REPRESENTING BUSINESS ISSUES
Discussing Cyber Security Attacks and How to Mitigate Threats during The Chamber of Medford & Jackson County Forum Forum with Richard Holbo, Chief Technology Officer at Hunter Communica - tions; and Alfonso Powers, Chief Information Security Officer at Asante Sponsored by: Hunter Communications
Our personal lives and businesses are more connected than ever in the digital age. However, with an increasing reliance on devices and the “Internet of Things”, your information is extremely vulnerable to hackers who create more danger. During this presentation, Richard Holbo, Chief Technolo- gy Officer at Hunter Communications, discussed current challenges for businesses in the world of cyber security. Today, phishing scams, malware and ransomware are still the most prevalent types of attacks. “Only about 50% of businesses have a cyber security plan,” said Holbo, “and $6.9 billion was lost due to cyber crimes in 2021.” Unfortunately, updated forms of protection are always playing catch up to cyber criminals and their ever- evolving schemes. “These are crimes of opportunity for hackers,” said Holbo. “But if they are determined to get into your system, they will.” He explained that increased and effective security must be an intentional financial decision for businesses. “There are automated scans looking for network vulnerabilities 24/7/365,” he said. Additionally, more people are using the “Internet of Things” — a network of connected devices and the technology that facilitates communication between devices
and the cloud, as well as between devices. Unfortunately, these devices are notoriously insecure. But Holbo advised it is never too late to increase your security and take steps to protect yourself, your data and your network. “Have a good firewall,” he explained, “and stay current on software updates. Back up important information daily and encrypt files you don’t want seen.” Holbo also encouraged people to be prudent about sharing their private information online. “There’s no such thing as ‘free’. When you install apps without checking to see if they are secure, then you’re trading your privacy.” To mitigate some of the risks, Holbo said to use secure passwords and compromised, Holbo said to turn off your system, remove internet access and get professional help to remedy the situation. Holbo then turned the presentation over to Alfonso Powers, Chief Information Security Officer for Asante. Powers focused on the work his team does for Asante. They support over 300 applications, 1,100 servers, 19,000 medical devices and 80,000 emails a day — in addition to handling many more tasks on top of that. Powers said the main risks the hospital faces include ransomware, misconfigurations, business email compromise and identity management. He explained that in 2022, business email compromise surged to 81%, but an overwhelming 98% of employees failed to report it. Powers emphasized the importance of rigorous security measures. “Access, authorized or not, is the first step to compromising a network,” he said. “You must manage your risks through auditing and reporting.” n two-factor authentication when possible. Also, if your network or information becomes
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The Business Review | March 2023
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