In October of 2022, news of two severe Cisco VPN bug exploits made its way around the internet-security world. The company identified two vulnerabilities in its AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows, a security solution designed to grant secure network access to remote workers.
One of these vulnerabilities is particularly concerning — classified as high severity, it allows any authenticated user to execute code with SYSTEM privileges on the system.
As a result, Cisco released a patch back in August 2020 and encouraged customers to upgrade their software immediately. Unfortunately, recently found evidence reveals that this vulnerability is still being exploited; further exploitation could occur if customers do not upgrade their software soon. Thus, Cisco urges customers to upgrade their software releases as soon as possible for the best protection.
The Cisco debacle is nothing like giving your little brother the controller — it’s like giving the school bully your house keys. Rogue actors had the power to wreak havoc on AnyConnect users' computers.
So, what does this mean for you as an executive? Well, if you’re still relying on just your tech team to keep your networks secure, then you might be putting your entire IT infrastructure at risk. After all, even Cisco needs to be checked twice! With over 22 billion records leaked in 2021, you need to act soon.
Luckily, the answer for most organization leaders is simple — managed IT services. Skeptical? Over the next five minutes, you'll learn exactly why your IT infrastructure could be at risk and how you can protect it.
Ready? Let's begin!
How the Recent Cisco VPN Bug Exploit Affects Your Business
The recent Cisco AnyConnect VPN bug has undoubtedly made waves within the tech community. It’s a timely reminder that cyber security isn’t something business owners and executives can afford to take lightly — especially with so many applications, network resources, and data centers to protect. One key signal: the market for global network management services is expected to reach $13.3 billion by 2026.
What’s worse, this exploit is just the latest in a string of high-profile vulnerabilities that have been discovered in popular software and hardware products. The number of global cybersecurity attacks in Q3 of 2022 was up 28% YoY. Those are not the kind of numbers you want growing, especially when the average cost of a data breach is over $4.3 million.
It's a stark illustration of how managed networks and data security are crucial for an organization’s well-being. 2021 was a year of record-breaking losses due to cybercrime. IC3 received over 847,000 complaints from the American public totaling more than $6.9 billion in potential damages - a 7% increase compared to 2020! The biggest offenders? Ransomware schemes, business e-mail compromises and criminal use of cryptocurrency caused nearly 20,000 reported incidents with an adjusted loss exceeding 2 billion dollars alone. Failing to invest in these types of services can mean the difference between a secure operation and an expensive disaster.
- Uber had its internal systems breached by the Lapsus$ group in September 2022, with the rogues getting access to cloud platforms and employee dashboards.
- Health insurance juggernaut Medibank lost personal data for nearly 10 million customers.
- Email addresses and phone numbers for over 5 million Twitter users were compromised, including those of celebrities and companies.
- T-Mobile was rocked by a staggering $350M payout to customers over a data breach settlement — a hefty sum that could have long-lasting repercussions.
- Over 130 internal repositories were cloned in a phishing attack on Dropbox in late 2022.
- The Continental Pipeline paid $5 million in cryptocurrency to a ransomware group after they were forced to shut down over 5,500 miles of pipeline.
Managed IT infrastructure is a suit of armor around your business. But if you play your cards right, infrastructure management services won't just be a shield — they'll be a superpower.
The Importance of Managed IT Infrastructure
Firstly, let's break down 'managed IT infrastructure' into human terms.
Information technology infrastructure refers to the cornucopia of digital platforms and systems that make your business tick. Examples include your network, routers, servers, databases, and applications.
Executives need to be aware that exploits in these technologies can put their business at risk, as demonstrated by the recent Cisco VPN bug exploit.
Managed IT infrastructure — also known as managed services — refers to the proactive maintenance and monitoring of these resources. Proactive measures include:
- Keeping your systems safe from bugs, viruses, malware, and human error to ensure data compliance, customer security, and resource protection.
- Taking a comprehensive approach to ensure that your network, server, and storage management is running optimally by reviewing existing applications and assessing the current environment.
- Configuration of data centers, VPNs, and user access control systems to maximize speed, performance, and security.
Benefits of IT Infrastructure Management
Let's go through some advantages of acquiring managed IT services:
- Heightened infrastructure security. Managed IT infrastructure provides an extra layer of protection against hackers and other malicious actors. By leveraging advanced security solutions, businesses can rest easy knowing they have a powerful defense against any potential cyber threats.
- Increased efficiency and performance. An IT infrastructure service provider can take your systems from good to great with their expertise and resources. They can help ensure that your networks, servers, and applications are running at peak performance with less downtime — so you and your employees can focus on more critical business tasks.
- Peace of mind. Knowing that you have a managed IT infrastructure provider behind you gives executives peace of mind knowing they have someone to call when they need help — and that their systems are in good hands.
Bulletproof Your IT Infrastructure with VectorUSA
The Cisco VPN bug shows just how vulnerable complex network systems can be to malicious attacks and serves as a reminder that cybersecurity threats are growing by the day.
Managed IT services can provide an extra layer of protection, as well as ensuring that networks, servers, and applications are running optimally for peak performance. It isn't just a crucial IT decision — it's a strong business move.
Ultimately, with the right solutions in place, companies can stay one step ahead of malicious attackers and continue to thrive.
By partnering with a reputable managed IT service provider like VectorUSA, you can rest assured that your data is safe and secure. Our award-winning services adapt to your needs, tech stack, and industry so that you continue doing what you're best at — running your business.
And in today’s business climate, that’s more important than ever.
Want to get ahead of the curve today? Book a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two types of IT infrastructure?
The two types of IT infrastructure include traditional infrastructure and cloud infrastructure. Traditional infrastructure typically involves physical equipment such as servers, networking devices, and storage systems. Cloud infrastructure accesses data using the internet and is used to store and manage applications or data in cloud-hosted services.
What are the three primary components of IT infrastructure?
The three primary components of IT infrastructure are hardware, software, and network connections. Hardware includes physical servers and storage systems that power the entire system. Software is the programs and operating systems that manage how data is stored and accessed. Network connections are used to access remote networks and allow for secure communication within the IT environment.
What is the role of IT infrastructure?
The role of IT infrastructure is to provide organizations with the necessary tools and resources to store, process, manage, and access data. This includes hardware components such as servers and storage systems, software programs for managing applications and data, and networking solutions for secure communication and enterprise resource planning. It also includes security measures for protecting against malicious attacks.
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