CySecurity News - Latest Information Security and Hacking Incidents: Cloud Security

Cloud Security continuous monitoring Cyber Security Cybersecurity Endpoint Defense Incident response ransomware protection Risk Management SOC Operations Threat Intelligence

Continuous Incident Response Is Redefining Cybersecurity Strategy

With organizations now faced with relentless digital exposure, continuous security monitoring has become an operational necessity instead of a best practice, as organizations navigate an era where digital exposure is ubiquitous. In 2024, cyber-attacks will increase by nearly 30%, with the average enterprise having to deal with over 1,600 attempted intrusions a week, with the financial impact of a data breach regularly rising into six figures.

Even so, the real crisis extends well beyond the rising level of threats. In the past, cybersecurity strategies relied on a familiar formula—detect quickly, respond promptly, recover quickly—but that cadence no longer suffices in an environment that is characterized by adversaries automating reconnaissance, exploiting cloud misconfiguration within minutes, and weaponizing legitimate tools so that they can move laterally far faster than human analysts are able to react.

There has been a growing gap between what organizations can see and the ability to act as the result of successive waves of innovation, from EDR to XDR, as a result of which they have widened visibility across sprawling digital estates. The security operations center is already facing unprecedented complexity. Despite the fact that security operations teams juggle dozens of tools and struggle with floods of alerts that require manual validation, organisations are unable to act as quickly as they should.

A recent accelerated disconnect between risk and security is transforming how security leaders understand risks and forcing them to face a difficult truth: visibility without speed is no longer an effective defence. When examining the threat patterns defining the year 2024, it becomes more apparent why this shift is necessary. According to security firms, attackers are increasingly using stealthy, fileless techniques to steal from their victims, with nearly four out of five detections categorised as malware-free today, with the majority of attacks classified as malware-free.

As a result, ransomware activity has continued to climb steeply upward, rising by more than 80% on a year-over-year basis and striking small and midsized businesses the most disproportionately, accounting for approximately 70% of all recorded incidents. In recent years, phishing campaigns have become increasingly aggressive, with some vectors experiencing unprecedented spikes - some exceeding 1,200% - as adversaries use artificial intelligence to bypass human judgment.

A number of SMBs remain structurally unprepared in spite of these pressures, with the majority acknowledging that they have become preferred targets, but three out of four of them continue to use informal or internally managed security measures. These risks are compounded by human error, which is responsible for an estimated 88% of reported cyber incidents.

There have been staggering financial consequences as well; in the past five years alone, the UK has suffered losses of more than £44 billion, resulting in both immediate disruption and long-term revenue losses. Due to this, the industry’s definition of continuous cybersecurity is now much broader than periodic audits.

It is necessary to maintain continuous threat monitoring, proactive vulnerability and exposure management, disciplined identity governance, sustained employee awareness programs, regularly tested incident response playbooks, and ongoing compliance monitoring—a posture which emphasizes continuous evaluation rather than reactive control as part of an operational strategy. Increasingly complex digital estates are creating unpredictable cyber risks, which are making continuous monitoring an essential part of modern defence strategies.

Continuous monitoring is a real time monitoring system that scans systems, networks, and cloud environments in real time, in order to detect early signs of misconfiguration, compromise, or operational drift. In contrast to periodic checks which operate on a fixed schedule and leave long periods of exposure, continuous monitoring operates in real time.

The approach outlined above aligns closely with the NIST guidance, which urges organizations to set up an adaptive monitoring strategy capable of ingesting a variety of data streams, analysing emerging vulnerabilities, and generating timely alerts for security teams to take action. Using continuous monitoring, organizations can discover latent weaknesses that are contributing to their overall cyber posture.

Continuous monitoring reduces the frequency and severity of incidents, eases the burden on security personnel, and helps them meet increasing regulatory demands. Even so, maintaining such a level of vigilance remains a challenge, especially for small businesses that lack the resources, expertise, and tooling to operate around the clock in order to stay on top of their game.

The majority of organizations therefore turn to external service providers in order to achieve the scalability and economic viability of continuous monitoring. Typically, effective continuous monitoring programs include four key components: a monitoring engine, analytics that can be used to identify anomalies and trends on a large scale, a dashboard that shows key risk indicators in real time, and an alerting system to ensure that emerging issues are quickly addressed by the appropriate staff.

With the help of automation, security teams are now able to process a great deal of telemetry in a timely and accurate manner, replacing outdated or incomplete snapshots with live visibility into organisational risk, enabling them to respond successfully in a highly dynamic threat environment.

Continuous monitoring can take on a variety of forms, depending on the asset in focus, including endpoint monitoring, network traffic analysis, application performance tracking, cloud and container observability, etc., all of which provide an important layer of protection against attacks as they spread across every aspect of the digital infrastructure.

It has also been shown that the dissolution of traditional network perimeters is a key contributor to the push toward continuous response. In the current world of cloud-based workloads, SaaS-based ecosystems, and remote endpoints, security architectures mustwork as flexible and modular systems capable of correlating telemetrics between email, DNS, identity, network, and endpoint layers, without necessarily creating new silos within the architecture.

Three operational priorities are usually emphasized by organizations moving in this direction: deep integration to keep unified visibility, automation to handle routine containment at machine speed and validation practices, such as breach simulations and posture tests, to ensure that defence systems behave as they should. It has become increasingly common for managed security services to adopt these principles, and this is why more organizations are adopting them.

909Protect, for instance, is an example of a product that provides rapid, coordinated containment across hybrid environments through the use of automated detection coupled with continuous human oversight. In such platforms, the signals from various security vectors are correlated, and they are layered on top of existing tools with behavioural analysis, posture assessment and identity safeguards in order to ensure that no critical alert goes unnoticed while still maintaining established investments.

In addition to this shift, there is a realignment among the industry as a whole toward systems that are built to be available continuously rather than undergoing episodic interventions. Cybersecurity has gone through countless “next generation” labels, but only those approaches which fundamentally alter the behavior of operations tend to endure, according to veteran analysts in the field. In addressing this underlying failure point, continuous incident response fits perfectly into this trajectory.

Organizations are rarely breached because they have no data, but rather because they do not act on it quickly enough or cohesively. As analysts argue, the path forward will be determined by the ability to combine automation, analytics, and human expertise into a single adaptive workflow that can be used in an organization's entirety.

There is no doubt that the organizations that are most likely to be able to withstand emerging threats in the foreseeable future will be those that approach security as a living, constantly changing system that is not only based on the visible, but also on the ability of the organization to detect, contain, and recover in real time from any threats as they arise.

In the end, the shift toward continuous incident response is a sign that cybersecurity resilience is more than just about speed anymore, but about endurance as well. Investing in unified visibility, disciplined automation, as well as persistent validation will not only ensure that the path from detection to containment is shortened, but that the operations remain stable over the longer term as well.

The advantage will go to those who treat security as an evolving ecosystem—one that is continually refined, coordinated across teams and committed to responding in a continuity similar to the attacks used by adversaries.

Cybersecurity Alert as PolarEdge Botnet Hijacks 25,000 IoT Systems Globally



 

PolarEdge Malware

Advanced Persistent Threats Cloud Security Cyber Attack Trends Cyber Attacks IoT Botnet Cybersecurity Threats Data Breach Prevention Digital Infrastructure Network Security PolarEdge Malware

Cybersecurity Alert as PolarEdge Botnet Hijacks 25,000 IoT Systems Globally

Researchers at Censys have found that PolarEdge is rapidly expanding throughout the world, in an alarming sign that connected technology is becoming increasingly weaponised. PolarEdge is an advanced botnet orchestrating large-scale attacks against Internet of Things (IoT) and edge devices all over the world, a threat that has become increasingly prevalent in recent years.

When the malicious network was first discovered in mid-2023, only around 150 confirmed infections were identified. Since then, the network has grown into an extensive digital threat, compromising nearly 40,000 devices worldwide by August 2025. Analysts have pointed out that PolarEdge's architecture is very similar to Operational Relay Box (ORB) infrastructures, which are covert systems commonly used to facilitate espionage, fraud, and cybercrime.

PolarEdge has grown at a rapid rate in recent years, and this highlights the fact that undersecured IoT environments are becoming increasingly exploited, placing them among the most rapidly expanding and dangerous botnet campaigns in recent years. PolarEdge has helped shed light on the rapidly evolving nature of cyber threats affecting the hyperconnected world of today.

PolarEdge, a carefully crafted campaign that demonstrates how compromised Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystems can be turned into powerful weapons of cyber warfare, emerged as an expertly orchestrated campaign. There are more than 25,000 infected devices spread across 40 countries that are a part of the botnet, and the botnet is characterised by its massive scope and sophistication due to its network of 140 command and control servers.

Unlike many other distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, PolarEdge is not only a tool for distributing denial-of-service attacks, but also a platform for criminal infrastructure as a service (IaaS), specifically made to support advanced persistent threats (APT). By exploiting vulnerabilities in IoT devices and edge devices through systematic methods, the software constructs an Operational Relay Box (ORB) network, which creates a layer of obfuscating malicious traffic, enabling covert operations such as espionage, data theft, and ransomware.

By adopting this model, the cybercrime economy is reshaped in a way that enables even moderately skilled adversaries to access capabilities that were once exclusively the domain of elite threat groups. As further investigation into PolarEdge's evolving infrastructure was conducted, it turned out that a previously unknown component known as RPX_Client was uncovered, which is an integral part of the botnet that transforms vulnerable IoT devices into proxy nodes.

In May 2025, XLab's Cyber Threat Insight and Analysis System detected a suspicious activity from IP address 111.119.223.196, which was distributing an ELF file named "w," a file that initially eluded detection on VirusTotal. The file was identified as having the remote location DNS IP address 111.119.223.196. A deeper forensic analysis of the attack was conducted to uncover the RPX_Client mechanism and its integral role in the construction of Operational Relay Box networks.

These networks are designed to hide malicious activity behind layers of compromised systems to make it appear as if everything is normal. An examination of the device logs carried out by the researchers revealed that the infection had spread all over the world, with the highest concentration occurring in South Korea (41.97%), followed by China (20.35%) and Thailand (8.37%), while smaller clusters emerged in Southeast Asia and North America. KT CCTV surveillance cameras, Shenzhen TVT digital video recorders and Asus routers have been identified as the most frequently infected devices, whereas other devices that have been infected include Cyberoam UTM appliances, Cisco RV340 VPN routers, D-Link routers, and Uniview webcams have also been infected.

140 RPX_Server nodes are running the campaign, which all operate under three autonomous system numbers (45102, 37963, and 132203), and are primarily hosted on Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud virtual private servers. Each of these nodes communicates via port 55555 with a PolarSSL test certificate that was derived from version 3.4.0 of the Mbed TLS protocol, which enabled XLab to reverse engineer the communication flow so that it would be possible to determine the validity and scope of the active servers.

As far as the technical aspect of the RPX_Client is concerned, it establishes two connections simultaneously. One is connected to RPX_Server via port 55555 for node registration and traffic routing, while the other is connected to Go-Admin via port 55560 for remote command execution. As a result of its hidden presence, this malware is disguised as a process named “connect_server,” enforces a single-instance rule by using a PID file (/tmp/.msc), and keeps itself alive by injecting itself into the rcS initialisation script.

In light of these efforts, it has been found that the PolarEdge infrastructure is highly associated with the RPX infrastructure, as evidenced by overlapping code patterns, domain associations and server logs. Notably, IP address 82.118.22.155, which was associated with PolarEdge distribution chains in the early 1990s, was found to be related to a host named jurgencindy.asuscomm.com, which is the same host that is associated with PolarEdge C2 servers like icecreand.cc and centrequ.cc.

As the captured server records confirmed that RPX_Client payloads had been delivered, as well as that commands such as change_pub_ip had been executed, in addition to verifying its role in overseeing the botnet's distribution framework, further validated this claim. Its multi-hop proxy architecture – utilising compromised IoT devices as its first layer and inexpensive Virtual Private Servers as its second layer – creates a dense network of obfuscation that effectively masks the origin of attacks.

This further confirms Mandiant's assessment that cloud-based infrastructures are posing a serious challenge to conventional indicator-based detection techniques. Several experts emphasised the fact that in order to mitigate the growing threat posed by botnets, such as PolarEdge, one needs to develop a comprehensive and layered cybersecurity strategy, which includes both proactive defence measures and swift incident response approaches. In response to the proliferation of connected devices, organisations and individuals need to realise the threat landscape that is becoming more prevalent.

Therefore, IoT and edge security must become an operational priority rather than an afterthought. It is a fundamental step in making sure that all devices are running on the latest firmware, since manufacturers release patches frequently to address known vulnerabilities regularly. Furthermore, it is equally important to change default credentials immediately with strong, unique passwords. This is an essential component of defence against large-scale exploitation, but is often ignored.

Security professionals recommend that network segmentation be implemented, that IoT devices should be isolated within specific VLANs or restricted network zones, so as to minimise lateral movement within networks. As an additional precaution, organisations are advised to disable non-essential ports and services, so that there are fewer entry points that attackers could exploit.

The continuous monitoring of the network, with a strong emphasis on intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS) systems, has a crucial role to play in detecting suspicious traffic patterns that are indicative of active compromises. The installation of a robust patch management program is essential in order to make sure that all connected assets are updated with security updates promptly and uniformly.

Enterprises should also conduct due diligence when it comes to the supply chain: they should choose vendors who have demonstrated a commitment to transparency, timely security updates, and disclosure of vulnerabilities responsibly. As far as the technical aspect of IoT defence is concerned, several tools have proven to be effective in detecting and counteracting IoT-based threats. Nessus, for instance, provides comprehensive vulnerability scanning services, and Shodan provides analysts with a way to identify exposed or misconfigured internet-connected devices.

Among the tools that can be used for deeper network analysis is Wireshark, which is a protocol inspection tool used by most organisations, and Snort or Suricata are powerful IDS/IPS systems that can detect malicious traffic in real-time. In addition to these, IoT Inspector offers comprehensive assessments of device security and privacy, giving us a much better idea of what connected hardware is doing and how it behaves.

By combining these tools and practices, a critical defensive framework can be created - one that is capable of reducing the attack surface and curbing the propagation of sophisticated botnets, such as PolarEdge, resulting in a reduction in the number of attacks. In a comprehensive geospatial study of PolarEdge's infection footprint, it has been revealed that it has been spread primarily in Southeast Asia and North America, with South Korea claiming 41.97 percent of the total number of compromised devices to have been compromised.

The number of total infections in China comes in at 20.35 per cent, while Thailand makes up 8.37 per cent. As part of the campaign, there are several key victims, including KT CCTV systems, Shenzhen TVT digital video recorders (DVRs), Cyberoam Unified Threat Management (UTM) appliances, along with a variety of router models made by major companies such as Asus, DrayTek, Cisco, and D-Link. Virtual private servers (VPS) are used primarily to control the botnet's command-and-control ecosystem, which clusters within autonomous systems 45102, 37963, and 132203.

The vast majority of the botnet's operations are hosted by Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud infrastructure – a reflection of the botnet's dependency on commercial, scalable cloud environments for maintaining its vast operations. PolarEdge's technical sophistication is based on a multi-hop proxy framework, RPX, a multi-hop proxy framework meticulously designed to conceal attack origins and make it more difficult for the company to attribute blame.

In the layered communication chain, traffic is routed from a local proxy to RPX_Server nodes to RPX_Client instances on IoT devices that are infected, thus masking the true source of command, while allowing for fluid, covert communication across global networks. It is the malware's strategy to maintain persistence by injecting itself into initialisation scripts. Specifically, the command echo "/bin/sh /mnt/mtd/rpx.sh &" >> /etc/init.d/rcS ensures that it executes automatically at the start-up of the system.

Upon becoming active, it conceals itself as a process known as “connect_server” and enforces single-instance execution using the PID file located at /tmp/.msc to enforce this. This client is capable of configuring itself by accessing a global configuration file called “.fccq” that extracts parameters such as the command-and-control (C2) address, communication ports, device UUIDs, and brand identifiers, among many others.

As a result, these values have been obfuscated using a single-byte XOR encryption (0x25), an effective yet simple method of preventing static analysis of the values. This malware uses two network ports in order to establish two network channels—port 55555 for node registration and traffic proxying, and port 55560 for remote command execution via the Go-Admin service.

Command management is accomplished through the use of “magic field” identifiers (0x11, 0x12, and 0x16), which define specific operational functions, as well as the ability to update malware components self-aware of themselves using built-in commands like update_vps, which rotates C2 addresses.

A server-side log shows that the attackers executed infrastructure migration commands, which demonstrates their ability to dynamically switch proxy pools to evade detection each and every time a node is compromised or exposed, which is evidence of the attacker’s ability to evade detection, according to the log. It is evident from network telemetry that PolarEdge is primarily interested in non-targeted activities aimed at legitimate platforms like QQ, WeChat, Google, and Cloudflare.

It suggests its infrastructure may be used as both a means for concealing malicious activity as well as staging it as a form of ordinary internet communication. In light of the PolarEdge campaign, which highlights the fragility of today's interconnected digital ecosystem, it serves as a stark reminder that cybersecurity must evolve in tandem with the sophistication of today's threats, rather than just react to them.

A culture of cyber awareness, cross-industry collaboration, and transparent threat intelligence sharing is are crucial component of cybersecurity, beyond technical countermeasures. Every unsecured device, whether it is owned by governments, businesses, or consumers, can represent a potential entryway into the digital world. Therefore, governments, businesses, and consumers all must recognise this. The only sustainable way for tomorrow's digital infrastructure to be protected is through education, accountability, and global cooperation.

Tata Motors Fixes Security Flaws That Exposed Sensitive Customer and Dealer Data



 

data security flaws

Cloud Security Critical security flaw Customer Data Cyber Security Data protection data security data security flaws

Tata Motors Fixes Security Flaws That Exposed Sensitive Customer and Dealer Data

Indian automotive giant Tata Motors has addressed a series of major security vulnerabilities that exposed confidential internal data, including customer details, dealer information, and company reports. The flaws were discovered in the company’s E-Dukaan portal, an online platform used for purchasing spare parts for Tata commercial vehicles.

According to security researcher Eaton Zveare, the exposed data included private customer information, confidential documents, and access credentials to Tata Motors’ cloud systems hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Headquartered in Mumbai, Tata Motors is a key global player in the automobile industry, manufacturing passenger, commercial, and defense vehicles across 125 countries.

Zveare revealed to TechCrunch that the E-Dukaan website’s source code contained AWS private keys that granted access to internal databases and cloud storage. These vulnerabilities exposed hundreds of thousands of invoices with sensitive customer data, including names, mailing addresses, and Permanent Account Numbers (PANs). Zveare said he avoided downloading large amounts of data “to prevent triggering alarms or causing additional costs for Tata Motors.”

The researcher also uncovered MySQL database backups, Apache Parquet files containing private communications, and administrative credentials that allowed access to over 70 terabytes of data from Tata Motors’ FleetEdge fleet-tracking software. Further investigation revealed backdoor admin access to a Tableau analytics account that stored data on more than 8,000 users, including internal financial and performance reports, dealer scorecards, and dashboard metrics.

Zveare added that the exposed credentials provided full administrative control, allowing anyone with access to modify or download the company’s internal data. Additionally, the vulnerabilities included API keys connected to Tata Motors’ fleet management system, Azuga, which operates the company’s test drive website. Zveare responsibly reported the flaws to Tata Motors through India’s national cybersecurity agency, CERT-In, in August 2023.

The company acknowledged the findings in October 2023 and stated that it was addressing the AWS-related security loopholes. However, Tata Motors did not specify when all issues were fully resolved. In response to TechCrunch’s inquiry, Tata Motors confirmed that all reported vulnerabilities were fixed in 2023.

However, the company declined to say whether it notified customers whose personal data was exposed. “We can confirm that the reported flaws and vulnerabilities were thoroughly reviewed following their identification in 2023 and were promptly and fully addressed,” said Tata Motors communications head, Sudeep Bhalla. “Our infrastructure is regularly audited by leading cybersecurity firms, and we maintain comprehensive access logs to monitor unauthorized activity. We also actively collaborate with industry experts and security researchers to strengthen our security posture.”

The incident reveals the persistent risks of misconfigured cloud systems and exposed credentials in large enterprises. While Tata Motors acted swiftly after the report, cybersecurity experts emphasize that regular audits, strict access controls, and robust encryption are essential to prevent future breaches.

As more automotive companies integrate digital platforms and connected systems into their operations, securing sensitive customer and dealer data remains a top priority.

Smart Devices Redefining Productivity in the Home Workspace



 

Workforce Automation

Cloud Security Compliance Management Cybersecurity Data protection Digital Transformation Hybrid Work Network Safety Remote Work Technology Workforce Automation

Smart Devices Redefining Productivity in the Home Workspace

Remote working, once regarded as a rare privilege, has now become a key feature of today's professional landscape. Boardroom discussions and water-cooler chats have become much more obsolete, as organisations around the world continue to adapt to new work models shaped by technology and necessity, with virtual meetings and digital collaboration becoming more prevalent.

It has become increasingly apparent that remote work is no longer a distant future vision but rather a reality that defines the professional world of today. There have been significant shifts in the way that organisations operate and how professionals communicate, perform and interact as a result of the dissolution of traditional workplace boundaries, giving rise to a new era of distributed teams, flexible schedules, and technology-driven collaboration.

These changes, accelerated by global disruptions and evolving employee expectations, have led to a significant shift in the way organisations operate. Gallup has recently announced that over half of U.S. employees now work from home at least part of the time, a trend that is unlikely to wane anytime soon. There are countless reasons why this model is so popular, including its balance between productivity, autonomy, and accessibility, offering both employers and employees the option of redefining success in a way that goes beyond the confines of physical work environments.

With the increasing popularity of remote and hybrid work, it is becoming ever more crucial for individuals to learn how to thrive in this environment, in which success increasingly depends on the choice and use of the right digital tools that will make it possible for them to maintain connection, efficiency, and growth in a borderless work environment.

DigitalOcean Currents report from 2023 indicates that 39 per cent of companies operating entirely remotely now operate, while 23 per cent use a hybrid model with mandatory in-office days, and 2 per cent permit their employees to choose between remote working options. In contrast, about 14 per cent of these companies still maintain the traditional setup of an office, a small fraction of which is the traditional office setup.

More than a location change, this dramatic shift marks the beginning of a transformation of how teams communicate, innovate, and remain connected across time zones and borders, which reflects an evolution in how teams communicate, innovate, and remain connected. With the blurring of the boundaries of the workplace, digital tools have been emerging as the backbone of this transformation, providing seamless collaboration between employees, ensuring organisational cohesion, and maximising productivity regardless of where they log in to the workplace.

With today's distributed work culture, success depends not only on adaptability, but also on thoughtfully integrating technology that bridges distances with efficiency and purpose, in an era where flexibility is imperative, but it also depends on technology integration. As organisations continue to embrace remote and hybrid working models, maintaining compliance across diverse sites has become one of the most pressing operational challenges that organisations face today.

Compliance management on a manual basis not only strains administrative efficiency but also exposes businesses to significant regulatory and financial risks. Human error remains an issue that persists today—whether it is overlooking state-specific labour laws, understating employees' hours, or misclassifying workers, with each mistake carrying a potential for fines, back taxes, or legal disputes as a result. In the absence of centralised systems, routine audits become time-consuming exercises that are plagued by inconsistent data and dispersed records.

Almost all human resource departments face the challenge of ensuring that fair and consistent policy enforcement across dispersed teams is nearly impossible because of fragmented oversight and self-reported data. For organisations to overcome these challenges, automation and intelligent workforce management are increasingly being embraced by forward-looking organisations. Using advanced time-tracking platforms along with workforce analytics, employers can gain real-time visibility into employee activity, simplify audits, and improve compliance reporting accuracy.

Businesses can not only reduce risks and administrative burdens by consolidating processes into a single, data-driven system but also increase employee transparency and trust by integrating these processes into one system. By utilising technology to manage remote teams effectively in the era of remote work, it becomes a strategic ally for maintaining operational integrity.

Clear communication, structured organisation, and the appropriate technology must be employed when managing remote teams. When managing for the first time, defining roles, reporting procedures, and meeting schedules is an essential component of creating accountability and transparency among managers.

Regular one-on-one and team meetings are essential for engaging employees and addressing challenges that might arise in a virtual environment. The adoption of remote work tools for collaboration, project tracking, and communication is on the rise among organisations as a means of streamlining workflows across time zones to ensure teams remain in alignment. Remote work has been growing in popularity because of its tangible benefits.

Employees and businesses alike will save money on commuting, infrastructure, and operational expenses when using it. There is no need for daily travel, so professionals can devote more time to their families and themselves, enhancing work-life balance. Research has shown that remote workers usually have a higher level of productivity due to fewer interruptions and greater flexibility, and that they often log more productive hours. Additionally, this model has gained recognition for its ability to improve employee satisfaction as well as promote a healthy lifestyle.

By utilising the latest developments in technology, such as real-time collaborations and secure data sharing, remote work continues to reshape traditional employment and is enabling an efficient, balanced, and globally connected workforce to be created.

Building the Foundation for Remote Work Efficiency

In today's increasingly digital business environment, making the right choice in terms of the hardware that employees use forms the cornerstone of an effective remote working environment. It will often make or break a company's productivity levels, communication performance, and overall employee satisfaction. Remote teams must be connected directly with each other using powerful laptops, seamless collaboration tools, and reliable devices that ensure that remote operations run smoothly.

High-Performance Laptops for Modern Professionals

Despite the fact that laptops remain the primary work instruments for remote employees, their specifications can have a significant impact on their efficiency levels during the course of the day. In addition to offering optimum performance, HP Elite Dragonfly, HP ZBook Studio, and HP Pavilion x360 are also equipped with versatile capabilities that appeal to business leaders as well as creative professionals alike.

As the world continues to evolve, key features, such as 16GB or more RAM, the latest processors, high-quality webcams, high-quality microphones, and extended battery life, are no longer luxuries but rather necessities to keep professionals up-to-date in a virtual environment. Furthermore, enhanced security features as well as multiple connectivity ports make it possible for remote professionals to remain both productive and protected at the same time.

Desktop Systems for Dedicated Home Offices

Professionals working from a fixed workspace can benefit greatly from desktop systems, as they offer superior performance and long-term value. HP Desktops are a great example of desktop computers that provide enterprise-grade computing power, better thermal management, and improved ergonomics.

They are ideal for complex, resource-intensive tasks due to their flexibility, the ability to support multiple monitors, and their cost-effectiveness, which makes them a solid foundation for sustained productivity.

Essential Peripherals and Accessories

The entire remote setup does not only require core computing devices to be integrated, but it also requires thoughtfully integrating peripherals designed to increase productivity and comfort. High-resolution displays, such as HP's E27u G4 and HP's P24h G4, or high-resolution 4K displays, significantly improve eye strain and improve workflow. For professionals who spend long periods of time in front of screens, it is essential that they have monitors that are ergonomically adjustable, colour accurate, and have blue-light filtering.

With reliable printing options such as HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e, LaserJet Pro 4001dn, and ENVY Inspire 7255e, home offices can manage their documents seamlessly. There is also the possibility of avoiding laptop overheating by using cooling pads, ergonomic stands, and proper maintenance tools, such as microfiber cloths and compressed air, which help maintain performance and equipment longevity.

Data Management and Security Solutions

It is crucial to understand that efficient data management is the key to remote productivity. Professionals utilise high-capacity flash drives, external SSDs, and secure cloud services to safeguard and manage their files. A number of tools and memory upgrades have improved the performance of workstations, making it possible to perform multiple tasks smoothly and retrieve data more quickly.

Nevertheless, organisations are prioritising security measures like VPNs, encrypted communication and two-factor authentication in an effort to mitigate risks associated with remote connectivity, and in order to do so, they are investing more in these measures.

Software Ecosystem for Seamless Collaboration

There are several leading project management platforms in the world that facilitate coordinated workflows by offering features like task tracking, automated progress reports, and shared workspaces, which provide a framework for remote work. Although hardware creates the framework, software is the heart and soul of the remote work ecosystem.

Numerous communication tools enable geographically dispersed teams to work together via instant messaging, video conferencing, and real-time collaboration, such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom, and Google Meet. Secure cloud solutions, including Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Dropbox and Box, further simplify the process of sharing files while maintaining enterprise-grade security.

Managing Distributed Teams Effectively

A successful remote leadership experience cannot be achieved solely by technology; a successful remote management environment requires sound management practices that are consistent with clear communication protocols, defined performance metrics, and regular virtual check-ins. Through fostering collaboration, encouraging work-life balance, and integrating virtual team-building initiatives, distributed teams can build stronger relationships.

The combination of these practices, along with continuous security audits and employee training, ensures that organisations keep not only their operational efficiency, but also trust and cohesion within their organisations, especially in an increasingly decentralised world in which organisations are facing increasing competition. It seems that the future of work depends on how organisations can seamlessly integrate technology into their day-to-day operations as the digital landscape continues to evolve.

Smart devices, intelligent software, and connected ecosystems are no longer optional, they are the lifelines of modern productivity and are no longer optional. The purchase of high-quality hardware and reliable digital tools by remote professionals goes beyond mere convenience; it is a strategic step towards sustaining focus, creativity, and collaboration in an ever-changing environment by remote professionals.

Leadership, on the other hand, must always maintain trust, engagement, and a positive mental environment within their teams to maximise their performance. Remote working will continue to grow in popularity as the next phase of success lies in striking a balance between technology and human connection, efficiency and empathy, flexibility and accountability, and innovation potential.

With the advancement of digital infrastructure and the adoption of smarter, more adaptive workflows by organisations across the globe, we are on the verge of an innovative, resilient, and inclusive future for the global workforce. This future will not be shaped by geographical location, but rather by the intelligent use of tools that will enable people to perform at their best regardless of their location.

Microsoft Sentinel Aims to Unify Cloud Security but Faces Questions on Value and Maturity



 

Microsoft

ai agents AI technology Cloud Cloud Security Critical Data Cyber Security data security Microsoft

Microsoft Sentinel Aims to Unify Cloud Security but Faces Questions on Value and Maturity

Microsoft is positioning its Sentinel platform as the foundation of a unified cloud-based security ecosystem. At its core, Sentinel is a security information and event management (SIEM) system designed to collect, aggregate, and analyze data from numerous sources — including logs, metrics, and signals — to identify potential malicious activity across complex enterprise networks. The company’s vision is to make Sentinel the central hub for enterprise cybersecurity operations.

A recent enhancement to Sentinel introduces a data lake capability, allowing flexible and open access to the vast quantities of security data it processes. This approach enables customers, partners, and vendors to build upon Sentinel’s infrastructure and customize it to their unique requirements. Rather than keeping data confined within Sentinel’s ecosystem, Microsoft is promoting a multi-modal interface, inviting integration and collaboration — a move intended to solidify Sentinel as the core of every enterprise security strategy.

Despite this ambition, Sentinel remains a relatively young product in Microsoft’s security portfolio. Its positioning alongside other tools, such as Microsoft Defender, still generates confusion. Defender serves as the company’s extended detection and response (XDR) tool and is expected to be the main interface for most security operations teams. Microsoft envisions Defender as one of many “windows” into Sentinel, tailored for different user personas — though the exact structure and functionality of these views remain largely undefined.

There is potential for innovation, particularly with Sentinel’s data lake supporting graph-based queries that can analyze attack chains or assess the blast radius of an intrusion. However, Microsoft’s growing focus on generative and “agentic” AI may be diverting attention from Sentinel’s immediate development needs. The company’s integration of a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server within Sentinel’s architecture hints at ambitions to power AI agents using Sentinel’s datasets. This would give Microsoft a significant advantage if such agents become widely adopted within enterprises, as it would control access to critical security data.

While Sentinel promises a comprehensive solution for data collection, risk identification, and threat response, its value proposition remains uncertain. The pricing reflects its ambition as a strategic platform, but customers are still evaluating whether it delivers enough tangible benefits to justify the investment. As it stands, Sentinel’s long-term potential as a unified security platform is compelling, but the product continues to evolve, and its stability as a foundation for enterprise-wide adoption remains unproven.

For now, organizations deeply integrated with Azure may find it practical to adopt Sentinel at the core of their security operations. Others, however, may prefer to weigh alternatives from established vendors such as Splunk, Datadog, LogRhythm, or Elastic, which offer mature and battle-tested SIEM solutions. Microsoft’s vision of a seamless, AI-driven, cloud-secure future may be within reach someday, but Sentinel still has considerable ground to cover before it becomes the universal security platform Microsoft envisions.

The Spectrum of Google Product Alternatives



 

Security Focused Tools

Cloud Security Cybersecurity Data Privacy Digital Security Encrypted Email Online Safety Privacy ransomware protection Secure Collaboration Security Focused Tools

The Spectrum of Google Product Alternatives

It is becoming increasingly evident that as digital technologies are woven deeper into our everyday lives, questions about how personal data is collected, used, and protected are increasingly at the forefront of public discussion.

There is no greater symbol of this tension than the vast ecosystem of Google products, whose products have become nearly inseparable from the entire online world. It's important to understand that, despite the convenience of this service, the business model that lies behind it is fundamentally based on collecting user data and monetising attention with targeted advertising.

In the past year alone, this model has generated over $230 billion in advertising revenue – a model that has driven extraordinary profits — but it has also heightened the debate over what is the right balance between privacy and utility.'

In recent years, Google users have begun to reconsider their dependence on Google and instead turn to platforms that pledge to prioritise user privacy and minimise data exploitation rather than relying solely on Google's services. Over the last few decades, Google has built a business empire based on data collection, using Google's search engine, Android operating system, Play Store, Chrome browser, Gmail, Google Maps, and YouTube, among others, to collect vast amounts of personal information.

Even though tools such as virtual private networks (VPNs) can offer some protection by encrypting online activity, they do not address the root cause of the problem: these platforms require accounts to be accessible, so they ultimately feed more information into Google's ecosystem for use there.

As users become increasingly concerned about protecting their privacy, choosing alternatives developed by companies that are committed to minimising surveillance and respecting personal information is a more sustainable approach to protecting their privacy. In the past few years, it has been the case that an ever-growing market of privacy-focused competitors has emerged, offering users comparable functionality while not compromising their trust in these companies.

As an example, let's take the example of Google Chrome, which is a browser that is extremely popular worldwide, but often criticised for its aggressive data collection practices, which are highly controversial. According to a 2019 investigation published by The Washington Post, Chrome has been characterised as "spy software," as it has been able to install thousands of tracking cookies each week on devices. This has only fueled the demand for alternatives, and privacy-centric browsers are now positioning themselves as viable alternatives that combine performance with stronger privacy protection.

In the past decade, Google has become an integral part of the digital world for many internet users, providing tools such as search, email, video streaming, cloud storage, mobile operating systems, and web browsing that have become indispensable to them as the default gateways to the Internet.

It has been a strategy that has seen the company dominate multiple sectors at the same time - a strategy that has been described as building a protective moat of services around their core business of search, data, and advertising. However, this dominance has included a cost.

The company has created a system that monetises virtually every aspect of online behaviour by collecting and interfacing massive amounts of personal usage data across all its platforms, generating billions of dollars in advertising revenue while causing growing concern about the abuse of user privacy in the process.

There is a growing awareness that, despite the convenience of Google's ecosystem, there are risks associated with it that are encouraging individuals and organisations to seek alternatives that better respect digital rights. For instance, Purism, a privacy-focused company that offers services designed to help users take control of their own information, tries to challenge this imbalance. However, experts warn that protecting the data requires a more proactive approach as a whole.

The maintenance of secure offline backups is a crucial step that organisations should take, especially in the event of cyberattacks. Offline backups provide a reliable safeguard, unlike online backups, which are compromised by ransomware, allowing organisations to restore systems from clean data with minimal disruption and providing a reliable safeguard against malicious software and attacks.

There is a growing tendency for users to shift away from default reliance on Google and other Big Tech companies, in favour of more secure, transparent, and user-centric solutions based on these strategies. Users are becoming increasingly concerned about privacy concerns, and they prefer platforms that prioritise security and transparency over Google's core services.

As an alternative to Gmail, DuckDuckGo provides privacy-focused search results without tracking or profiling, whereas ProtonMail is a secure alternative to Gmail with end-to-end encrypted email. When it comes to encrypted event management, Proton Calendar replaces Google Calendar, and browsers such as Brave and LibreWolf minimise tracking and telemetry when compared to Chrome.

It has been widely reported that the majority of apps are distributed by F-Droid, which offers free and open-source apps that do not rely on tracking, while note-taking and file storage are mainly handled by Simple Notes and Proton Drive, which protect the user's data. There are functional alternatives such as Todoist and HERE WeGo, which provide functionality without sacrificing privacy.

There has even been a shift in video consumption, in which users use YouTube anonymously or subscribe to streaming platforms such as Netflix and Prime Video. Overall, these shifts highlight a trend toward digital tools that emphasise user control, data protection, and trust over convenience. As digital privacy and data security issues gain more and more attention, people and organisations are reevaluating their reliance on Google's extensive productivity and collaboration tools, as well as their dependency on the service.

In spite of the immense convenience that these platforms offer, their pervasive data collection practices have raised serious questions about privacy and user autonomy. Consequently, alternatives to these platforms have evolved and were developed to maintain comparable functionality—including messaging, file sharing, project management, and task management—while emphasizing enhanced privacy, security, and operational control while maintaining comparable functionality.

Continuing with the above theme, it is worthwhile to briefly examine some of the leading platforms that provide robust, privacy-conscious alternatives to Google's dominant ecosystem, as described in this analysis. Microsoft Teams. In addition to Google's collaboration suite, Microsoft Teams is also a well-established alternative.

It is a cloud-based platform that integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint, among others. As a central hub for enterprise collaboration, it offers instant messaging, video conferencing, file sharing, and workflow management, which makes it an ideal alternative to Google's suite of tools.

Several advanced features, such as APIs, assistant bots, conversation search, multi-factor authentication, and open APIs, further enhance its utility. There are, however, some downsides to Teams as well, such as the steep learning curve and the absence of a pre-call audio test option, which can cause interruptions during meetings, unlike some competitors.

Zoho Workplace

A new tool from Zoho called Workplace is being positioned as a cost-effective and comprehensive digital workspace offering tools such as Zoho Mail, Cliq, WorkDrive, Writer, Sheet, and Meeting, which are integrated into one dashboard.

The AI-assisted assistant, Zia, provides users with the ability to easily find files and information, while the mobile app ensures connectivity at all times. However, it has a relatively low price point, making it attractive for smaller businesses, although the customer support may be slow, and Zoho Meeting offers limited customisation options that may not satisfy users who need more advanced features.

Bitrix24

Among the many services provided by Bitrix24, there are project management, CRM, telephony, analytics, and video calls that are combined in an online unified workspace that simplifies collaboration. Designed to integrate multiple workflows seamlessly, the platform is accessible from a desktop, laptop, or mobile device.

While it is used by businesses to simplify accountability and task assignment, users have reported some glitches and delays with customer support, which can hinder the smooth running of operations, causing organisations to look for other solutions.

Slack

With its ability to offer flexible communication tools such as public channels, private groups, and direct messaging, Slack has become one of the most popular collaboration tools across industries because of its easy integration with social media and the ability to share files efficiently.

Slack has all of the benefits associated with real-time communication, with notifications being sent in real-time, and thematic channels providing participants with the ability to have focused discussions. However, due to its limited storage capacity and complex interface, Slack can be challenging for new users, especially those who are managing large amounts of data.

ClickUp

This software helps simplify the management of projects and tasks with its drag-and-drop capabilities, collaborative document creation, and visual workflows. With ClickUp, you'll be able to customise the workflow using drag-and-drop functionality.

Incorporating tools like Zapier or Make into the processes enhances automation, while their flexibility makes it possible for people's business to tailor their processes precisely to their requirements. Even so, ClickUp's extensive feature set involves a steep learning curve. The software may slow down their productivity occasionally due to performance lags, but that does not affect its appeal.

Zoom

With Zoom, a global leader in video conferencing, remote communication becomes easier than ever before. It enables large-scale meetings, webinars, and breakout sessions, while providing features such as call recording, screen sharing, and attendance tracking, making it ideal for remote work.

It is a popular choice because of its reliability and ease of use for both businesses and educational institutions, but also because its free version limits meetings to around 40 minutes, and its extensive capabilities can be a bit confusing for those who have never used it before. As digital tools with a strong focus on privacy are becoming increasingly popular, they are also part of a wider reevaluation of how data is managed in a modern digital ecosystem, both personally and professionally.

By switching from default reliance on Google's services, not only are people reducing their exposure to extensive data collection, but they are also encouraging people to adopt platforms that emphasise security, transparency, and user autonomy. Individuals can greatly reduce the risks associated with online tracking, targeted advertising, and potential data breaches by implementing alternatives such as encrypted e-mail, secure calendars, and privacy-oriented browsers.

Among the collaboration and productivity solutions that organisations can incorporate are Microsoft Teams, Zoho Workplace, ClickUp, and Slack. These products can enhance workflow efficiency and allow them to maintain a greater level of control over sensitive information while reducing the risk of security breaches.

In addition to offline backups and encrypted cloud storage, complementary measures, such as ensuring app permissions are audited carefully, strengthen data resilience and continuity in the face of cyber threats. In addition to providing greater levels of security, these alternative software solutions are typically more flexible, interoperable, and user-centred, making them more effective for teams to streamline communication and project management.

With digital dependence continuing to grow, deciding to choose privacy-first solutions is more than simply a precaution; rather, it is a strategic choice that safeguards both an individual's digital assets as well as an organisation's in order to cultivate a more secure, responsible, and informed online presence as a whole.

Microsoft Warns Storm-0501 Shifts to Cloud-Based Encryption, Data Theft, and Extortion



 

Ransom Demands

Azure Cloud Cloud Attacks Cloud Security Cyber Security Data Theft Microsoft Microsoft Azure Ransom Demands

Microsoft Warns Storm-0501 Shifts to Cloud-Based Encryption, Data Theft, and Extortion

Microsoft has issued a warning about Storm-0501, a threat actor that has significantly evolved its tactics, moving away from traditional ransomware encryption on devices to targeting cloud environments for data theft, extortion, and cloud-based encryption. Instead of relying on conventional ransomware payloads, the group now abuses native cloud features to exfiltrate information, delete backups, and cripple storage systems, applying pressure on victims to pay without deploying malware in the traditional sense.

Storm-0501 has been active since at least 2021, when it first used the Sabbath ransomware in attacks on organizations across multiple industries. Over time, it adopted ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) tools, deploying encryptors from groups such as Hive, BlackCat (ALPHV), Hunters International, LockBit, and most recently, Embargo ransomware. In September 2024, Microsoft revealed that the group was expanding into hybrid cloud environments, compromising Active Directory and pivoting into Entra ID tenants. During those intrusions, attackers established persistence with malicious federated domains or encrypted on-premises devices with ransomware like Embargo.

In its latest report, Microsoft highlights that Storm-0501 is now conducting attacks entirely in the cloud. Unlike conventional ransomware campaigns that spread malware across endpoints and then negotiate for decryption, the new approach leverages cloud-native tools to quickly exfiltrate large volumes of data, wipe storage backups, and encrypt files within the cloud itself. This strategy both accelerates the attack and reduces reliance on detectable malware deployment, making it more difficult for defenders to identify the threat in time.

Recent cases show the group compromising multiple Active Directory domains and Entra tenants by exploiting weaknesses in Microsoft Defender configurations. Using stolen Directory Synchronization Accounts, Storm-0501 enumerated roles, users, and Azure resources with reconnaissance tools such as AzureHound. The attackers then identified a Global Administrator account without multifactor authentication, reset its password, and seized administrative control. With these elevated privileges, they maintained persistence by adding their own federated domains, which allowed them to impersonate users and bypass MFA entirely.

From there, the attackers escalated further inside Azure by abusing the Microsoft.Authorization/elevateAccess/action capability, granting themselves Owner-level roles and taking complete control of the target’s cloud infrastructure. Once entrenched, they began disabling defenses and siphoning sensitive data from Azure Storage accounts. In many cases, they attempted to delete snapshots, restore points, Recovery Services vaults, and even entire storage accounts to prevent recovery. When these deletions failed, they created new Key Vaults and customer-managed keys to encrypt the data, effectively locking companies out unless a ransom was paid.

The final stage of the attack involved contacting victims directly through Microsoft Teams accounts that had already been compromised, delivering ransom notes and threats. Microsoft warns that this shift illustrates how ransomware operations may increasingly migrate away from on-premises encryption as defenses improve, moving instead toward cloud-native extortion techniques. The report also includes guidance for detection, including Microsoft Defender XDR hunting queries, to help organizations identify the tactics used by Storm-0501.

Data Portability and Sovereign Clouds: Building Resilience in a Globalized Landscape



 

NIS2 Directive

AI Agent AI technology Cloud Cloud Security Cyber Security data security DORA Hybrid Cloud NIS2 Directive

Data Portability and Sovereign Clouds: Building Resilience in a Globalized Landscape

The emergence of sovereign clouds has become increasingly inevitable as organizations face mounting regulatory demands and geopolitical pressures that influence where their data must be stored. Localized cloud environments are gaining importance, ensuring that enterprises keep sensitive information within specific jurisdictions to comply with legal frameworks and reduce risks. However, the success of sovereign clouds hinges on data portability, the ability to transfer information smoothly across systems and locations, which is essential for compliance and long-term resilience.

Many businesses cannot afford to wait for regulators to impose requirements; they need to proactively adapt. Yet, the reality is that migrating data across hybrid environments remains complex. Beyond shifting primary data, organizations must also secure related datasets such as backups and information used in AI-driven applications. While some companies focus on safeguarding large language model training datasets, others are turning to methods like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) or AI agents, which allow them to leverage proprietary data intelligence without creating models from scratch.

Regardless of the approach, data sovereignty is crucial, but the foundation must always be strong data resilience. Global regulators are shaping the way enterprises view data. The European Union, for example, has taken a strict stance through the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which enforces data sovereignty by applying the laws of the country where data is stored or processed. Additional frameworks such as NIS2 and DORA further emphasize the importance of risk management and oversight, particularly when third-party providers handle sensitive information.

Governments and enterprises alike are concerned about data moving across borders, which has made sovereign cloud adoption a priority for safeguarding critical assets. Some governments are going a step further by reducing reliance on foreign-owned data center infrastructure and reinvesting in domestic cloud capabilities. This shift ensures that highly sensitive data remains protected under national laws. Still, sovereignty alone is not a complete solution.

Even if organizations can specify where their data is stored, there is no absolute guarantee of permanence, and related datasets like backups or AI training files must be carefully considered. Data portability becomes essential to maintaining sovereignty while avoiding operational bottlenecks. Hybrid cloud adoption offers flexibility, but it also introduces complexity. Larger enterprises may need multiple sovereign clouds across regions, each governed by unique data protection regulations.

While this improves resilience, it also raises the risk of data fragmentation. To succeed, organizations must embed data portability within their strategies, ensuring seamless transfer across platforms and providers. Without this, the move toward sovereign or hybrid clouds could stall. SaaS and DRaaS providers can support the process, but businesses cannot entirely outsource responsibility. Active planning, oversight, and resilience-building measures such as compliance audits and multi-supplier strategies are essential.

By clearly mapping where data resides and how it flows, organizations can strengthen sovereignty while enabling agility. As data globalization accelerates, sovereignty and portability are becoming inseparable priorities. Enterprises that proactively address these challenges will be better positioned to adapt to future regulations while maintaining flexibility, security, and long-term operational strength in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.

Data Security Posture Insights: Overcoming Complexity and Threat Landscape



 

User Privacy

Cloud Security Cyber Security data security threat report User Privacy

Data Security Posture Insights: Overcoming Complexity and Threat Landscape

In today's competitive landscape, it is becoming more critical for businesses to find ways to adapt their data security, governance, and risk management strategies to the volatile economy by increasing efficiency or lowering costs while maintaining the structure, consistency, and guidance required to manage cyber threats and ensure compliance.

As organisations increasingly migrate various on-premises applications and data workloads to multicloud environments, the complexity and dispersed nature of cloud environments presents significant challenges in terms of managing vulnerabilities, controlling access, understanding risks, and protecting sensitive data.

What is data security risk?

Data security refers to the process of preserving digital information from unauthorised access, corruption, or theft throughout its lifecycle. Risks are introduced into databases, file servers, data lakes, cloud repositories, and storage devices via all access channels to and from these systems.

Most importantly, the data itself, whether in motion or at rest, deserves the same level of protection. When effectively executed, a data-centric approach will secure an organization's assets and data from cyberattacks while also guarding against insider threats and human error, which are still among the major causes of data breaches.

Complexity factor into data security risk

Many variables contribute to organisational growth while also increasing security complexity. Complexity undermines operational stability and has an equivalent influence on security. Understanding and analysing all the causes of complexity allows organisations to develop focused initiatives and efficiently automate observability and control, fostering a lean and responsive operational team.

Cloud Security Alliance's Understanding Data Security Risk 2025 Survey Report outlines major topics that organisations are actively addressing:

High growth with AI-driven innovation and security: As AI stimulates innovation, it also broadens the threat landscape. Rapid expansion frequently outpaces the creation of required infrastructures, processes, and procedures, resulting in ad hoc measures that add complexity. Gen-AI also introduces a new level of difficulty as it becomes more prominent in cloud environments, which remain a major target owing to their complexity and scale.

Processes and automation: We understand that limited staff and inefficient or outdated processes frequently result in manual and redundant efforts. This places a significant load on teams that struggle to stay up, resulting in reactive stopgap or workaround actions. To summarise, manual efforts can be error-prone and time-consuming. At the same time, organisations may encounter unwanted bottlenecks, which can increase complexity and impede risk detection and security enforcement. Automate as much as possible, including data security and risk intelligence, to ensure that risks are managed proactively, reducing the escalation of critical occurrences.

Technology integration: Although technology provides answers for efficiency and effectiveness, integrating several systems without careful planning can result in disjointed security process silos, ineffective security infrastructure, and mismatched security stack components. Fragmented visibility, control, and access enforcement are the unstated costs of fragmented tools. Even though they are crucial, traditional compliance and security systems frequently lack the integration and scalability required for contemporary and successful risk management.

Proactive data security posture management

To improve security posture, organisations are adopting proactive, risk-based solutions that include continuous monitoring, real-time risk assessments, and dynamic actionable workflows. This strategy allows for the detection and mitigation of flaws before they are exploited, resulting in a more strong defence against threats.

According to the poll results, 36% prioritise assessment results, 34% believe a dedicated dashboard is most useful, and 34% want risk scores to better understand their organization's data risk.

onquering complexity necessitates a comprehensive approach that incorporates technology, best practices, and risk awareness. By prioritising data security throughout your cloud journey, you can keep your data safe, your apps running smoothly, and your business thriving in the ever-changing cloud landscape.

PocketPal AI Brings Offline AI Chatbot Experience to Smartphones With Full Data Privacy



 

Privacy

AI Chatbot Ai Data AI Security AI Techniques Chatbots Cloud Security Data Privacy Data Usage Online Security Privacy

PocketPal AI Brings Offline AI Chatbot Experience to Smartphones With Full Data Privacy

In a digital world where most AI chatbots rely on cloud computing and constant internet connectivity, PocketPal AI takes a different approach by offering an entirely offline, on-device chatbot experience. This free app brings AI processing power directly onto your smartphone, eliminating the need to send data back and forth across the internet. Conventional AI chatbots typically transmit your interactions to distant servers, where the data is processed before a response is returned. That means even sensitive or routine conversations can be stored remotely, raising concerns about privacy, data usage, and the potential for misuse.

PocketPal AI flips this model by handling all computation on your device, ensuring your data never leaves your phone unless you explicitly choose to save or share it. This local processing model is especially useful in areas with unreliable internet or no access at all. Whether you’re traveling in rural regions, riding the metro, or flying, PocketPal AI works seamlessly without needing a connection.

Additionally, using an AI offline helps reduce mobile data consumption and improves speed, since there’s no delay waiting for server responses. The app is available on both iOS and Android and offers users the ability to interact with compact but capable language models. While you do need an internet connection during the initial setup to download a language model, once that’s done, PocketPal AI functions completely offline. To begin, users select a model from the app’s library or upload one from their device or from the Hugging Face community.

Although the app lists models without detailed descriptions, users can consult external resources to understand which model is best for their needs—whether it’s from Meta, Microsoft, or another developer. After downloading a model—most of which are several gigabytes in size—users simply tap “Load” to activate the model, enabling conversations with their new offline assistant.

For those more technically inclined, PocketPal AI includes advanced settings for switching between models, adjusting inference behavior, and testing performance. While these features offer great flexibility, they’re likely best suited for power users. On high-end devices like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, PocketPal AI runs smoothly and delivers fast responses.

However, older or budget devices may face slower load times or stuttering performance due to limited memory and processing power. Because offline models must be optimized for device constraints, they tend to be smaller in size and capabilities compared to cloud-based systems. As a result, while PocketPal AI handles common queries, light content generation, and basic conversations well, it may not match the contextual depth and complexity of large-scale models hosted in the cloud.

Even with these trade-offs, PocketPal AI offers a powerful solution for users seeking AI assistance without sacrificing privacy or depending on an internet connection. It delivers a rare combination of utility, portability, and data control in today’s cloud-dominated AI ecosystem.

As privacy awareness and concerns about centralized data storage continue to grow, PocketPal AI represents a compelling alternative—one that puts users back in control of their digital interactions, no matter where they are.

Massive Cyberattack Disrupts KiranaPro’s Operations, Erases Servers and User Data



 

GitHub Advanced Security

AWS Cloud Security Critical Infrastructure Customer Data Cyberattack Data Breach Data Safety User Data data security GitHub GitHub Advanced Security

Massive Cyberattack Disrupts KiranaPro’s Operations, Erases Servers and User Data

KiranaPro, a voice-powered quick commerce startup connected with India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), has been hit by a devastating cyberattack that completely crippled its backend infrastructure. The breach, which occurred over the span of May 24–25, led to the deletion of key servers and customer data, effectively halting all order processing on the platform. Despite the app still being live, it is currently non-functional, unable to serve users or fulfill orders.

Company CEO Deepak Ravindran confirmed the attack, revealing that both their Amazon Web Services (AWS) and GitHub systems had been compromised. As a result, all cloud-based virtual machines were erased, along with personally identifiable information such as customer names, payment details, and delivery addresses. The breach was only discovered on May 26, when the team found themselves locked out of AWS’s root account. Chief Technology Officer Saurav Kumar explained that while they retained access through IAM (Identity and Access Management), the primary cloud environment had already been dismantled.

Investigations suggest that the initial access may have been gained through an account associated with a former team member, although the company has yet to confirm the source of the breach. To complicate matters, the team’s multi-factor authentication (MFA), powered by Google Authenticator, failed during recovery attempts—raising questions about whether the attackers had also tampered with MFA settings.

Founded in late 2024, KiranaPro operates across 50 Indian cities and allows customers to order groceries from local kirana shops using voice commands in multiple languages including Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and English. Before the cyberattack, the platform served approximately 2,000 orders daily from a user base of over 55,000 and was preparing for a major rollout to double its footprint across 100 cities.

Following the breach, KiranaPro has contacted GitHub for assistance in identifying IP addresses linked to the intrusion and has initiated legal action against ex-employees accused of withholding account credentials. However, no final evidence has been released to the public about the precise origin or nature of the attack.

The startup, backed by notable investors such as Blume Ventures, Snow Leopard Ventures, and TurboStart, had recently made headlines for acquiring AR startup Likeo in a $1 million stock-based deal. High-profile individual investors include Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhu and Boston Consulting Group’s Vikas Taneja.

Speaking recently to The Indian Dream Magazine, Ravindran had laid out ambitious plans to turn India’s millions of kirana stores into a tech-enabled delivery network powered by voice AI and ONDC. International expansion, starting with Dubai, was also on the horizon—plans now put on hold due to this security incident.

This breach underscores how even tech-forward startups are vulnerable when cybersecurity governance doesn’t keep pace with scale. As KiranaPro works to recover, the incident serves as a wake-up call for cloud-native businesses managing sensitive data.

AI in Cybersecurity Market Sees Rapid Growth as Network Security Leads 2024 Expansion



 

Network Security

AI cybersecurity AI cybersecurity tools AI technology AI tools Cloud Security Cyber Defenses Cyber Security Endpoint IAM Machine learning Network Security

AI in Cybersecurity Market Sees Rapid Growth as Network Security Leads 2024 Expansion

The integration of artificial intelligence into cybersecurity solutions has accelerated dramatically, driving the global market to an estimated value of $32.5 billion in 2024. This surge—an annual growth rate of 23%—reflects organizations’ urgent need to defend against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Traditional, signature-based defenses are no longer sufficient; today’s adversaries employ polymorphic malware, fileless attacks, and automated intrusion tools that can evade static rule sets. AI’s ability to learn patterns, detect anomalies in real time, and respond autonomously has become indispensable.

Among AI-driven cybersecurity segments, network security saw the most significant expansion last year, accounting for nearly 40% of total AI security revenues. AI-enhanced intrusion prevention systems and next-generation firewalls leverage machine learning models to inspect vast streams of traffic, distinguishing malicious behavior from legitimate activity. These solutions can automatically quarantine suspicious connections, adapt to novel malware variants, and provide security teams with prioritized alerts—reducing mean time to detection from days to mere minutes. As more enterprises adopt zero-trust architectures, AI’s role in continuously verifying device and user behavior on the network has become a cornerstone of modern defensive strategies.

Endpoint security followed closely, representing roughly 25% of the AI cybersecurity market in 2024. AI-powered endpoint detection and response (EDR) platforms monitor processes, memory activity, and system calls on workstations and servers. By correlating telemetry across thousands of devices, these platforms can identify subtle indicators of compromise—such as unusual parent‑child process relationships or command‑line flags—before attackers achieve persistence. The rise of remote work has only heightened demand: with employees connecting from diverse locations and personal devices, AI’s context-aware threat hunting capabilities help maintain comprehensive visibility across decentralized environments.

Identity and access management (IAM) solutions incorporating AI now capture about 20% of the market. Behavioral analytics engines analyze login patterns, device characteristics, and geolocation data to detect risky authentication attempts. Rather than relying solely on static multi‑factor prompts, adaptive authentication methods adjust challenge levels based on real‑time risk scores, blocking illicit logins while minimizing friction for legitimate users. This dynamic approach addresses credential stuffing and account takeover attacks, which accounted for over 30% of cyber incidents in 2024. Cloud security, covering roughly 15% of the AI cybersecurity spend, is another high‑growth area.

With workloads distributed across public, private, and hybrid clouds, AI-driven cloud security posture management (CSPM) tools continuously scan configurations and user activities for misconfigurations, vulnerable APIs, and data‑exfiltration attempts. Automated remediation workflows can instantly correct risky settings, enforce encryption policies, and isolate compromised workloads—ensuring compliance with evolving regulations such as GDPR and CCPA.

Looking ahead, analysts predict the AI in cybersecurity market will exceed $60 billion by 2028, as vendors integrate generative AI for automated playbook creation and incident response orchestration. Organizations that invest in AI‑powered defenses will gain a competitive edge, enabling proactive threat hunting and resilient operations against a backdrop of escalating cyber‑threat complexity.

Search This Blog

Sections

Popular Posts

Blog Archive

Labels

Report Abuse

About Me

Footer About