Posted: Thursday, October 5, 2023

Ransomware Amplified - Double and Triple Extortion Ransomware

Ransomware Amplified - Double and Triple Extortion Ransomware

What They Are and How to Avoid Them

By : Sentia

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month so our blog posts for this month will focus on differents areas of cybersecurity to continue to drive awareness and education on evolving trends.

This week, our focus will be on ransomware - specifically double and triple extortion ransomware.

Traditional ransomware, as we know, has been around for decades.In a "regular" ransomware attack, system data is locked and encrypted until the victim agrees to pay the attacker to get the data back. This has proven unsuccessful for attackers, however, because victims can often restore their data and systems from backups.

The first ever ransomware attack is reported to have occurred in 1989 with the "AIDS trojan", where 20,000 infected floppy discs were handed out at that year's World Health Organization (WHO) AIDS conference. After a certain number of boots, user files were then encrypted with an ask for a ransom to be sent to a PO box. Luckily, the ransomware was fairly easy to isolate and remove using technology available at that time. 

Of course, ransomware has evolved rapidly since then becoming much more sophisticaed over the years. Enter double and even triple extortion ransomware. 

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Posted: Tuesday, August 29, 2023

How AI is Optimizing the Cloud

How AI is Optimizing the Cloud

By : Sentia

When it comes the hottest trends in technology right now, AI and the cloud are definitelty among the top 3 with security taking the final spot. According to MarketsAndMarkets, the cloud computing market size is estimated to reach a staggering $947 billion by 2026, while the AI market is expected to increase to a whopping $309 billion, as per the study. Instead of looking at the two concepts as competing entities, however, technology leaders should focus on how AI and Cloud can work together to foster even greater innovation. 

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Number of views (1840)

Posted: Thursday, July 20, 2023

The Relationship Between Zero Trust and SASE Technology

The Relationship Between Zero Trust and SASE Technology

How the two concepts complement each other to delivered enhanced security measures.

By : Sentia

Zero Trust and SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) are two important concepts in modern cybersecurity that actually complement each other to create a robust and comprehensive security framework for organizations across all industries. Instead of being concepts that would compete with one another, they can work together to enhance an organization's overall security posture.

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Number of views (2540)

Posted: Wednesday, May 24, 2023

IAM vs. PAM - What's the Difference?

IAM vs. PAM - What's the Difference?

By : Sentia

Privileged Access Management (PAM) and Identity Access Management (IAM) are two related but distinct concepts in the world of cybersecurity. While they both deal with regulating access to resources, they have inherently different objectives.

Let's look at both in more detail:

Identity Access Management (IAM): IAM follows the principle of least privilege allowing the management of staff identities so that only authorized personnel can access and update files that are meant for them based on their roles and responsibilities. This type of access control involves conditional access security at the system, user, and directory level with insights into access policies, centralized identities, and more. It deals with the entire lifecycle of user identities, including user provisioning, authentication, authorization, and user deprovisioning.

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Number of views (2930)

Posted: Monday, May 8, 2023

Richmond Hill Board of Trade Business Achievement Awards

Richmond Hill Board of Trade Business Achievement Awards

A Night To Recognize Local Talent and Achievements

By : Sentia

Last week, the annual Richmond Hill Board of Trade Business Achievement Awards Gala was held on May 4th, at the Sheraton Parkway Hotel in Richmond Hill.

The Richmond Hill Board of Trade (RHBOT) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to connecting, serving and empowering its members throughout the community and Sentia has been a proud member for the last several years.

The RHBOT Business Achievement Awards is an annual event that centers around recognizing the talent and hard work of entrepreneurs and business professionals who have excelled in their respective fields and made a positive impact within the community.  

Sentia was delighted to be a finalist this year in the category for Information Technology which recognizes local businesses for excellence in delivering innovative technology solutions and services.

We were proud to be chosen as a finalist in this category as it was indicative of our continued commitment and dedication to our customers. Please view our nomination video here.

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners!

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Number of views (1552)

Posted: Wednesday, May 3, 2023

The Importance of Application Vulnerability Scanning to Your Business

The Importance of Application Vulnerability Scanning to Your Business

By : Sentia

Application vulnerability scanning is an essential aspect of any organization's cyber resiliency strategy as it takes a proactive approach to help identify security vulnerabilities in software applications before they can be exploited by attackers.

The importance of application vulnerability scanning can be summed up as follows:

  1. Identify vulnerabilities: Scanning helps identify vulnerabilities that exist in an application that could be exploited by hackers to gain unauthorized access or compromise the application's integrity. This allows organizations to take proactive measures to fix the vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
     
  2. Compliance: Organizations are often required to comply with industry-specific regulations and standards such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which require periodic vulnerability assessments to be conducted.
     
  3. Cost savings: The cost of remediating a vulnerability after an attack is significantly higher than the cost of identifying and fixing it proactively. Thus, application vulnerability scanning can save an organization a significant amount of money by reducing the risk of successful attacks.
     
  4. Reputation: A successful attack on an organization's application can cause significant damage to its reputation, leading to a sense of distrust, a loss of customers, revenue, and shareholder value. By proactively identifying and fixing vulnerabilities, and having a strong, overall cyber resiliency plan, organizations can demonstrate a commitment to security and protect their reputation at all costs.

Overall, application vulnerability scanning is a crucial aspect of any organization's security strategy, helping to reduce the risk of successful attacks, save costs, and protect the organization's reputation.

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Number of views (2205)

Posted: Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Understanding the Pros and Cons of Zero Trust Network Architecture

Understanding the Pros and Cons of Zero Trust Network Architecture

By : Sentia

You've heard the term by now: ZTNA, or Zero Trust Network Architecture. If you're not entirely familiar with the concetpt, ZTNA is a security concept that centers around the principle of "never trust, always verify." In a Zero Trust model, implicit trust is not practiced, as is the case with traditional security methods. All users, devices, and applications are treated as potential threats, and access to resources is granted on a need-to-know basis.

 

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Number of views (2876)

Posted: Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Understanding the Difference Between EDR and XDR

Understanding the Difference Between EDR and XDR

You've heard of both by now, but what sets them apart?

By : Sentia

As cybersecurity prevention tactics continue to evolve and adapt to current trends, we've seen new terms thrown into the mix in conversation such as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Extended Detection and Response (XDR). In IBM's 2022 Cost of a Data Breach Report, analysis on XDR trends were covered for the first time, highlighting the trend towards modernized cyber security solutions. It noted that out of all the organizations that were interviewed as part of the developmental phase of the report, 44% said they were actively using XDR technology and that they were able to contain a breach almost an entire month quicker than if they had not implemented XDR.

So, while we know that EDR and XDR are both methodologies that help combat cyber threats at an organizational level, there are some key differences between the two:

 

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Number of views (3713)

Posted: Tuesday, December 13, 2022

IT Trends to Look Out for in 2023

IT Trends to Look Out for in 2023

By : Sentia

Digital services are as effective as the data that drives them in a constantly changing business environment. Data is increasing astonishingly, with experts estimating it will double between 2023 and 2026. However, the ability of organizations to process and analyze data to inform strategic business decisions depends on the deployed IT infrastructure and cybersecurity measures implemented to protect it from attacks.

In this regard, here are the top IT and cybersecurity trends companies should look out for in 2023.

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Number of views (2092)

Posted: Tuesday, November 8, 2022

In Memoriam

In Memoriam

By : Sentia

IN MEMORIAM: Gary Millward, a cherished member of Sentia’s sales team for over a decade, sadly passed away recently after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Gary was passionate about IT and during his tenure at Sentia, he excelled in designing and delivering high value IT solutions and services to help clients address and solve complex business problems.

Outside of the office, he had a deep passion for boating and spending quality time with his family and beloved dog, Bentley.

He will be fondly remembered as an integral member of Sentia’s family. If desired, memorial donations to the Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) can be made on behalf of his family.  

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Number of views (1642)

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