This year has been a busy one for cybercriminals, with some massive data breaches making headlines and costing companies millions. From health care giants to project management platforms, no industry is immune to the risks. But what do these breaches mean for small to midsize businesses? The same vulnerabilities exist for you, and the consequences of not addressing them can be catastrophic.
Let’s recap three of the most significant breaches of 2024 so far and discuss how your business can stay protected.
1. NHS
In June 2023, a ransomware attack on the University of Manchester compromised NHS patient data for over one million individuals across 200 hospitals, affecting services critical to trauma and emergency care. The attackers accessed sensitive information, including NHS numbers and partial postcodes, raising fears that data from patients involved in major incidents, like terror attacks, could be exposed. This incident, coupled with the system outages it caused, revealed significant vulnerabilities in the NHS’s cybersecurity defences and impacted the continuity of care, with further concerns about the long-term security of NHS data amidst evolving cyber threats.
2. Ticketmaster
A significant data breach at Ticketmaster exposed the personal and financial information of over 560 million customers. Hackers accessed the company’s database during April and May, stealing sensitive details such as names, e-mails, phone numbers and payment information. This breach exposed serious flaws in Ticketmaster’s security, raising concerns among consumers. Many victims reported unauthorized transactions and identity theft following the incident. Additionally, this breach added to the legal troubles of Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, which was already facing a lawsuit from the US Department of Justice for anticompetitive practices.
3. Dell
In May, Dell experienced a security breach when a hacker known as Menelik used a brute-force attack to infiltrate one of their resellers’ client portals. This breach exposed 49 million records containing sensitive data, including customer names, e-mail addresses, payment information and account details. The incident sparked significant concerns about Dell’s cybersecurity practices, leading the company to issue a public apology and pledge to enhance its security protocols. In response to the breach, Dell has faced increased regulatory scrutiny and may encounter legal challenges as more details about the impact emerge.
What Does This Mean For You Personally?
We have several blogs on what to do if you’re affected by a data breach, but the most important action is to freeze your credit and check your bank account. Websites like www.haveIbeenpwnd.com can tell you if your e-mail has been exposed in a breach.
What Does This Mean For Your Business?
While these breaches happened to major players, small to midsize businesses are far from off the radar. In fact, SMBs are increasingly targeted because they often lack the robust security measures that larger companies have. Cybercriminals know this, and the stakes couldn’t be higher: a single breach could cost your business thousands in downtime, lost data and damaged reputation.
Protect Your Business With A FREE Security Risk Assessment
If these stories have you thinking about your own vulnerabilities, that’s a good thing. The best defence is a proactive one. We’re offering a FREE Security Risk Assessment to evaluate your network for potential risks. Our experts will assess your system’s vulnerabilities, help you patch the holes and ensure your business is fortified against attacks.
Don’t wait until you’re the next headline – give us a call at 020 3818 3411 or book a call with one of our experts via https://ergos.uk/initial-consultation/.