporate network has access to it. Usually, hackers try to find personal, financial, intellectual property, data and the like based on pre-established dictionaries.
DLP is like a “policeman” located at the network exit, computer ports and check what is trying to leave and who is trying to extract it from the network perimeter. It also monitors network repositories for sensitive data that is breaching some type of corporate rule.
Although this is tremendously powerful technology, it has to overcome significant challenges in protecting sensitive data:
How can it efficiently determine what can leave and what can’t?
Is it possible to efficiently “close” all of the possible exit points of company data or control them?
Can I control all types of company devices including mobile phones, the cloud, etc.?
And what if something leaves the network and escapes the control of this “policeman?” Can I restrict access?
Traditional DLP solutions can only examine what is trying to leave and decide whether or not it should leave. It is a binary process. However, day-to-day situations are not “binary”. It is very difficult for an IT professional to define policies that describe requirements for data leaving the organization in an efficient manner without generating a number of “false positives”. If the data or the information is not classified, it is difficult to respond effectively. That is why in many it is first necessary to classify or catalogue the data, indicating to the DLP what repositories to scan and determining what is confidential and what is not.
This requires the IT Department to make considerable effort during the configuration, classification and policy management of the DLP in order to refine them sufficiently and generate the minimum number of false positives. However, keep in mind that it is difficult for an IT department to determine what is confidential and what is not. The users who work daily with this data are the ones who really know what is important and should be protected and what is not.
Another challenge is what happens with the documents once they have been distributed. Once the data is outside of the organization, nothing prevents the recipients from forwarding it to unauthorized users, saving it on USBs, etc. This also applies to mobile devices, where the approach to protection tends to be “all or nothing”. Companies often delegate control of data on mobile devices to MDM applications to prevent certain data from being opened outside of corporate or controlled applications.
By requiring a refined management of policies and classification, companies usually start with a “monitoring” phase to detect what type of data leaves the network, before moving on to a “blocking” phase. If the policy is refined, the control of outgoing data will be efficient and blocking processes won’t generate false positives. If not, the noise generated in the organization due to the blocking of data that should be accessible or that should be sent may be significant.
To summarize, DLP tools are very powerful and can classify, monitor and block the output of sensitive data from the network, but the effort require to implement them, refine them and avoid false positives should not be underestimated. Finally, although they protect the “perimeter” of the network, the data may be transferred anywhere.
What is IRM? – Information Rights Management
This technology, within the scope of Data-Centric Security, enables a form of protection to be applied to files that travels with the files wherever they go. It is also known as E-DRM (Enterprise Digital Rights Management) or EIP&C (Enterprise Information Protection & Control).It makes it possible to monitor who accesses the files, when they do so, and whether anybody tries to access without permission, whether the files are inside or outside the organization. Permissions can also be restricted on documents (only Read, Edit, Print, Copy and Paste, etc.). You can revoke access to files in real time if you don’t want certain people to access them again.
When you send a document to someone, within 3 minutes it might have been printed, sent to 5 other people who in turn have sent it to 10 more and made changes to it. We only own the document at the time we create it, but once it is shared, the document ceases to have an owner and the recipient can do whatever they want with it. This is one of the problems that this technology tries to resolve: To ensure that a user continues to be the owner of the data regardless of who it has been shared with.
Bearing in mind how difficult it is to determine the perimeter of the corporate network, the IRM’s approach is to apply a layer of protection to the data that can be controlled even if it is no longer in the network, whether it is in a cloud, on a mobile device, etc.
If the data reaches someone it shouldn’t of whom you consider shouldn’t have access to it, you can revoke the access remotely. You can set expiry dates for documents. Give users more or fewer permissions in real time (Edit when before they could only Read, or restrict the permission to read-only if we don’t want them to edit or print).
envío información sensible
An advantage of this type of solution is the ease with which it can be implemented allowing you to start using it efficiently from day one and enabling you to encrypt and control the sensitive data that the company manages internally or with third parties.
One of the main challenges of this technology making it easy for users to use so that they can manage protected data almost as if it were unprotected data. Also, making it compatible with the applications that users use on a regular basis, such as Office, Adobe, AutoCAD or making it compatible with the repositories of information that organizations usually use: File Servers, SharePoint, Office 365 Cloud applications, G-Suite, Box, etc.
Another challenge of IRM solutions is automatic protection. That is, the protection of data regardless of the user’s decision to do so. In this case, the automatic protection of folders on file servers, or document managers is especially useful.
Also in this regard, integration with a DLP tool can be very useful and provide the perfect combination.
How can DLP and IRM complement each other?
As mentioned, the administrator can establish rules to identify sensitive information using the DLP tool. Once detected, in storage, transit or in use, the administrator can apply a remedial action such as creating a log, blocking access, deleting the file, etc.
Through integration with the IRM, the DLP can establish the automatic protection of the file as a remedial action using an IRM protection policy. For example, if an endpoint, or a network folder is scanned and any credit card data, personal information, etc. is detected in the documents, the DLP can ensure they are automatically protected with an “Internal Use” policy so that only people in the domain or certain departments can access it.
What advantages does this integration provide?
Below are some of the advantages:
Sensitive documents can protect themselves without relying on user action.
These will be protected whether they are transferred inside or outside the corporate network.
You can monitor their access regardless of where they are.
You can revoke access to sensitive data even if it is outside the organization.
integración dlp e irm
SealPath can protect information easily and efficiently by integrating with the main DLP solutions on the market such as ForcePoint, McAfee or Symantec, facilitating the protection of sensitive data in the organization and its control regardless of where it is.
SealPath is focused on creating the best user experience, integrating with users’ normal work tools, offering a product specially designed for large companies and integrated with a multitude of corporate systems such as DLPs, SIEMs, Office 365, SharePoint, G-Suite, Alfresco, OneDrive, etc.
About SealPath SealPath is the European leader in Data-Centric Security and Enterprise Digital Rights Management, working with significant companies in more than 25 countries. SealPath has been helping organizations from different business verticals such as Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Retail, Finance, Health, and Public Administration, to protect their data for over a decade. SealPath’s client portfolio includes organizations within the Fortune 500 and Eurostoxx 50 indices. SealPath facilitates the prevention of costly mistakes, reducing the risk of data leakage, ensuring the security of confidential information, and protecting data assets.
About Version 2 Limited Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
If you use Slack for work, chances are you’ve sent a message or two that you hoped only your teammate would get to see. It’s all right, we’ve all done it—expecting a bit of privacy in what feels like a one-on-one conversation. But is Slack privacy even a thing? Are your DMs just between you and the person you’re chatting with? Let’s find out.
Can your boss see your Slack messages?
It might not be what you want to hear, but yes—your manager could potentially read your private Slack messages. That said, it’s not as simple as them just opening up your chat history. Whether they can access your messages depends on the Slack plan your company is on, its Slack workspace settings, and the established internal privacy policies.
In other words, no one can just casually peek into your DMs. Your employer would either need your permission or have to go through a formal process—usually by submitting a request to Slack and providing a valid reason, like a legal or compliance investigation. So, they’d only be able to export messages from your private channels and DMs if Slack approved their request.
Should that ever happen, don’t bother editing or deleting your DMs—it won’t make any difference. Slack stores all the original versions of your messages on its servers. So, once you send something, it’s technically there for good.
Also worth noting: anything you post on public channels is automatically visible to everyone in the Slack workspace—no special permissions needed.
So, can Slack admins read user DMs?
As you can probably guess, the answer is still a “yes”—but with a few caveats.
Slack admins in your company are responsible for things like access permissions, legal compliance, and integrations. Basically, they’re the ones running the Slack show. This means that, in some situations, they can technically have access to your direct messages in Slack. But here’s the key part: they can’t do it by default. There are data privacy rules and Slack policies in place to prevent casual snooping. Access to private messages only happens under specific circumstances.
If your company uses Slack’s Enterprise Grid or Business+ plan, some admins—usually people working in IT, compliance, or HR—can be given the option to export data from Slack, including all private messages. It’s a feature mostly meant for large organizations that need to stay on top of compliance and legal requirements. But for this to happen, admins have to put in a request directly to Slack—and Slack won’t approve it unless they’ve got a really solid legal or compliance reason.
On Pro and Free plans, things are a lot more limited. Admins can only export messages from public channels. That said, in the case of a serious breach or legal investigation, even on these plans, a company can submit a formal request to Slack for access to private data. And if the situation is serious enough, Slack will likely grant it.
So, are your Slack messages private? Technically, yes—at least until something happens that prompts an investigation. If that day comes, Slack admins could gain access to your messages so they can be reviewed.
Types of data that can be exported from Slack
With all this talk about who can download what on which Slack plan, it’s totally fair if you’re feeling a bit dizzy and wondering what it means for the privacy of your messages. To help clear things up, check out the table below—it lays out exactly what kind of data admins can access, based on the company’s Slack plan.
Free
Pro
Business+
Enterprise Grid
Exporting messages from public channels
Yes
Yes
Yes
yes
Exporting messages from public channels, private channels, and direct messages*
Yes
Yes
Exporting messages by conversation type or member
Yes
Exporting a detailed list of channels*
Yes
Yes
Export Slack data for a single user*
Yes
*Workspace owners and organization owners need to submit a request to enable these types of exports.
So if you’re still wondering, “Can Slack admins see private channels?”—the short answer is “technically, yes.” However, their access depends on which Slack plan the company is on, and whether Slack approves their request to check your private messages.
Is it similar with tools like Microsoft Teams?
Yes, very much so. Just like with Slack, your employer can get access to your messages on Microsoft Teams—provided they’re on the right subscription plan. The only difference (though it might feel like a big one) is that with MS Teams, admins do NOT need Microsoft’s approval to view private messages within the organization.
So, if your company is on the E3 or E5 Office 365 Enterprise plan, your admins can use features such as eDiscovery to search for and export data like:
One-on-one, group, and meeting chats
Private channel messages
Meeting chat logs
Recorded meetings and transcripts
Files that were shared as attachments
That said, it’s probably not like someone is sitting there reading your messages all day. These data monitoring tools are mainly in place for security, compliance, and legal reasons—for example, if there’s a data breach. In day-to-day operations, your messages are most likely just stored safely in the background.
But if you’re specifically asking: “Can Microsoft Teams be monitored by my boss?”, the answer is: “Yes, it sure can be.”
How to act responsibly on Slack
Since Slack is meant for work-related communication, it’s probably not the best place to overshare or drop sensitive info without a second thought. Here are a few handy tips to help you stay clear, professional, and safe while chatting with your team—without putting yourself (or anyone else) in a tough spot.
Be respectful—no matter who you’re chatting with
Everyone in your organization deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. As part of the team, you must always communicate in a professional manner—whether you are chatting in person or online. If someone’s giving you trouble, it’s best to talk to your supervisor about the situation, without letting your emotions take over and writing something on Slack that could negatively affect how others perceive you.
Be mindful about sharing personal stories
It’s perfectly normal for people to form friendships at the office—after all, many—if not most—of us spend more time with our coworkers than with our friends outside of work. That said, it doesn’t mean you should treat Slack like your personal messaging app and use it to have casual, buddy-buddy conversations with your teammates. Keep in mind you’re still at work, and some things are better saved for when you’re hanging out with the team outside of work hours.
Avoid sharing confidential business information
What’s really important is that you use Slack for things like collaborating with your team on your daily tasks, scheduling meetings, and sharing updates on marketing campaigns. This is to say that you should never put sensitive data—like client information, company secrets (such as proprietary designs), passwords to business accounts, or credit card details—in a post or message on Slack. If you need to share something sensitive, like corporate credentials or credit card information, it’s better to use a tool like NordPass, which keeps everything encrypted. And if you’re unsure about what’s safe to share on Slack, it’s a good idea to check with your IT department for guidance.
Stay informed about Slack’s privacy settings
Remember that your employer could potentially access your private messages and channels at any time. Right now, your messages are usually only reviewed by admins if there’s a serious investigation, like checking if you’ve crossed any lines or if your actions contributed to a legal issue or data breach. But these rules could change, so it’s a good idea to stay on top of any updates to your organization’s Slack privacy policy in the future.
Bottom line
If your company uses Slack, your employer might be able to see your messages in private chats and channels—but it depends on your company’s Slack plan and whether Slack agrees that your boss has a good reason to see your DMs.
That said, it’s always a good idea to keep things professional in your Slack messages and avoid sharing sensitive information like customer data or corporate passwords. If you do need to share business credentials with your teammate, make sure to do it using a secure password manager like NordPass to keep everything safe and sound.
About NordPass NordPass is developed by Nord Security, a company leading the global market of cybersecurity products.
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
About Version 2 Limited Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
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