POS Data Security? The next time you buy a burger at McDonald’s or Wendy’s, a computer may be the one asking, “Would you like fries with that?” After decades of depending on human workers to take orders – and payments – American fast food chains are finally moving into the computer age, driven by rising… Read More
POS Data Security an Issue for Fast-Food Kiosks
POS Data Security? The next time you buy a burger at McDonald’s or Wendy’s, a computer may be the one asking, “Would you like fries with that?” After decades of depending on human workers to take orders – and payments – American fast food chains are finally moving into the computer age, driven by rising… Read More
Spear Phishing: Don’t Take the Bait!
Following a string of high-profile incidents that began earlier this year, the healthcare industry has been highly focused on preventing ransomware attacks. IoT security has also emerged as a growing concern. However, healthcare organizations (as well as businesses in other industries) cannot afford to ignore another growing threat: spear phishing. Like regular phishing, spear phishing… Read More
IoT Security: Medical Devices Are the Next Target for Hackers
Up until now, healthcare cyber security has been focused on protecting patient data, ensuring HIPAA compliance, and, more recently, protecting systems from ransomware attacks. However, as healthcare technology advances, a new threat is emerging: the potential for hackers to attack smart medical devices such as insulin pumps and pacemakers. If IoT security is not taken… Read More
IoT Security: Medical Devices Are the Next Target for Hackers
Up until now, healthcare cyber security has been focused on protecting patient data, ensuring HIPAA compliance, and, more recently, protecting systems from ransomware attacks. However, as healthcare technology advances, a new threat is emerging: the potential for hackers to attack smart medical devices such as insulin pumps and pacemakers. If IoT security is not taken… Read More
5 Tips for Healthcare Cyber Security
In a previous blog, we discussed the recent epidemic of ransomware attacks on U.S. healthcare organizations and the importance of the industry taking this very serious cyber security threat – and healthcare cyber security in general – seriously. The good news is that although a ransomware attack can bring a healthcare facility to its knees,… Read More
The Citadel Breached – The Cyber Security Act of 2015
Continuum GRC unveils the next generation of cyber-crime prevention for organizations with NIST and SEC, NFA compliance requirements in concert with the Cyber Security Act of 2015. Continuum GRC released the next generation antidote to fight cyber crime, compliance failures, corporate fraud and criminal cyber-misconduct with the IT Audit Machine (ITAM IT audit software). Considered to be the best… Read More
Ransomware Attacks Show that Healthcare Must Take Cybersecurity Seriously
In a previous blog, we provided a primer on HIPAA compliance and discussed the importance of complying with this complex federal law, which is geared toward protecting patients’ private health information (PHI). While healthcare providers and healthcare industry vendors cannot afford to ignore HIPAA, a new threat has emerged and is poised to become much… Read More
What matters most is common sense
Life should be more about common sense than dollars and cents. – Michael D. Peters
What is PCI DSS Compliance?
Confused about PCI DSS compliance? This article will explain PCI DSS and the importance of complying with this important information security standard. What is PCI DSS? PCI DSS stands for the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS). The PCI DSS is a proprietary information security standard that was established in 2004 by the… Read More
What is HIPAA Compliance?
Confused about HIPAA and HIPAA compliance? This article will explain HIPAA and the importance of complying with this complex federal law. What is HIPAA? HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The HITECH Act, which was signed by President Obama in 2009,… Read More
What is HIPAA Compliance?
Confused about HIPAA and HIPAA compliance? This article will explain HIPAA and the importance of complying with this complex federal law. What is HIPAA? HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The HITECH Act, which was signed by President Obama in 2009,… Read More
Human Hacking, Not Automated Attacks, Top Cyber Threat
Human hacking, also known as social engineering, has surpassed hardware and software vulnerabilities and is now the top cybersecurity threat, Computer Weekly reports: [A]ttackers shifted away from automated exploits in 2015. Instead, attackers engaged people through email, social media and mobile apps to do the dirty work of infecting systems, stealing credentials and transferring funds.… Read More
Hooray for Hollywood! – Hackers Hold Healthcare Hostage
Hackers Hold Hollywood Healthcare Hostage Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center paid a $17,000 ransom in bitcoin to hackers who seized control of the hospital’s computer systems holding them a healthcare hostage. The cyber assault on Hollywood Presbyterian occurred Feb. 5, 2016, when hackers using malware infected the institution’s computers, preventing hospital staff from being able to… Read More
Hooray for Hollywood! – Hackers Hold Healthcare Hostage
Hackers Hold Hollywood Healthcare Hostage Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center paid a $17,000 ransom in bitcoin to hackers who seized control of the hospital’s computer systems holding them a healthcare hostage. The cyber assault on Hollywood Presbyterian occurred Feb. 5, 2016, when hackers using malware infected the institution’s computers, preventing hospital staff from being able to… Read More
Cyber Forensics Protect the Innocent
Cyber Forensics Protect the Innocent It is always rewarding when cyber security and cyber forensics protect the innocent. Monique Vivien Macias of KPNX 12 News Phoenix discusses with Lazarus Alliance and Continuum GRC’s CEO Michael Peters how cyber forensics has become such a vital resource in law enforcement’s toolkit. Christopher Thomas McKenna, the former Chaparral High School… Read More
Defeating Cyber Security Deficits with a 1-2 Punch
Defeating Cyber Security Deficits with a 1-2 Punch Steve Morgan, a professional acquaintance who writes about cyber security for Forbes published One Million Cybersecurity Job Openings In 2016 and revealed some jaw-dropping statistics concerning the growing deficit in hiring qualified cyber security employees. To make matters worse, this chasm is exacerbated by the explosion of… Read More
Why are data breaches escalating?
Why are data breaches escalating? Could it be that this problem threatening business and consumers alike is directly related to service auditors and security assessors are still using the same audit and assessment tools again this year? Data breaches are escalating and the technology your service provider is using and the way they conduct assessments… Read More
Security audit done the same old way?
Still doing security audit and compliance assessments the same old way? The definition of insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting a different result. Data breaches are occurring at an alarming and escalating rate despite the traditional assessment methodology and tools. It’s time to shake up and wake up the cybersecurity industry… Read More
Why Excel is so Old-School and how to be Cool-School
We get it. We completely understand why you still use Excel as an assessment and audit tool. We suffered through it just the same but we believe that working smarter and not harder which is why we invented ITAM IT audit software. The IT Audit Machine (ITAM IT audit software) is the patent pending, industry… Read More
Why Excel is so Old-School and how to be Cool-School
We get it. We completely understand why you still use Excel as an assessment and audit tool. We suffered through it just the same but we believe that working smarter and not harder which is why we invented ITAM. The IT Audit Machine (ITAM) is the patent pending, industry changing assessment questionnaire creation tool designed… Read More
What the Biggest Data Breaches in Retail Have Taught Us about Cybersecurity
2014 Data Breaches by Industry With the holiday season upon us, much attention turns to the retail sector, which is expected to see unprecedented activity as shoppers in a strengthening economy take advantage of seasonal deals and yet-further-expanded shopping hours. However, overshadowing the energy of the holiday shopping season, the specter of data breaches past… Read More
Secure in 60 Seconds
Secure in 60 Seconds While you slip into that Thanksgiving Day coma, take 6o seconds to beat holiday crime and stay secure. Nearly half of holiday shopping this year will be done through online merchants; about 46 percent according to the National Retail Federation. That is up slightly from last year and is another sign… Read More
Why In a Former Life I was a Cadaver Dog!
My career has been and adventure along the scenic route speaking conservatively which I rarely do. My number one goal is to be the best example for what I choose to focus my attention on. I rose in the corporate ranks pretty quickly and helped define what it really means to be a Chief Information… Read More