Welcome to 2019 — a new year filled with new risks and new opportunities when it comes to cybersecurity.
There are lots of folks offering advice on what to expect, but we all know the situation: The hackers and cybercrooks are always trying to stay one step ahead, and they often succeed — which is why your business needs an IT security team that has your back.
“If you thought 2018 was a tough year for tech, 2019 is going to be so much worse,” predicted Zack Whittaker, the security editor at TechCrunch. The groundwork laid in 2018 will roll into 2019, he added, “and that’s when things will start to hit hard, from new laws and political (in)decisions to privacy issues and how employees — not companies — will start to call the shots.”
Given the scope of the situation, cybersecurity has already grabbed the attention of policymakers here in the D.C. area, topping the agenda when the new Congress recently took office.
Lawmakers Move to Tighten Security
At the federal level, lawmakers kicked off the new year with new proposals for dealing with cybersecurity threats, both here at home and from abroad. It remains to be seen whether these proposals will become law, but the fact they’ve drawn attention underscores the importance of cybersecurity issues.
In the House, the first bill proposed was aimed at securing election systems from cyberattacks, such as the 2016 Russian interference. A dozen Russian military officials have been indicted for using cybercrime tactics such as spear phishing to gain information from email, and installing various forms of malware.
Senators Target Chinese Hackers
In the Senate, a bipartisan duo wants to create a White House office specifically for handling foreign technology threats, especially those from China.
Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., introduced a bill to create the Office of Critical Technologies and Security. The new office would work with federal and state governments, private companies, and nongovernmental and academic experts to coordinate efforts and develop strategy.
“The United States needs a more coordinated approach to directly counter this critical threat and ensure we better protect U.S. technology,” Rubio said.
The senators specifically called out China. In December, the Justice Department announced charges against Chinese hackers, accused of stealing information from both tech companies and government agencies. “It is clear that China is determined to use every tool in its arsenal to surpass the United States technologically and dominate us economically,” Warner said.
Secure Your Business
While Congress focuses on cybersecurity as a national security issue, it’s important to remember that businesses of every size are under attack by some of the same malicious forces. With that in mind, smaller firms will increasingly enlist the same cybersecurity approaches that large enterprises use, software executive Brian NeSmith wrote for Forbes.
“This means leveraging the benefits of a robust security operations center,” NeSmith said. “No longer willing to be a hacker’s low-hanging fruit, small to midsize businesses and small enterprises will find ways to monitor and detect threats and respond when necessary.”
A good way to accomplish that is with the help of an IT managed services provider who can lend the expertise needed to protect business data.
Call us for a free consultation and we’ll talk about your security needs — no strings attached. Our expert engineers can design safeguards that are an integral part of your IT network right from the start. Together, we can develop an IT security plan that meets your needs and fits your budget.
Since 1995, Manassas Park, VA-based V2 Systems has employed local systems administrators, network engineers, security consultants, help desk technicians and partnering companies to meet a wide range of clients’ IT needs, from research, to implementation, to maintenance. Concentrate on your VISION…We’ll handle the TECHNOLOGY!
