Hackers are developing new technologies and strategies to exploit potential victims, and some organizations are struggling to keep pace with these cybercriminal activities, according to a report from next-generation firewall company Fortinet.
Key findings from Fortinet's "Global Threat Landscape Report" for the second quarter of 2018 included:
- 23,945 unique malware variants, 7,230 cyber exploits, 265 unique botnets and 30 zero-day exploits were identified during the time frame.
- 96 percent of organizations experienced at least one severe cyber exploit.
- Nearly a quarter of organizations were exposed to cryptojacking malware.
- Six malware variants spread to over 10 percent of all organizations.
- Microsoft was the top exploit target.
Today's cybercriminals are using iterative software development approaches to launch polymorphic and multi-vector cyberattacks, Fortinet indicated. As such, organizations must use threat detection and prevention tools such as sandboxing and machine learning to detect, prevent and remediate evolving cyber exploits.
Tips to Address Security Risks
Fortinet offered the following recommendations to help organizations address security risks:
- Use threat intelligence. Integrating threat intelligence into security dashboards enables organizations to prioritize cyber threats.
- Deploy advanced threat detection and prevention tools. Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and strategies allow organizations to automate security processes and speed up threat detection, prevention and remediation.
- Develop a security strategy that extends to home networks. A security strategy must account for both corporate and employee home networks; that way, organizations are better equipped than ever before to detect and address cyberattacks against Internet of Things (IoT) devices across all locations, at all times.
Security risks are growing, and no organization is immune to cyberattacks, according to Fortinet. However, an organization that understands cyber risks can develop and implement an effective and adaptive security strategy.
How Does Fortinet Partner with MSSPs?
MSSPs and other service providers accounted for 19 percent of Fortinet's billings in 2Q18, the company said. Meanwhile, Fortinet continues to make moves to help MSSPs and other service providers safeguard their customers against cyberattacks.
Fortinet last week signed a cyber threat intelligence sharing agreement with IBM Security. Now, the Fortinet FortiGuard Labs threat research team and IBM Security X-Force research team share contextual threat information with one another.
In addition, Fortinet in June acquired network security firm Bradford Networks. The acquisition extends Fortinet's ability to support and secure multi-vendor wired and wireless environments and deliver access control and IoT security solutions, according to the company.
