Webinar Recap and Replay: Navigating Cyber Threats: Insights for Resilient Security

After you’ve been in the cybersecurity field long enough, one truth quickly becomes evident: Security demands more than awareness — it requires continuous adaptation. In our recent webinar, Navigating Cyber Threats: Insights for Resilient Security, two Rackspace Technology® cybersecurity experts and one Rackspace partner discussed the complexities of today’s cybersecurity challenges, and shared leading insights and actionable strategies to enhance organizations’ defensive measures.

Here are key takeaways from the speakers: Travis Runty, Head of Security for Managed Public Cloud; Craig Fretwell, Global Head of SOC; and Michal Kopyra, Partner Security Solutions Architect at Qualys.

Understand the threat landscape

Today’s top attack vectors

The realm of cyberthreats is vast, but certain attack vectors remain particularly prevalent, including:

• SQL injection and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks: These advanced tactics exploit communication between users and services, aiming to capture or manipulate data in transit.
• Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks and ransomware assaults: These disrupt services and extort organizations by holding data or accessibility hostage.
• Phishing attacks: With 347 billion emails sent daily, phishing remains a favorite method among cybercriminals due to its low cost, high reach and exploitation of human vulnerabilities — 74% of incidents involve some human error, according to Egress.

Why email is a prime target

Emails are effective for cybercriminals because they exploit inherent trust; even tech-savvy users often trust familiar-looking emails, which may contain malicious URLs or attachments. These emails can deceive recipients into providing sensitive information or transferring funds to fraudulent accounts.

Evolve your defensive strategies

Targeted attacks and spear phishing

Targeted cyberattacks, including spear phishing and whaling, are becoming more sophisticated. Attackers use malicious URLs to phish for credentials or deploy ransomware via seemingly innocuous attachments. Executive or partner impersonation is another common tactic that has led to significant financial losses and data breaches in many organizations.

Strengthening your defenses

To counter these threats, it's crucial to adopt a layered defense strategy that includes:

• Identifying phishing emails: Train users to recognize signs of phishing, such as poor grammar or urgent requests for data.
• Two-factor authentication (2FA): Deploy 2FA, which has proven to significantly enhance security by requiring a second form of user verification.
• Link analysis and email encryption: Protect against data interception and unauthorized access with techniques like hovering over links to check URLs and using email encryption technologies like S/MIME and PGP.

Deploy leading-edge cloud security

The role of cloud security

The cloud's scalability and flexibility are transformative, yet they introduce new vulnerabilities. In 2024, over 32% of breaches were due to exploited vulnerabilities, according to the Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report. This highlights the critical need for comprehensive scanning strategies beyond traditional methods.

Addressing cloud misconfigurations

Misconfigurations in cloud settings are a persistent challenge, with 62% of breaches involving compromised credentials, often due to misconfigured IAM policies or leaked keys, according to Verizon. Regular audits and automated scanning across cloud services are essential to detect and rectify these vulnerabilities.

To help organizations navigate the complex landscape of cyberthreats from a position of strength, this webinar shares leading-edge cybersecurity insights. The security experts stress the importance of awareness, preparedness and the continuous evolution of security strategies. After viewing the webinar, identify your organization’s security gaps with our free Cyber Security Risk Assessment.

Watch on-demand webinar replay now: Navigating Cyber Threats: Insights for Resilient Security.