A new survey on the current state of security operations center (SOC) performance has found that while some organizations have increased funding, the overall gains have been meager, and the most significant issues have not only persisted, but worsened.

Hackers will always exploit a crisis, and the coronavirus outbreak is no different. Since January, cybercriminals have leveraged the COVID-19 pandemic to stage all manner of cyberattacks, from ransomware take-overs of hospital systems to private network hacking. But the latest cybercrime scheme exploits the greatest cybersecurity vulnerability of all: human emotion.

ASIS International announced its decision to move Global Security Exchange (GSX) 2020 to a fully virtual experience, titled Global Security Exchange Plus (GSX+), which includes more than 80 industry-leading education sessions, a robust exhibition marketplace, and unique peer-to-peer networking opportunities.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has announced the details for AcceleRISE 2020 – a virtual conference created by SIA’s RISE community for young professionals in the security industry – taking place July 27-31.

Threat actors launched a cyberattack against the Texas Office of Court Administration, the IT provider for many Texas courts, and encrypted their computer systems with ransomware, leaving those systems useless. Cognizant, which has a large presence in Dallas-Fort Worth and is one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated providers of information technology services for other companies, was hit with ransomware with losses currently estimated between $50 million and $70 million.

A majority of Americans say they approve of recent protests around the country and many think they’ll bring positive change. And despite headline-making standoffs between law enforcement and protesters in cities nationwide, the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds a majority of Americans think law enforcement officers have generally responded to the protests appropriately. Somewhat fewer say the officers used excessive force.

There is a trade-off between technology innovation and security. The adoption of emerging technologies like 5G will fuel the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) which are often built with basic security controls, creating a larger attack surface. At the same time, reliance on data means that data breaches can cause greater damage.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) launched the newest public education resources for the Go For Real Anti-Counterfeiting Campaign online. 

CenturyLink, Inc. announced that Hugo Teufel has joined the technology company as its new chief privacy officer. As a noted expert in the field, he will advise the company on privacy and security issues and will work closely with CenturyLink’s sales, IT and security teams to help design, implement and refine strategic privacy initiatives throughout the company.

The new NIST standards for IAST and RASP are a testament that outside-in AppSec approaches are antiquated, inefficient, and ineffective. Security instrumentation is more than a paradigm shift of the future—it is an opportunity for today.