On August 13, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin warning of a heightened threat environment across the United States. This threat environment includes the potential for increased cyberattacks and digital crime, and extends from the Labor Day weekend through to the 20th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks.
Historically, holidays have often been periods of increased cybercrime. For example, during the recent 4th of July weekend, Kaseya, a maker of IT management software, was targeted by a massive and successful ransomware attack.
At the time of writing, we have yet to see any effects from this latest heightened threat warning. However, we would like to reiterate our commitment to strict security protocols for our clients and to providing the latest information and training to protect our clients against any emerging threat. As the Labor Day holiday weekend approaches, we will continue to monitor the situation and stand ready to respond should an attack disrupt our clients’ systems in any way.
What action should you take?
While no immediate action is required, we recommend that our clients remain vigilant and review their internal security protocols. We continue to encourage clients to take security awareness training seriously, which will help your staff identify and report suspicious communications and attempted attacks. Be wary of all email attachments and links, and any requests for sensitive information, credients, money transfers, or purchase attempts.
How Umbrella can help
Umbrella is constantly working to prevent cyber crime and educate our clients on what they need to do to avoid attacks. If you receive any suspicious communications or suspect an attempted attack, don’t hesitate to contact us. You can find other useful information on cybersecurity threats to watch out for on our blog.
